June Bee’s Story - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

June Bee was born on August 3rd, 2018. We were unaware of her condition or what her condition even was. When June was born, they laid her on my chest, and her cry was weak and short, she was blue, and they snatched her away before I got a good look at her. I remember looking at my doctor and asking, "Is my baby okay?" My husband left with the nurses, and my baby and I sat in silence, waiting for them to return. My husband and a nurse returned to the room but not with my daughter. The nurse looked at me and told me that they didn't know what was wrong with her but that she would be life-flighted to Gainesville, Florida, to Shands Hospital and that she only had a 5% chance at life. I discharged myself distraught, and we drove 5 hours to be with our baby. The doctor at Shands met with us and explained that my little girl had CDH (left-sided) and that one of her lungs had very little growth. Her heart and other lung were also pushed out of place, and her intestine and liver were up. She went on and had surgery the next day. My June Bee was a fighter and a strong one at that. My husband and I spent most of our days at the hospital bedside and eventually created lifelong relationships with the staff. They were who we spent our days with. June beat several odds. With a little sedation withdrawal to eating complications, she was cleared to come home at 28 days. Today, she thrives and still beats all odds. My baby is 2 now, but she's still our Tiny Hero.