Carley is now a wonderful, smart, sweet and caring 6 year old. She is in the 1st grade, she is testing as a 2nd grader, reading and spelling at a 3rd grade level. She plays Softball, does gymnastics, and is a Cheerleader.

Hi everyone. My name is Abigail. I was born with a diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Doctors said I wasn't going to make it. Mom didn't have a baby shower for me until after I was born, just in case. But we had people praying and I started breathing by myself.

I have a 22 year old son who thrived against all odds. He got his private pilots license when he was 17 he was accepted into Rice University with a double major Cognitive Science, Classical Studies in Greek and Latin and a Neuroscience minor.

I remember my OB calling me to discuss the results over the phone and trying to prepare me for getting back poor blood results. He said “you are young and can try again for a perfect baby.” This made everything sink in. When I heard my doctor suggest termination, it made me think they would terminate in my shoes, and it immediately sank in how much of a battle my little boy had ahead.

“Her stomach was up next to her heart. There’s a hole in her diaphragm. Reduced lung growth. Other organs in her chest. He said she won’t be running any marathons. One of us asked... ok so is that it? Just maybe no sports? She’s ok right?”

The surgery team explained to us that Zaria was on the better end of the spectrum for CDH (thank God) and that they were able to use stitches and no mesh was used. We were at JHAC for about 22 days.

She actually SCREAMED. We were told that wouldn’t happen. We were told she might not seem responsive or have any of the normal “just born baby” things. But she cried.

Today, Emmie is a completely perfect and healthy (almost) 7-year-old! She loves homeschooling, her big sister, and playing with her friends and family. She is an incredible little builder and delights in showing off her newest creations — from Lego structures to elaborate forts. Our life truly is one “after CDH” and not “with CDH.”

After twenty-eight days in the hospital, we were able to go home. I know that stay seems so short compared to some, but I am so thankful how amazingly well he did and continues to do! Max will be 2 years old next month and has never had any other health issues.

“Meet your little guy, Mom! Congratulations.” That was when I knew that Ethan was in good hands because for the first time I had a doctor congratulate me on the blessing that is my baby. It was the best feeling in the world to know someone was fighting alongside us to do whatever possible to save our baby.

Every day there was less medication and less oxygen. She eventually came home at 51 days old. No oxygen and feeding orally. SHE DID IT!

We still have procedures and surgeries to worry about, but she’s a very happy girl and such a firecracker! We love her and her scars that tell an amazing story and we always take the chance to spread awareness.

We were asked not once, but five times if we were “sure” we didn’t want to abort the pregnancy. Our firm answer was no.

He is now 8 months old and I'm talking about what to plan for his 1st birthday. I hope you find hope and comfort in his story. He still has challenges, but we are bravely fighting them one day at a time. And always remember slow and steady wins the race.

The high-risk ultrasound is a blur to me now. I don’t recall much of the conversation with the doctor after either, except for when I was asked if we wanted information on terminating the pregnancy. Typing that sentence out physically takes the breath out of me because of the amazing little boy that we now have in our lives.

We got to remove the oxygen on his first birthday, which was the best birthday present ever! With the help of many therapies, Harlan is now a thriving 15-month-old with a constant smile on his face who cruises everywhere, eats everything by mouth, and babbles up a storm.

Before our appointment with maternal fetal medicine the following Monday, we gave him a name - Bennett James - we wanted everyone to know that no matter what we were told at that appointment, he was important, and he mattered.

I hope by sharing Camden’s story that another family will read it and realize that you don’t have to settle for 13%. Our 13% just turned a year old and is doing amazing!

We paid an outside source for an early gender reveal. We delayed going home be we could not contain our excitement to finally have a girl. We were over the moon. We celebrated and danced around singing "we're having a girl." Little did we know how irrelevant gender was during the anatomy scan.

The overwhelming support of family, friends, employers, and the CDH community coupled with many, many miracles sprinkled throughout the next five months enabled us to relocate from California to Florida in preparation for Micah's arrival. God’s hand was so evidently involved in every step of the way.