Chandler's Story - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

My son was born at 34.5 weeks and diagnosed with severe respiratory distress and ventilated immediately. After much testing it was discovered he had CDH and received surgery 23 days after he was born on September 23, 1996. All this happened before all the awesome information on CDH and fancy ultrasounds and ECMO.

He was born in Corpus Christi at Doctors Regional and transferred to Driscoll Children's. He was quite the anomaly at the time and it was a terrifying journey and much practicing was done on my youngest of three sons. I had a few amazing nurses that I know did everything they could to help me and my son fight with everything we had. I owe them huge gratitude.

Several surgeries, blood transfusions, reflux, heart defects, failure to thrive and respiratory struggles fast forward to today! 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. He graduated in four years with Latin Honors this May.

Back in 1996 when it felt as if my house was burning down for two years straight caring for three sons under four years of age my youngest critically ill, I made some promises. I keep my word. My hope was to pay it all forward for sparing my child. I’ve donated financially, I’ve volunteered, I made it my purpose to give my kids everything I had left in the tank. When my youngest son went to Rice I decided it was time to “really” pay it forward- switch careers and become a NICU nurse. I will graduate in December of 2019 with a BSN, RN. My son was there at my white coat ceremony and to pin me. He said he couldn’t be more proud. I finally feel like I’ve paid my debt and have so much to offer other families during such a dark time.