We brought our baby boy home after 65 days in the NICU, 2 surgeries, countless procedures and tests, and many more obstacles that Cooper took like a champ. The strongest boy I know. We are enjoying our time with him at home with us, and each day, he is a reminder to never take anything for granted!

Máximo still carries a scar on the left side of his chest, a visible reminder of his battle and his surgeries. He also has to see a pulmonologist and a surgeon every 6 months to monitor that everything is stable. Today, at almost 3 years old, Máximo is a child full of life. His smile reminds us that miracles do exist and that every CDH child is a true hero.

Noah is now a very happy and healthy little boy. Without the help of all the incredible nurses, surgeons, doctors, ECMO specialists, and the Heart Link Charity, we wouldn’t be where we are now. We will always be eternally grateful.

Today, two years later, Catharina is thriving. She’s an energetic, curious, and joyful little girl. She now attends daycare, where she loves music, clapping, waving at people, and flipping through books. She has her own personality—determined, affectionate, and strong.

The days are getting easier, and Abigail is continuing to grow. Her sister Lillian is hitting all her milestones and developing normally. It's nice having a community like TinyHero to connect and share experiences with other CDH parents around the country.

Today, Kaisen is a happy little boy who will turn 2 soon. He is definitely my little CDH warrior, my little fighter. This boy was fighting hard for his life and deserves all the happiness he has today.

Today, Gabby is almost 2 years old and a pretty typical toddler. She is walking and climbing everywhere and is a total chatterbox. Our wish is that others can find comfort in our story, know they are not alone, and that there is so much hope for kids with CDH.

Fast forward to today, having been in the NICU for 2 months, she was able to go home with no oxygen or G-tube. Today, she is 1, and we have to watch her breathing as she is developing asthma, but she is thriving so strongly.

After 180 days, Faith came home. We had to learn all of the ins and outs of the G-tube and being on oxygen. She had a feeding and med schedule that was to be followed. Faith is a miracle. She has grown and learned so much!

If you are reading this story with fear for the future of your own CDH baby, I pray that you are encouraged by Thomas’ story. Surround yourself with success stories and knowledge. I encourage you to dig deep to find answers to better advocate for your child in and out of the hospital. These babies are so strong and will amaze you!

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!

We are so incredibly proud of how strong Clara has been through all of this, and how amazing the care that we have received has been. She still has a long road ahead of her with future surgeries, but the long term outlook is very positive!

Today, Sofia is 3 ½ years old. She is strong-willed, vocal, stubborn, and a leader. She knows what she wants and fights to get it. I have no doubt these traits helped her fight for her recovery. Sofia’s yearly follow-up appointments and x-rays have all been met with good news, so we continuously pray it stays that way.

Each time Forrest was faced with a mountain, he seemed to climb over it with ease. As his parents, it was miraculous to watch him be so strong when we were barely holding on!

At two years old, Vincent is thriving and has caught up developmentally to other kids his age. We are so proud of our Tiny Hero. His strength through all the surgeries and ups and downs of his NICU stay is unmatched by anyone we have ever met. What a journey it has been for us with Vincent, but we are the luckiest parents to have him as ours.

Tate spent 2 months at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City and was discharged on May 16th. Tate was taken off oxygen on July 23rd and has remained off oxygen. These babies are wonderful, and your life will look so different years from now. It’s okay to get discouraged, but please don’t stay there!

Today, I look at Lilah and see a living miracle. She is a testament to faith, resilience, and determination. What the world told us was impossible, Lilah has made possible. She is our hero, and her story continues to inspire us every single day.

Violet has completed our family. I don't know if I would have found Dr. Kays had I not found Tiny Hero! I hope Violet can bring hope to families just like mine.  Hold onto your faith, relocation is possible! There's lots of help out there! 

Born with severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), Lyla faced incredible odds from the start. She required ECMO just hours after birth and underwent life-saving surgery at only 5 hours old. After weeks of intensive care, breathing support, and overcoming feeding challenges, Lyla proved her strength. Now thriving at six months old, her journey is one of resilience and hope. Read Lyla’s inspiring CDH story

Despite everything, Elliot is now an active, thriving little boy who will be 3 years old soon. This year, he even performed in his first dance concert, where he was so in his element and had no struggles keeping up with his peers.