Kalena’s CDH Story

Our story began in September of 2017, during what was supposed to be a routine ultrasound at five months pregnant. During that appointment, doctors discovered abnormalities with the pregnancy. A physician came in and told us it appeared our baby had holes in her heart and advised that it would be best to terminate the pregnancy, stating our baby would not survive once born.

Unwilling to accept this prognosis, we immediately sought a second opinion at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). There, we underwent extensive testing and learned that our baby did not have holes in her heart, but instead had left-sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). While they explained the journey would not be easy, they reassured us that—thanks to modern medicine—her chances of survival were high.

From that day forward, all of my care was transferred to the CHOP maternity ward, where I was monitored very closely. Due to the severity of Kalena’s CDH, I qualified to deliver her directly at the hospital.

On January 22, 2018, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces. From the moment she was born, she was a fighter.

At just 9 days old, Kalena underwent reconstructive surgery to repair her left-sided CDH. We believed we were finally on the road to recovery. However, while attempting to wean her off life-supporting machines, doctors discovered she had developed a pleural effusion as a complication from the surgery. She was rushed into emergency surgery, where a chest tube was placed.

Over the following months, Kalena endured multiple procedures and chest tube placements until the effusion finally healed. After a five-month hospital journey, we were finally able to bring our baby home.

Today, our miracle fighter is 8 years old and is doing absolutely AMAZING.

We are forever grateful to the incredible team at CHOP for saving our miracle baby.