Celebration of CDH Awareness Daily EVERYWHERE - April 19

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a severe birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. CDH affects 1 in every 2500 babies. 50% of babies born with CDH do not survive. The cause is unknown.

Since 1995 when the first charity for CDH was formed, families around the world have worked together to raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia awareness through ribbons, posters, events, fundraisers and other products and activities. Over 700,000 babies have been born with CDH since 2000, yet most have never heard of this birth defect that is as common as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida.

Several non-profit organizations, informal groups and 1000's of families in 38 countries recognized the baby blue, pink and yellow cloud ribbon as the official CDH Awareness Ribbon. It was chosen through voting, owned by no one and is not associated with any trademarks or copyrights.

Http://www.facebook.com/cdhawareness

April 19th was chosen as a day to celebrate awareness of CDH but also to remind the public of the important of raising Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness daily. The specific date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of a landmark trademark removal of "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness". The entire community fought together to remove that trademark, the first trademark on awareness of any cause, a trademark that was used to harm and threaten many CDH families who sought to raise awareness of this birth defect.

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92050284&pty=CAN&eno=2

Another trademark was also filed on the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day" and still stands on record, including a ribbon of another color. It has not yet been appealed.

http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77640674

http://tdr.uspto.gov/jsp/DocumentViewPage.jsp?77640674%2FSPE20090101064714%2FSpecimen%2F1%2F29-Dec-2008%2Fsn%2Ffalse#p=1

On April 19th, we invite ALL families, charities, groups, hospitals and friends to join the world's largest CDH charity, CHERUBS, along with 1000's of others including Congressmen and celebrities to work together to raise awareness of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and promote CDH Research through the $50,000,000 Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research Bill. Though we celebrate awareness, it is research that will save the lives of these babies.

http://www.cdhbills.org/

Important Update On The Trademark On Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness

Dear CHERUBS Members, Fan, Family and Friends,

Though paperwork has not been filed officially with the USPTO (you can stay updated through their site at http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92050284&pty=CAN&eno=2 ), Breath of Hope has posted the following:

http://breath-of-hope.blogspot.com/2010/03/statement-on-trademark-congenital.html

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Statement on Trademark Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness

In light of the ruling regarding the trademark for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness, Breath of Hope has decided to cancel the registered mark. While we feel that the ruling was unfavorable, the Board of Directors at Breath of Hope has decided that we need to move forward in other areas concerning awareness, helping families with this truly horrible diagnosis, and raising money towards research.

Our intentions of trademarking Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness were never to stop others from raising awareness, create lawsuits, or negatively impact the CDH community. Instead, we were attempting to protect what we perceive as our intellectual property. It also should be stated there are literally thousands of health conditions as registered trademarks in use today, including Prematurity Awareness Day®, which does not impede anyone from raising awareness or conducting research.

We, the Board of Directors, are saddened by the misleading, incorrect, and negative information that has been advertised all over the internet by others. We have no intentions of slandering any individuals or other organizations, we feel strongly that this is immature behavior and it is a deterrent from what our goals really are. We will continue to strive to support parents and families, the medical community and other CDH groups and nonprofits.

- Breath of Hope Board of Directors

We are very, very glad that they intend to remove the trademark. It would be an answer to prayers said by 1000's in the CDH community for many years. I hope and pray that this post is truthful and that BoH is quick about filing to remove this trademark. This would be a great relief to all the CDH community and CDH Awareness would be returned where it belongs - to ALL families and researchers affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

However, I'm sad that it's taken so much time, effort, resources and conflict in the CDH community to deal with this trademark from the start. Several years, over 6500 signatures from CDH families from around the world, lawyers and a very firm letter from the USPTO itself to let Breath of Hope know that they indeed, had no hope in this case to get them to remove the trademark... all of it needless and negative and not serving the CDH community in any positive way. None of this should have happened.

I also feel that the inaccuracies in that statement and blatant lies that it was never used to harm others (there are court records in 2 different courts plus IRS records to prove otherwise) and there are other trademarked cases of awareness on the books (yes on diseases - but not 1 on awareness of a cause except this one) are just further needless attacks on others who spoke up against this behavior.

I hope and pray that the attacks and false filings against CHERUBS and other stop and that ALL CDH charities focus on their own services and members and work towards a more positive CDH community like the one we had before all this started.

Our babies deserve that.

On behalf of CHERUBS and CDH families in 38 countries, I say to Breath of Hope, Incorporated... "Thank you for doing the right thing by our children".

This is a GLORIOUS day for ALL the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Community!!!!!! Through the hard work, dedication and commitment of several CDH organizations, 1000's of families, 100's of researchers and our amazing pro bono attorneys, Breath of Hope has finally made the right decision CDH awareness will be restored. Way to go everyone - we have done our children proud!!!!!

Dawn M. Torrence Williamson
President & Founder

CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support

Volunteer run 501(c)III non-profit organization serving over 3000 CDH families in 38 countries. Searching for the cause, prevention and best treatments of CDH since 1995.

http://www.cdhsupport.org
http://www.cdhresearch.org
http://cdhsupport.blogspot.com
http://www.cdhconference.org

Phone - 919-610-0129
Fax - 815-425-9155
Mailing Address - 3650 Rogers Rd #290, Wake Forest, NC 27587, USA

"Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" trademark and CDH Summit Update

Several weeks ago, CHERUBS put out an olive branch to try to end the turmoil surround the trademark on CDH Awareness and all the ensuing drama, slander and juvenile behavior that has plagued our community so that we can all move forward and focus all of our time, efforts and resources towards helping families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. 

CHERUBS is very disappointed to report  that the trademark settlement / peace conference / CDH summit will not take place.

Breath of Hope, Inc has decided that they will not attend any meetings to discuss the trademark and other issues.  They do not want to work together and do not wish to discuss any common goals to work positively for the CDH community and that they still want to retain the trademark.  

This is the last of several attempts that CHERUBS has made to try to bring peace to the CDH community and to protect all CDH families right to raise awareness.  Every attempt has been denied.

As a goodwill gesture, we have offered not to contest their trademark on Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day and let Breath of Hope have their day and their proclamation without our CDH parents participating at all to avoid more drama, threats and attacks.  Even though that trademark and the proclamations are being used in their argument that only Breath of Hope should be able to use the phrase Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness.   We simply as that the trademark on Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness be removed and all charities, groups, researchers and families be free to raise CDH awareness in peace.  Elizabeth Doyle-Propst is not open to any negotiating.

This is very disappointing because it is in the entire CDH community's best interests for all CDH groups to work together for the common good.   We extend our apologies and regrets to all those affected by this trademark and this drama.  We tried but we have failed to put an end to this nonsense.

We have already had several complaints and issues filed against us again in the past few weeks in regard to our volunteers using the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" without permission of Breath of Hope, Inc.   We also received an "anonymous" threat that we will be reported to the IRS if we try to lobby a Congressional Bill against the trademark - a threat that seems is not empty. 

Also in the past few weeks, an inaccurate blog posting that "CHERUBS is suing" Breath of Hope was posted by that group.  This is not true and is a twist of facts.   Breath of Hope, Inc filed to own a trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" and then began to subject CHERUBS to various company complaints, federal complaints, state complaints, etc.

We have no choice but to continue the fight against the trademark on "Congential Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" to protect our organization and the entire CDH community.   We will also continue to work on the Congressional Bill to help protect all causes from this type of corporate greed.

"I Own Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" Video

Starring over 300 CDH families in the fight against the trademark on "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" filed by Breath of Hope, Incorporated.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/
http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92050284&pty=CAN&eno=2
http://www.cdhsupport.org
http://www.cdhresearch.org

CHERUBS IRS Audit

CHERUBS met with an IRS agent this week who audited our books and accounts. We spent 2 days going over every financial detail and all our books and they found we're doing nothing wrong.

On another positive note, the IRS agent got a hefty dose of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness! :)

We appreciate the support and faith of all of our members and the entire CDH community and hope that this slander is finally laid to rest.


“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander” - Abraham Lincoln
“Slander cannot destroy an honest man - when the flood recedes the rock is there” - Chinese proverb
“Slander is the revenge of a coward, and dissimulation his defense” - Author unknown

Legal Happenings At CHERUBS

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to update you on CHERUBS legal happenings....

CHERUBS had a pro bono attorney for the personal restraining order I had to take out against Elizabeth at Breath of Hope in 2006 I believe. Long story, not going into that as that's not what this post is about.

CHERUBS had 3 pro bono lawyers from 2 law firms helping us on the trademark and a few additional tossing us advice here and there. HUGE help! But 1 law firm doesn't have the manpower to give us anymore and the other is about to take over a much bigger project for us.

So that leaves me to deal with the trademark issue legal stuff alone. And to be honest, I have no clue what I'm doing. The stress of having 1000's of people depend on me and CHERUBS to protect Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness is enormous. I don't want to mess this up. I need help. If you know of a trademark attorney who will help us, please let me know. They can be in any state as this is a federal issue. Please help if you can - these babies deserve to have the best representation to protect their rights. I am not that person to do that job, I am not qualified and I will not post that I am a legal expert or I am so intelligent that I don't need a lawyer. I am bound to make some mistakes doing this alone (well, not alone - our Board is a huge help!), but we cannot afford to make mistakes. Taking on a trademark is not a small thing at all. This trademark is a huge ordeal, one that has to be stopped.

So that leads me to another notice. I will be taking down the timeline for a while. I will not be posting about any legal issues. I will no longer be keeping you updated on Elizabeth's attacks or false allegations, slander, filings against CHERUBS with various agencies, etc. If you want updates on the trademark, you can go through the petition site to see the updates at the USPTO. Why, you ask?

For the first 3 years all this was going on, we kept quiet about it. Ignoring it did not help matters, it only enabled her and made her bolder. It got worse, so much worse that the restraining order was filed.

Then we went public, because other CDH parents were now being attacked and Elizabeth was filing accusations to try to have CHERUBS shut down. That was 2 years ago. You all have been pretty updated since.

But now, I am stepping back on the legal stuff and handing it all over to our new 2 pro bono lawyers to deal with. Whatever they deem necessary to do to stop the attacks, they have our blessing. Any court proceedings, filings, government intervention, criminal charges, etc - they have our blessing. 5 years of this is enough. It's time to deal with this all once and for all and let the CDH community have some peace. We can't thank our new lawyers enough, they are angels to help the CDH community this way!!!

And we can get back to supporting families dealing with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and stop dealing with all Elizabeth's drama and attacks. Too many CDH parents were put under the impression that CHERUBS is only about drama and stopping Elizabeth. That couldn't be farther from the truth.... our site is drama free, we offer dozens of free services, the most CDH information on the net and with over 2700 families we offer the most support! :) We've been here for 14 years with only one goal - helping families affected by CDH.

Now, we still have the trademark issue to deal with!!! I am still working on that video and we will release it this week. At the least, it will raise awareness! But we still need a lawyer! If you know a lawyer or you really want to help and just call lawyers and ask them to help us.... we would appreciate it so much!!!

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.

Why CHERUBS will *not* be participating in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day

Because of the legal and ethical issues behind "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day" and the fact that proclamations gathered by CDH families for this day were used in the registering of the "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" trademark, CHERUBS gracefully chooses to decline to support this event.

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

We respect the rights of our members and all CDH families to celebrate CDH Awareness on March 31 but in good conscience, we can not support this event or the organizations behind it.

Instead, CHERUBS chooses to support CDH families and awareness every day, by everyone. Freely. CHERUBS wishes to support the organizations and families who work hard, all year round, to stand up for our children and make sure that their rights and their memories are respected:

CHERUBS Australia
CHERUBS UK
Kays Kids
Jack Ryan Gillham Foundation
Little Lambs
Olivia Raine Foundation
Rainbow of Hope
CHERUBS

Let's all show our support of these babies and the organizations and medical care providers who work hard to protect them and help them all year round.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Trademark

Very candid response to e-mails sent to CDH families by another organization, attacking them and CHERUBS. Maybe someday all CDH organizations will actually focus on CDH and helping families.....

Some of you and some family members and friends have been writing to the BoH Board to ask them why they want to own that trademark.... and that's great... because THEY (the board) need to know that CDH families want to know. The problem is, Elizabeth is either blocking these and responding herself or just responding for everyone - and sending some pretty nasty, rude e-mails back to those that write the BoH Board - calling people stupid, ignorant, etc. If this happens to you, don't respond... though it seems she sends several e-mails herself. Just don't get caught up in any arguments or drama and if they are slanderous (which so far they are) please just forward them for our lawyers.

And for the record, based on forwarded e-mails full of slander....

CHERUBS has 501(c)III status - the IRS even sent us a newer letter stating that just a few months ago because I requested one because of the lies being spread. It's in our downloads section.

CHERUBS Board is Active - they are here, posting, you can see them on our site. All but our doctors post there and our doctors are active as well. They are all well aware of this problem we've been having of being attacked by this other organization - and many have signed the petition themselves. Over 100 doctors and nurses have signed.

No one owns awareness of a disease or birth defect - except BoH. It is the ONLY trademark of it's kind - which is why it was not let on the regular register and will not stand on the supplemental register. It keeps being said that the March of Dimes owns the trademark to Prematurity Awareness and this is not true - they own the trademark to Prematurity Awareness DAY - and the MoD board that was notified about the CDH Awareness trademark. I was notified that another organization is now trademarking fundraising phrases to try to prevent other CDH organizations from participating - when those phrases are already used by other causes. Maybe someday soon all CDH organizations will focus on the CDH families instead of juvenile games and popularity contests and deceit. Thankfully there are 8 CDH organizations that do care about the families - these are the organizations backing the end of the trademark - organizations that do not trademark, do not attack other organizations and who do put families first.

On-Line petitions such as the one we are all signing and forwarding is different from a Petition to Cancel - we are doing both. Someone is very confused about the 2.

CHERUBS is not "threatened" nor do we want a "monopoly on CDH".... only people who try to register trademarks want to own monopolies. Especially where CDH is concerned. Especially when their ideas are not even original, but taken from other CDH organizations or other disease / birth defect causes. CHERUBS has never trademarked anything. We do not charge for services. We give our research away freely. Our research is accurate and honest. Our fundraisers are original. We work with other organizations and clinics and always have. 8 CDH organizations worked together on the petition. What is the reasoning behind wanting to own CDH Awareness if not to monopolize it, dictate who can say it, who can raise awareness, funds, research? Especially when said person keeps trying to get our organization removed from search engines, our CHARITY fundraising site taken down and filing false reports with the government to try to get our non-profit status revoked. This person is supposed to be leading a children's charity of her own to help CDH families, instead she keeps hurting them. "Free enterprise" and competition is fine... but CHERUBS has never wanted to nor do we have the time to compete with anyone. In my personal opinion, anyone who wants to compete for anything to do with CDH, including ideas, members, etc.... needs professional help because then it's no longer about helping CDH families and these children, but their own egos. CHERUBS was started before any other CDH groups, competition has never been what we are about - we are about helping families and doing right by these children.

So my point is - don't believe the lies that you hear, because they are lies and slanderous. Don't let her rude responses stop you from e-mailing the BoH Board. If she responds, you don't have to read it. You can delete it, ignore it, forward it, or read it and laugh at it - but don't get upset because that's the goal - to upset and intimidate and bully CDH families. Don't give anyone the power to do that.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness threatened! Please help!

An organization has filed to own the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness".

This means that no one, no CDH family, no other organization would be able to use this phrase to raise awareness or help CDH babies while this organization would be sole owner to use awareness of this birth defect as a marketing tool. No one should own awareness of a birth defect that hurts 1600 babies a year in the U.S. and kills 800 of them. We are petitioning this with the U.S. Patent & Copyright office and need your help. Please sign this petition and forward this to family and friends:

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

For more information on CDH you can visit http://www.cdhsupport.org

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day / Breath of Hope, Inc / CDH Awareness Trademark Issues

From our site:

CHERUBS Board Members have decided to move the threads that address the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness / Breath of Hope, Inc. / Elizabeth Doyle-Propst controversy to a more private forum. We all agree that we feel it is detrimental to new CDH families to be exposed to this drama.

But this does *not* mean that we have given up the fight against the attacks and slander and we will continue to pursue actions against this behavior - to protect CHERUBS, myself and all CDH parents. We also do not believe in allowing this type of behavior to proliferate in the dark so any member who wants to read about what is going on on the private forum can gain access by simply asking to be authorized. Those who already posted on this topic are already authorized to this new forum.

However, we also believe that as members of CHERUBS, each of you have every right to know about the attacks that are threatening our organization and so we will keep the timeline updated and available for viewing at http://www.cdhsupport.org/elizabeth so that you may know what is going on if you chose to. This timeline is also used to build a case against Elizabeth Doyle-Propst for all the actions and slander against our charity.

Please rest assured that CHERUBS welcomes all Breath of Hope, Inc members with open arms and that you are safe here and can continue to give and receive support with other families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. We also realize that many of you are deeply emotionally invested in the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day campaign and there is no legal reason why you can't continue to promote CDH Awareness in other, just as active ways that will make more of an impact - by yourselves or with an organization that has no alterior motives. CHERUBS only inspiration is honoring the lives and memories of our babies.

For clarification:

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness is *not* trademarked and it is *not* owned by Breath of Hope, Inc. or Elizabeth Doyle-Propst or anyone else. Nor should it be.

The CDH Awareness Ribbon is not the turquoise ribbon stolen from Rainbow of Hope. CDH families voted on the baby blue, pink and pale yellow ribbon with clouds as is represented on Wikipedia and numerous other sites.

March 31 is significant because it is the date of the filing of the false charge that Elizabeth Doyle-Propst filed against CHERUBS in 2007 to try to get CHERUBS shut down. This is stated on documents and the audio transcript found at the address above.

No governors have proclaimed March 31 "Breath of Hope Awareness Day" or even specified that day can only be used by Breath of Hope members. If CDH families want to participate in activities on that day then there is no legal reason why they can not.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day

For more information on why CHERUBS is not participating in the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day event with Breath of Hope, Inc or using the turquoise ribbon - along with our struggle in being accused of infringing trademark by using the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness", please go to our web site at http://cdhsupport.org/members/viewtopic.php?t=1099 or the court timeline at http://www.cdhsupport.org/elizabeth

We do encourage all CDH parents to receive as much support as they can from as many places as they can. No CDH parent is excluded from CHERUBS - you can be members of both groups. Please view the above link for more info.

Please also note that there is a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Ribbon that is original in design and not shared by any other cause. Please feel free to use it to promote CDH Awareness!



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Addition to post:

You can now download the court transcript from our downloads section or through http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/3170648782_91.44MB

It is 93 MB, this court case is at the end of the record. It is in dcr format, zipped. You can download the software to listen to it from http://www.libertyrecording.com/LR_main.htmLP_Download

CHERUBS At The Top Of The Search Engines!

Despite another CDH Organization trying to have us banned from search engines (http://www.cdhsupport.org/members/viewtopic.php?t=1099), CHERUBS is at the top of the search engines!

Not only are we in the top 10 for all major search engines when searching for "Diaphragmatic Hernia" but now we are #6 on Google for the word "cherubs" so anyone who searches for cherubs will get a good dose of CDH Awareness and we're #1 on Yahoo for a search on "cherubs"!!!!! That's a TON of CDH Awareness!!! :)