Henry County commissioners proclaim Feb. 7–14 as Heart Week, honoring local CHD advocacy

The Henry County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 proclaimed Feb. 7–14, 2026 as Heart Week for the county, calling attention to congenital heart defects as a leading cause of infant illness and mortality and encouraging local awareness and support.

The proclamation cites the experience of Bryson Hoover, born Oct. 16, 2015 with a rare congenital defect, and notes that his family has turned their experience into advocacy and support for other families by raising funds for the Children’s Heart Foundation and assembling care packages for families undergoing pediatric cardiac procedures. The proclamation states that "Henry County stands with all families impacted by CHD" and urged residents, organizations and health partners to support affected families, promote education about CHD and recognize families' resilience.

County officials framed the proclamation as a community-awareness action rather than a funding or regulatory measure. The proclamation encourages schools, health-care partners and community groups to promote awareness and offers gratitude to the Hoover family for their advocacy and services to families in Northwest Ohio and Henry County specifically.

The proclamation text names local advocacy and support activities — fundraising for the Children’s Heart Foundation, donation of hats and blankets, and distribution of "busy boxes" and support bags — but does not attach new county expenditures or mandates. The board did not record motions tied directly to program implementation during the meeting; the proclamation is an expression of recognition and encouragement.