CDH Families Are Very Intelligent People

So we wonder what in the world Breath of Hope is thinking with all the flimsy excuses and smoke screens and double-talk when it comes to the "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" Trademark.

A few important points.

- The March of Dimes has trademarked "Prematurity Awareness Day". "Prematurity Awareness DAY". Notice the DAY? :)

- The March of Dimes didn't and wouldn't trademark "Prematurity Awareness" because it would be unethical and millions of parents of premature babies would be in an uproar.

- "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" is the ONLY trademark in the entire United States of America solely filed on awareness of a health issue. Other organizations have filed trademarks on specific events or fundraisers - March of Dimes' "Prematurity Awareness DAY" - but not for all awareness of a health issue.

- No one cares if Breath of Hope trademarks "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day". No one. Really. We've said this all along. Breath of Hope made the decision to trademark "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" instead. Then did the other one as well.

- 100's of CDH families are against this trademark. Including members of Breath of Hope, Inc.

- Almost 100 pediatric surgeons and nurses have signed the petition against the "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" trademark.

- When you file a trademark on something as important as "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" and tick off 1000's of people and threaten CDH families and organizations, I wouldn't say that "CHERUBS started it".

- Breath of Hope, Inc and Elizabeth Doyle-Propst are now saying that all CDH organizations, families and researchers must ask their permission before we use the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" on any goods and services that Breath of Hope offers. That means that any brochures, newsletter, fundraising items, shirts, events, etc - would have to get "permission" from Elizabeth Doyle-Propst and no doubt give Breath of Hope, Inc the proceeds. Even though CHERUBS was offering these services 8 years before Breath of Hope existed. Several CDH organizations have been around before BoH. This includes the CDH Researchers and CDH Clinics as well.

- This includes cafepress and zazzle products - to which they have already filed complaints. CHERUBS has been on cafepress for 7 years. 3 years before BoH even existed.

- If you start a new goods or service that Breath of Hope currently does not offer - there is no protection that they will not copy your idea and then claim trademark over it. They are known to imitate the work of others - the entire structure and even original name and all the original members of Breath of Hope, Inc came from CHERUBS.

- The trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" is on the supplemental registry, not the main registry. Which makes it ILLEGAL for Breath of Hope, Inc. to threaten anyone who uses the phrase.

- Why did we file the Petition to Cancel? To get this trademark removed and stop this drama and the threats from Breath of Hope, Inc and make sure that it NEVER makes it on the regular registry.

- This trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" is filed by 1 person, Elizabeth Doyle-Propst. Where is the rest of BoH's Board in all this? It is quite obvious that the Board of Directors at Breath of Hope, Inc. is in name only and either does not know what their "CEO" is doing or they do not care. Or they are the most gullible and naive people to ever walk the face of the earth after being given 100's of pieces of evidence, including court documents, a petition with over 5500 signatures including many of their members and ex-Board of Directors and a voice recording from a court proceeding.

- Elizabeth Doyle-Propst has no medical or legal training. She is not a doctor. She is not a researcher. She is not a lawyer. She has little personal experience with CDH (no disrespect to the memory of her daughter - just stating facts here). No experience with taking full care of a CDH child. Her CDH "research" is compliments of Google. She cannot get along with other CDH parents or groups and has a long, long history of conflicts. This is not a person who should be entrusted with owning "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness". Who decided she should file for this trademark and be in charge of CDH Awareness? She did.

- Elizabeth has said that we can all say "CDH Awareness" without fear.... isn't that nice? But how is it raising awareness if no one knows what CDH stands for?!

- The "Pinkwashing" excuse is ridiculous and the only ones who think it holds any water is the Breath of Hope, Inc Board of Directors. This excuse defies all common sense and the statistics are not even valid. Does BoH not realize that CDH parents know this?

CDH families are very intelligent people. You can read their comments with the signatures here - http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/signatures.html

So what is behind the "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" trademark? One woman's need for control, revenge and greed. Those are the only reasons that seem remotely plausible.

There is not ounce of care and concern for CDH families behind the "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" trademark.

CDH families are very intelligent people. It's extremely disrespectful to the entire CDH community to file the trademark. Then attack CDH families and organizations. Then ignore their wishes. Then ignore the wishes of the researchers. Then try to excuse this behavior with ridiculous dribble.

We know what's right for our children and the memories of those cherubs who didn't survive. We know what is ethical and what is self-absorbed.

CDH families are very intelligent people. We know what is right and wrong. This is wrong.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/

Once again, for the hundredth time.... the entire CDH community - including now 9 CDH organizations and over 5500 people - including over 100 doctors and nurses from ALL the country's CDH clinics and fetal centers - including 100's of CDH families - including Breath of Hope members - including former Breath of Hope Directors..... as we form 1 huge, global collective sigh.....

Enough is enough, Elizabeth.