The CDH rollercoaster is rough, but you just have to keep your eyes on the prize: taking your baby home. After 134 days and having the Nissen procedure and a G-tube placed, she left the hospital on oxygen. One of the best parts? Her exit MRI showed no brain damage!

Makenna went through a lot in her first 18 months. But none of it matters, because she had a caring team on her side. She is a CDH survivor. She can talk, walk, and is truly exceptional! She runs around everywhere, and is one of the happiest kids I have ever met.

As he grew older, he became sick less often. Ian grew with no physical restrictions. He played soccer and basketball when he was younger, would ride his bike and skateboard, swim and go surfing. He would get more winded than some children when he would run long distances, but there was never anything he wanted to do that he couldn’t.