Vote to help charities who help sick children!

CHERUBS is part of Vote For Kids' Health in Pepsi Refresh, a group of charities that help sick children!  Please vote and help sick babie and childrens' because EVERY child deserves to live a long and healthy life!

Join us on Facebook!

 

• CHERUBS - $25,000 to Provide financial assistance for hospital travel expenses to families affected by CDH (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia), a rare and often deadly birth defect that affects over 60,000 babies every year.  Text 101202 to Pepsi (73774)

• Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood Foundation - $250,000 to Find a path to the cure for Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC).  Text 104112 to Pepsi (73774)

• Bailey Baio Angel Foundation - $50,000 for Expanded Newborn Screening Education & Assist Affected Families. Text 103868 to Pepsi (73774)

• Rockin' Against Leukemia - $50,000 Refresh the Dream - Rockin' Against Leukemia: Find a Cure by 2015!  Text 103906 to Pepsi (73774)
 

• SSBTR - $5,000 to Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research.  Text 102749 to Pepsi (73774) 

• Hearts For Hope - $5,000 to Help children on the Cardiology Wing at Children's Hospital, Boston.  Text 100100 to Pepsi (73774) 

•  Lorraines Canes - $5,000 to Provide custom walking canes to pediatric patients without insurance.  Text 101132 to Pepsi (73774)

 

 

CHERUBS - Provide financial assistance to families affected by CDH.

Goals

• To financially assist families affected by CDH
• To provide gas cards to help with travel expenses
• To provide restaurant gift cards to help with expenses
• To provide grocery gift cards to help with expenses
• To help with airline ticket and lodging costs when needed

 

Overview

The CDH Family Assistance Fund helps families with the expenses incurred traveling for medical care for very high-risk pregnancies and critically ill newborns. Often families have to travel 100's of miles to hospitals that are equipped to handle babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and that provide ECMO, a heart and lung bypass machine, if needed. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive.  The cause of CDH is not known, but it is as common as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida. Every 10 minutes a baby is born with CDH - adding up to over half a million babies since 2000.   The hospital stay for a severely affected baby can be as long as 1 year. With the medical bills and emotional stress that these families go through, we want to offer a little help with making travel easier and affordable.

How will the 25K be Used?
Budget Notes: Most pediatric hospitals are affiliated with the Ronald McDonald House, which provides lodging for many of our families. Our request for hotel gift cards are for those traveling long distances overnight to reach a hospital or those rare times when a Ronald McDonald House does not have an empty room.

Though CHERUBS  has just 1 project in this alliance, they have 4 more in this month's contest.   Their goal is to focus on 1 at a time to help the babies with all 5 needed grants so if you have extra votes please vote for one of these projects to help keep them in the top 100 so they will roll over each month.

Click here to vote for all 5 projects at once!

$250k CDH RESEARCH - text message 102542 send to 73774 (pepsi)
$50k Awareness - text 102365 to 73774
$25k Hospital Kits - text 101211 to 73774
$25k Financial Assistance - text 101202 to 73774
$25k Care Packages - text 102123 to 73774

Or click through each one below:

 

Angel Ball, CHERUBS, Shane and Me on the news

News 14 Carolina did an interview today about our Masquerading Angels Ball! 

In Depth: Dawn Williamson, Cherubs

An event this weekend will help unmask the cause of a life-threatening condition among children that doesn't get a lot of attention. It's called congenital diaphragmatic hernia or CDH and News 14 Carolina's Tracey Early sits down with Dawn Williamson, the founder and president of the non profit group "Cherubs," to talk about this year's event.

Click here to view the full video.

Halloween Pasts....

I was blessed to have had a few Halloween trick-or-treating experiences with Shane. 50% of families of babies born with CDH aren't so lucky. And Shane never got to eat a single piece of candy.  I know that doesn't sound like a big deal to most but candy.... 1 simple, childhood pleasure, something "normal".... he missed out on so much.   CDH took his life and so much more.

Many people are "trick-or-treating for CDH" this year to raise funds to help these babie. Please consider participating.

trickortreatforcdh.info

Taking this blog in a new direction...

After working non-stop for the past 6 months on CDH related events, fundraisers, etc, I've come to the conclusion that the public just does not care about the critically ill babies born with CDH.  Distant family and friends care somewhat, but not enough to stand up with us.  The general public with no connection to CDH cares even less. About critically ill newborn babies.

But people will chain themselves to trees for protests, march for animals, picket anything they disagree with. But it's so hard to get them to care about these babies?

Why?

C said something to me the other week "people don't care because they've never heard of it and since they've never heard of it they dismiss it as a scam instead of a cause". Nice, huh? I think he's right. It's a catch 22... can't raise awareness if they dismiss it as a scam.

Every day, I spend hours on CDH awareness. I know 100's of others do too. We've got to work harder. I hope we can win the Pepsi contest somehow.... all of the projects but especially research and awareness. TV commercials for CDH.... maybe then people might care.

This past week I have given out about 1500 fliers about CDH, the contest and the Masquerade Ball.  Most people are curious about the ball and will glance on the info on CDH and the contest.   They just don't care.

After all.... CDH isn't Autism, it's not Breast Cancer, it's not Spina Bifida or Cystic Fibrosis or Cervical Cancer or anything they've heard of.   And if they haven't heard of it, if it doen't have huge celebrity endorsement, the public doesn't care.

So we have to chance that.   

I look at my son's photos.   I CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I look at all the cherub's photos.   I CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am one person.  The 3400 families in CHERUBS are made up of individuals too.  But together.... maybe we can make the world CARE!!!!!

This week, one of Shane's friends, Logan (13 yrs old) had major surgery.   I mean, take out his sternum, scrape around his diaphragm MAJOR surgery.   Shane, Logan and Brandon, all born with CDH, the 3 little cherub mustakeers.  I love those boys.   I can admit I was scared to death about Logan this week.  I got on my knees and prayed for him, I begged Shane to watch over him.   Log beat the odds and came home less than 48 hours after surgey he was doing so well.   Can you say.... MIRACLE????    The rest of the world may not pay much attention but Logan's family and friends care.... I CARE.


Below is a photo taken of me at the hospital with a family saying good-bye their little boy.   Oz... sweet little Oz....  he only got to spend 10 hours here.  His family let me be there to meet him and say good-bye too.   This is the part of my work that I hate.... watching a family suffer so badly and not being able to do anything at all to stop the pain and save their child.  But being there with Oz and Kendrah and Chris....  I promised that little boy, just like I promised my own little boy.... I CARE and I will do whatever I can to raise awareness and research.   Oz's family is doing AMAZING things already in his name.   They CARE, not only about him, but all the babies!

I had no intention of ever sharing this photo.  I didn't even know it was taken until Kendrah sent it to me and I wouldn't share it without knowing Kendrah and Chris would share anything to help raise awareness.   But this is the sad side of what we do.  This is the worst case scenerio.  This is what we try so hard to stop... the deaths of innocent little babies who haven't had a chance to live.


So when I go around the State Fair or downtown Raleigh or at other large events and I hand out fliers and I talk about CDH..... it breaks my heart to have people say "no thanks" to taking a flier.   Why don't they care?

We've had 7 newpaper articles in the past 2 months about our charity.  A radio clip started last week.   A tv interview tomorrow.  Our angel ball committee has plastered banners and signs all over 5 towns and handed out 1000's of fliers.  Some days it feels like we're spinning our wheels but we are accomplishing a lot.  In the media world of updates when Paris Hilton breaks a nail or Lindsay Lohen goes into rehab... maybe we can get the world to notice 15,000 babies dying each year and 15,000 more critically ill.  Somehow, some way... we will.


I hope Shane doesn't mind me high-jacking his blog to raise more awareness.   But we need more CDH awareness and everything I do I do to honor his memory.   I do care and I will keep caring and I will keep screaming and fighting and pushing for research and awarenes.  I owe it to Shane, to Oz, to Logan, to all the cherubs.  We all do.

Chris' Gift To Me

A good friend and a member of CHERUBS made this video about me.  She had me in tears, it is so sweet of her to make.  I am honored that she thinks so highly of me.  Little did she know that the song she chose was a song that I sung to Shane all the time as he was my hero.   It is near and dear to my heart.  She said it "just came to her"... maybe Shane sent a sign through her.  :)    And she didn't know that on the day she made this and sent it to me that that I really needed a sign that I'm following God's path and that my little boy is ok.

Chris Weaver, you're an angel to me in many ways... thank you!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Angel Ball Baskets in Memory of Shane & Debra

We can't buy them birthday presents or Christmas gifts.... so this is the next best thing.  Buying items they would love and donating them to a good cause.   It felt good to shop for them.   Miss them both so much...

Sesame Street basket donated in memory of my son, Shane, lost in 1999 at age 6 and a half from Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

This basket includes:

Sesame Street 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD
The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland DVD
15" tall Plush Elmo Doll
Count Von Count 40th Anniversary Plush Doll
Abby Cadabby 40th Anniversary Plush Doll
Ernie 40th Anniversary Plush Doll
Sesame Street Busy Buddies Bubble Magnet Book
Elmo Socks (size 24-36 months)
Oscar the Grouch Socks (size 24-36 months)
Abby Cadabby Socks (size 24-36 months)
Hiking Sesame Street Friends Plastic Holographic Green Bowl & Cup Kid's Dish Set
Abby Cadabby Plastic Holographic Purple Bowl & Cup Kid's Dish Set
Elmo Goes to School Plastic Holographic Red Bowl & Cup Kid's Dish Set
Cookie Monster Figurine
Big Bird Figurine
Elmo Figurine
Sesame Street "Storybook ABC's" Book
Sesame Street "the Five Senses" Book
Sesame Street "S is for School" Book
Sesame Street "My Baby Brother Is A Little Monster" Book
Sesame Street "Way to Go, Zoe!" Book
Sesame Street "Let's Eat!" Book
Sesame Street "Red or Blue, I Like You!" Book
Sesame Street "Abby Cadabby's Rhyme Time" Book
Sesame Street "Love, Elmo" Book
Sesame Street "Watch Out for Banana Peels and Other Important Sesame Saftey Tips" Book
Big Birds First Book of Letters Board Book
Cookie's First Book of Numbers Board Book
Abby's First Book of Shapes Board Book
Sesame Beginnings "Eyes & Nose, Fingers & Toes" Board Book
Sesame Beginnings "At the Zoo" Board Book
Sesame Beginnings "Bubbles, Bubbles" Board Book
"Fun With Friends" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book
"Animals All Around" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book
"Outdoors All Day" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book
"Festive Friends" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book
"Happy Holidays" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book
"Let's Pretend" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book with Stickers
"Rain or Shine" Jumbo Coloring & Activity Book with Stickers
Elmo Red & Big Bird Yellow Trianglur Crayons Set
Cookie Monster Blue & Oscar Green Trianglur Crayons Set
Cookie Monster Figural Stamper Friend
Big Bird Figural Stamper Friend
Elmo Figural Stamper Friend

Disney Basket in memory of my sister, Debra, who died in 2002 at 22 yrs old from Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

 

4 1-day Park Hopper Passes donated by Walt Disney Company, Inc.

The remainder of the basket was donated by myself, my husband and my parents.

This basket includes:

4 1-Day Disney Park Hopper Tickets to use at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom (tickets donated by Walt Disney World Co.)
Mickey Mouse Disney Beanz stuffed doll
Minnie Mouse Disney Beanz stuffed doll
Disney Princess Tea Set
Mickey Mouse Laptop Junior
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Wireless Microphone
Sleeping Beauty Tiara
Tinkerbell Socks (size 4-6)
101 Dalmations Socks (size 12-18 months)
Mickey Mouse Glow In the Dark Socks (Size 6-8)
Tickerbell Tooth Fairy Pillow
Tigger & Pooh Kaliedoscope
Winnie the Pooh Woodboard Puzzle
Disney Princess Poster Paint Set
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Numbers & Counting Learning Workbook
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Alphabet Learning Workbook
101 Dalmations Book
Alice in Wonderland Book
The Lion King Book
Peter Pan Books
Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Book
Beauty & The Beast Book
Aladdin Book
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Board Book
Nemo School Days "Colors" Board Book
Mickey's Trucks Board Book
Farmer Mickey Board Book
Alice in Wonderland "Counting" Board Book
Dumbo "Opposites" Board Book
101 Dalmations "Colors" Board Book
The Little Mermaid Soft Toddler Book
Winnie the Pooh Soft Toddler Book
Winnie the Pooh Figurine
Tigger Figurine

It all started with Shane.....

One of the last photos of Shane

Today is Shane's 11th angelversary.   11 years since I lost my little boy.  I can honestly say that I remember the time he was here more vividly than I do 4 years ago or 5 years ago.  It's like my life stopped the day he died and didn't start again until my husband and stepsons.   Being Shane's mom was the most magical time of my life.... I held a miracle in my arms.  I had him for 6 and a half years and I feel both guilty for that when others weren't so lucky and I feel extremely blessed.  He was the best little boy a mom could ever hope for.   He was perfect.   CDH, CP and all.... he was perfect.

The last 11 years have been an adventure.... lots and lots of lows and ending with highs.   Life is nothing like it was when he was here.  11 years ago, my live fell apart when my only child died.   Followed by a divorce, 2 more deaths in my immediate family, losing my house in the divorce, losing all self-confidence and ending up in 2 bad relationships and losing myself.  CHERUBS took a break because I as overrun and no one offered to help and we had to deal with an unstable woman trying to break the charity down at the same time.  Life was hitting me on all angles.  I can tell what it's like to be completely alone and devastated and to have no one to turn to.  I was at the bottom.

But there was good too.   My faith got so much stronger.  I found God and Jesus in the darkness.   I helped my sister find God before her death.   I found myself.   I found an amazing man and 2 more sons.  CHERUBS is now thriving and doing more for the CDH community than ever.   All of this because of Shane.

Since his last angelversary, my family and I have moved into a new house, my boys are in 10th grade and C and I have been married almost 2 years now.   Life is good!  :)

For CHERUBS in the past year, we've gone to 3 medical conferences, held a CDH conference in Orlando, several local events, many fundraisers, almost done with the CDH Research Site, continue to work with amazing researchers, found 4 sponsors for our CDH Research Bill, have the Angel Ball next month, won 2nd place in a national contest and $30,000, got 5 projects in Pepsi Refresh, had 3 celebrities endorse us, posted dozens of educational CDH videos from our conferences, released a CDH song, been in the media several times, won the fight againt the CDH Awareness Trademark, have our new site almost finished and now help over 3200 families.  It's been the best year for CHERUBS so far and it just keeps getting better.  God clearly watches over our charity and I know Shane does too.

I got this message this morning from an old friend, another CDH mom who I've known through Shane's life and death and all the trauma the CDH community has endured the past 8 years.   A former founding board member of Breath of Hope who left shortly after she realized it's true mission.... I say that because my point is she knows what she's talking about....


just wanted to say i am thinking of shane today. i still think of shane first on this day before all the 9/11 stuff comes into my mind.
if it wasn't for shane.....NONE of us would know each other.
to me, that is truly amazing.

That meant the world to me to read this morning.  That she remembers that.  That someone sees that. 

And she is right.   If Shane hadn't been born with CDH, Without my son there would be no CHERUBS.  1000's of CDH moms wouldn't know each other because they never would've met in our charity.  There would be no CHERUBS UK or CDH Australia (formerly CHERUBS Australia) as we helped them get started and sent members to them for a decade each.   There would be no Breath of Hope as all the original members there came from CHERUBS, the founder was a volunteer at our charity before she had to be banned.   All the members at BOH for the first year or two came from CHERUBS, and our charity continues to inspire their services, set-up, projects, etc.  Project Sweet Pea started at CHERUBS.  The Olivia Raine Foundation, Jack Ryan Gillham Foundation and Parker Reese Foundation..... all in memory of specific cherubs but all members of our charity or recipients of our support services and attendees of our events before they went on to start their own charities.   The members of CPNTWO came from CHERUBS and BOH.   (Let me be clear before the mean girls say something nasty about my son - I am NOT taking credit for these charities).  But all of these women met at CHERUBS or indirectly through CHERUBS.   They made friends for life on our forums, at our events.  Some conveniently forget that and all the good we did for them and help they received.... but it's true.  And in the past few years, even more charities have popped up, inspired by the success our charity has had and our mission to help CDH families or working with other charities that we inspired.   A whole generation of CDH families helped by CHERUBS.  1000's of families who found support through each other and the origins of most of that can be traced back to CHERUBS, which can be traced back to one little boy.....

I love this photo.  I love how he's looking at me... like he's saying "ok Mom, he's the deal. This is CDH.  Your job is to help me, protect me, love me AND help the other babies too.  That's what God sent me here for!".   Such a serious face and so full of love too.  

I continue to volunteer at CHERUBS in his memory.  No one knows how much time, work and money I put into CHERUBS in memory of Shane.   How many sleepless nights, how emotionally draining it can be to live CDH every day.  In the past 3 years I've stuck my neck out to defend the charity and CDH moms a lot.   I've endured a lot.  When someone attacks CHERUBS, they attack my son.  My little boy.  What mom is going to roll over and not defend her child?   I could say all this bad stuff is happening because of CDH, because of Shane too.... but it's not.  He's the rainbow in it all.  He's my strength.  I could give up, move on, live out my life with my new family and turn my back on all the drama.... but I can't walk away from these babies and I can't leave these families with no support or accurate info.  Too much more work still needs to be done.  We still don't know what causes CDH or how to best help these babies.   Too many babies are still dying.  CHERUBS is my ministry... to help CDH families.   It was a calling, not a choice I ever had.  God gave me Shane and he gave me and Shane a purpose.   I know He has my back, He sees all, He gives me strength and He knows all the amazing things we are doing for families.   No ministry or act of goodness happens on this earth without the devil trying to tear it down.  But God is with us through it all and he won't let me give in or give up.  God was there when Shane was born, when he died, through all the many miracles he gave us.  He was there for me when I was alone, when all this charity stuff happens (good and bad), when I cry because I miss my son, when I married the love of my life and became a mom to 2 more wonderful boys.   God was there.  And Shane was there.   God gave me Shane and Shane gave me God. 

One of the members tells me that Shane is looking down on me, watching it all and saying "that's MY mom!!!!".   I love that, I hope that's true.   Everything I do in this life, I want him to be proud of me.   Just as I'm the proudest mom in the world because of him.   He did more and has helped more and continues to help more people than most people who live to be 100 years old ever do.   He never committed a single sin in his whole life - never lied, stole a toy, talked back to his parents, killed a bug, hit anyone or hurt anyone (how many moms of 6 yr old boys can say that?).   He was sweet, generous, kind, loving, gentle and funny.   He was perfect and he was 100% nothing but goodness.   I am the luckiest mom in the world.

I was going through photos to post on here today and I found a photo I took of Shane for Father's Day, just 3 months before he died.   CHERUBS members have been submitting photos of cherubs holding signs for the contests.   Secretly, it's bugged me that I don't have a photo of my cherub in this campaign too.   I had forgotten about this photo and then found it this morning.  I know Shane sent me this today of all days.  I edited it and now he's in the campaign too.   Thank you baby.  Mommy needed this.   

I uploaded a lot of photos of you to Facebook today too.  I'm always telling other CDH parents that I understand.... now they can see that I truly do.  I know what it's like to take care of a cherub and deal with CDH for years and I know what it's like to lose a cherub and grieve.   But mostly, I know what it's like to be a mom.  Your mom.  I miss you and I love you, Shane.  You will always be my hero.

APX Contest and Pepsi Refresh

Did I tell you that CHERUBS won $30,000 in the contest?  :D   We did!!!!!!   It was A LOT of hard work, a lot of obstacles but we did it!!!!!    

We had so much help!!!  Even television celebrities helping us!!!   How cool is that?  We've raised CDH Awareness on an astronomical level despite the odds against us.   2nd place in a national contest!   How amazing is that?

LOTS of proud cherubs in Heaven right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!   And on Earth too!!!!  :)

Drumroll please.......  

CHERUBS has 5 projects in the Pepsi contest!!!  That's right, 5!!!!!   Please go vote!!!!!!  http://www.voteforcdh.org

THANK YOU to all the 1000's of people who voted!!!!    So many families are going to be helped!!!!

Our first press conference is coming up on September 13th.   Shane's angelversary is the 11th.   I'm going to be a basketcase.   I already have the beginning of my speech....  "11 years ago today, I was standing in a funeral parlor saying good-bye to my son because of CDH...."

Did I mention I HATE public speaking?   But it's for CHERUBS.  It's for my son and all the cherubs.   I'd literally move heaven and earth for them.

But C will be there, my boys will be there.  Lots of members will be there.   Local dignitaries, politicians and the media!

Vote for CHERUBS in the APX contest and Pepsi Refresh Contest! Get a FREE t-shirt!

Please help babies like Shane born with Congenital  Diaphragmatic Hernia!   CHERUBS is in the running for $150,000 in 3 contests.  ALL money won to go to help CDH!!!!!   Every vote counts!   Please feel free to repost! CDH Contests The following are CDH related events.   Visit their websites to learn more about the events and how to participate.   APX Gives Back  - $100,000 for CDH Research & Support Facebook Contest sponsored by APX Alarms.   CHERUBS is currently battling between 1st and 2nd place in this National contest!    Money raised will be used for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research and Support services! Here is how to vote: 1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?v=app_121215224555298&ref=mf 2. Then click LIKE. 3. Next click the "Start nom and voting" 4. Click on the blue logo for Eastern charities 5. Scroll down (load more if necessary) and find CHERUBS and endorse us! You can vote once EVERY day! Repost in honor or in memory of your cherub! The following charities are supporting us so please let's show them our support too!!!! :) Eastern - CHERUBS of course. :) Pacific - Handprints of Hope Central - Military Moms and Wives Mountain - Now I Can Foundation Canada - Quest Theatre Society http://www.facebook.com/apxalarm?ref=mf Pepsi Refresh Contest - $25,000 for CDH Information Kits for Hospitals Having your unborn or newborn child diagnosed with a life-threatening birth defect is devastating.  It is even more traumatic when there is little information on the diagnosis.  Our mission is to provide every major hospital in the country with informative kits that will provide information and support at the time of diagnosis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). Cherubs are people who were born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a severe and often fatal birth defect that occurs as often as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida.  Every ten minutes a baby is born with CDH - adding up to over half a million babies since 2000. Money won in this grant will be used to send kits to 100 hospitals - but we are hoping to stretch the budget and get discounts on printing to be able to send out 250 kits! FB Application - http://apps.facebook.com/pepsirefresh/idea/view/id/1da7df6c-d2c6-102d-826f-0019b9b9e205?ref=mf  Site - http://www.refresheverything.com/cdhhospitalkits  Text - 101211 to Pepsi (73774) How will the 25K be Used? $ 3,500 100 copies of "Stories of Cherubs" Vol. I $ 3,000 100 copies of "Stories of Cherubs" Vol. II $ 600 100 CDH Educational Posters $ 4,000 2000 "Parent Reference Guide" Booklets $ 2,500 3000 Informational CDH Brochures $ 2,000 4000 CDH Awareness Ribbon Pins $ 7,000 3000 CDH Newsletters $ 300 100 thick boxes to hold the kits $ 1,200 Shipping 100 kits Budget Notes: All items are designed by us to defray the cost of hiring graphic designers. You have 10 votes a day - please make sure to go visit and vote for some of the other amazing kid's charities in this contest, including: CHERUBS Project #1 CHERUBS Project #2 Erin's Dream Avery's Angels Cure JM Rett Syndrome PKU Pepsi Refresh Contest - $25,000 for Financial Support for CDH Families The CDH Family Assistance Fund helps families with the expenses incurred traveling for medical care for very high-risk pregnancies and critically ill newborns. Often families have to travel 100's of miles to hospitals that are equipped to handle babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and that provide ECMO, a heart and lung bypass machine, if needed. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive.  The cause of CDH is not known, but it is as common as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida. Every 10 minutes a baby is born with CDH - adding up to over half a million babies since 2000.   The hospital stay for a severely affected baby can be as long as 1 year. With the medical bills and emotional stress that these families go through, we want to offer a little help with making travel easier and affordable. FB Application - http://apps.facebook.com/pepsirefresh/idea/view/id/11cf40c0-d53e-102d-826f-0019b9b9e205?ref=mf  Site - http://www.refresheverything.com/cdhfamilies  Text - 101202 to Pepsi (73774) How will the 25K be Used? $ 10,000 500 $20 gas cards $ 5,000 10 $500 airline grants $ 5,000 250 $20 grocery store gift cards $ 2,500 125 $20 restaurant gift cards $ 2,500 50 $50 hotel gift cards Budget Notes:  Most pediatric hospitals are affiliated with the Ronald McDonald House, which provides lodging for many of our families. Our request for hotel gift cards are for those traveling long distances overnight to reach a hospital or those rare times when a Ronald McDonald House does not have an empty room. Help Raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness and Win Prizes!!! This is a contest inside a contest! CDH Awareness Kits and T-Shirts that say "I am a CDH Hero! I helped to 1000's of babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia by raising money for CDH Research and Support!" will be awarded to the people who (1 prize each): 1. Whoever has the most "attendees" on their Vote for CHERUBS in the APX contest FB event. 2. Whoever has the most active wall on their event by getting people to vote and then post that they voted. 3. Whoever is the most creative off of Facebook to raise votes! Handing out flyers, have a "vote in" at work or school, talk to your church, etc. (take photos!) Awards given by voting done on CHERUBS forums on August 22nd - 30th. All members can log in and vote on who should win the above 3 awards. If CHERUBS wins the $100,000 prize, all 3 winners will ALSO win (valued at over $350!); 2 tickets to the Angel Ball "Stories of Cherubs Vol. I" "Stories of Cherubs Vol. II" CDH Baby Book "Cooking with Cherubs" Vol. II 4 personalized t-shirts each with their cherub's CDH Awareness ribbons on them the above prizes of a CDH Awareness Kit and contest T-shirt! What a great and fun way to raise awareness and funds for a good cause!!!!! Get a FREE "Vote for CHERUBS" shirt!!!! Vistaprint.com is a wonderful printing web site that often gives away free items!  You just upload photos and add text to shirts, signs, cards and more!   Upload your own cherub's photo and add the words "Vote for CHERUBS" or "Vote for CDH"!  It's very, very easy!   Make sure to send us photos of you in your shirt!  :) You can download free graphics below by clicking on them.   You can also download all the kids graphics to the right. Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Contests Promote Your Page Too