I will never stop telling Ella Grace's story. You amaze me every single day. You have taught me to be hopeful, to stay positive, to lean on my faith, and to push the negativity aside. If I could go back to the day I found out about your diagnosis, I would remind myself every day that these babies do make it, and there is hope.

After 30 days in the hospital, Wells came home—and today, you would never know how much he went through. He is exclusively breastfeeding, always smiling, and completely adored by our entire family.

What I do know is this: I’ve been able to live a full and happy life. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The world can feel overwhelming, and a CDH diagnosis can make it even more so. But I hope my story reminds you that there is hope. I’m living proof. And I’m living life to the fullest.

Evelynn is 2 1/2, off of oxygen, still g-tube dependent, and having the time of her life! She is learning to walk, talking constantly, and trying new foods and figuring out how to eat with her mouth. She loves playing with her big brother, snuggling with her daddy and me, and telling everyone what to do.

Every single day, LJ chose life. On the 81st day, we were told our miracle boy was going home. The journey wasn’t over—he came home on oxygen and with an NG tube—but he came home. LJ is proof that even in the darkest moments, miracles can grow from unimaginable pain. Today, he is one year old and thriving.

At just 9 days old, Kalena underwent life-saving surgery for left-sided CDH. Complications led to a pleural effusion and emergency treatment, followed by months of procedures and recovery. After a five-month hospital stay, she finally came home. Today, Kalena is a thriving 8-year-old, and her family is forever grateful to the team who saved her life.

All in all, I had six surgeries during pregnancy, and my son had two major open surgeries in the first two months of life—but we are both finally healthy. He is seven months old now and doing so well. He beat literally every odd imaginable. He still has his G-tube, and we work with an OT to help him transition to oral feeds.

Nathaniel’s CDH had significant complications and secondary diagnoses that made his recovery long and difficult. Our CDH warrior went through seven surgeries in his first year of life. We spent a total of 415 days in the NICU. We are beyond happy to be home with our son today!

As a first-time mom, this was one of the scariest, most intense situations I couldn’t even understand. I am so proud of the moms who have medically complex children, but trusting your mom instincts is something I will never question. As parents, we are responsible to fight and make sure we are heard for our child’s sake. If I wasn’t persistent, I might not have had my baby here with us today!

If you saw Blakely’s X-ray, you wouldn’t believe she is home and thriving! We keep a close eye on her, and her journey is far from over, but we are so thankful for her team and God’s grace for taking this rare case with a high mortality rate to a baby girl thriving at home! No one ever thought this was how her story would go, but we are so grateful.

Milly is now 9 years old, lives with right-sided cerebral palsy, and does not let it stand in the way of anything she wants to do!

My story is one of survival, gratitude, and hope. CDH has shaped my life in ways I never could have imagined, from the care I received as a newborn, to the career I chose, to the family I am now blessed to have. I carry deep appreciation for the medical teams who saved me, the resilience of my parents, and the families who continue to face this diagnosis today.

We want to share our Everett with the world. We had his name picked out before he was born. While he was in the hospital, we learned that Everett means “brave, strong, and resilient.” He quickly became known as Everett the Brave!

To every family receiving this diagnosis: never lose hope. Have faith. Speak up for your child or loved one in critical care, and never be afraid to say no. This was not the roller coaster I ever wanted to ride, I hate roller coasters, but this one was worth it.

Leevi continues to amaze us daily, hitting milestones and reminding us just how powerful miracles can be. Our family thought we were complete—but Leevi proved that sometimes the most unexpected blessings become the most extraordinary stories!

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.