Nicholas’ CDH Story

I wanted to take a moment to share my son Nicholas’s incredible story with all of you. Nicholas was diagnosed with a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) at my 28-week growth scan. Hearing those words was overwhelming — we learned that part of his intestines and spleen had moved into his chest. It was scary not knowing what the future would hold, but we were determined to give him the best chance possible.

Nicholas was born at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) on November 15, 2024, surrounded by an amazing team who were ready to care for him the moment he arrived. On November 20th, at just five days old, he underwent surgery to repair his diaphragm. Our little warrior faced the biggest challenge of his life, but he fought with strength and determination.

He was intubated for a total of 11 days and, miraculously, was completely off oxygen support before he even turned a month old! We were so proud of how hard he worked, even in those early days. The biggest hurdle we faced during his hospital stay was his feeding. Nicholas loved his nurses so much — I always joked that he didn’t want to leave because he adored them! He spent the last 2½ months of his 104-day stay at CHOP working so hard to learn how to eat. When it was finally time to go home, he was discharged with an NG tube to help with his feeds.

Now, Nicholas is almost 8 months old, and it’s truly hard to believe how far he’s come. From the moment we brought him home, it felt like he had always been a part of our lives. He’s exceeding every milestone, surprising us every day with his strength and determination. Best of all, he loves spending time with his big brother, Philip — their bond is so special.

We are forever grateful for the incredible care Nicholas received at CHOP. There aren’t enough words to express how thankful we are to the doctors, nurses, and everyone who walked alongside us during this journey. Nicholas is truly our miracle, and we couldn’t be more proud of him.