MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS - Kara Hess

Kara is mom to Adam, LCDH survivor born August 2006.  Other complications from his CDH include Gastric Volvulus (rare abnormal rotation of the stomach of more than 180° that creates a closed loop obstruction), Dysphagia, Hypospadius, reherniation, bowel obstruction, and malrotation of the intestinal tract.  Adam also has Apraxia, a neurological disorder that is characterized by the loss of ability to carry out learned movements,despite having the desire and physical ability to perform the movements.  

Kara has been a member of CHERUBS since 2007 and has served on the CHERUBS Executive Board of Directors and Conference Planning Committee.  She is wife to Chuck and is a stay at home mother of two busy boys. Prior to motherhood, Kara worked as a Senior Contracts Specialist for a meeting and conference planning company.  She also worked as a Professional Development Assistant for a child care referral agency. Kara received her Associate of Applied Business degree from Stark State College.

She enjoys Thai and Indian dining/cooking, biking, traveling, garage saling, daily coffee time with her mom, and leading a daily women's Bible devotional group.   

MEET OUR VOLUNTEERS - Tara Hall

Tara is the mom to Brandon (7/17/96) born with undiagnosed left side CDH. Brandon was put on ECMO at 8hrs old. During his six weeks in NICU he had two CDH repairs along with a nissen and gtube. He has had a total of six repairs before the age of two, had developmental delays and feeding issues. His feeding tube was removed on his fifth birthday. Currently he is doing well but does have ADHD, some OCD tendencies and still has fine motor issues.

Tara has been a volunteer for CHERUBS for 13 years and has been the Ohio State Representative for 12 years, along with many other volunteer positions.  She has held a Ohio CHERUBS Member Picnic every year since 2001, making it one of the largest annual CDH gatherings in the country.

Tara is learning how to be a single mom to a teenager.