On The Third Day of CDH Christmas....

CHERUBS brought to the CDH Community, a CDH Baby Book:


http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs.374494584

CDH Baby Cherub Book

by CHERUBS

$19.99

Availability: In Stock.

Product Number: 030-374494584

Tell a friend about this product!

Genre: Children's Health
Paperback: 202 pages

Description: Baby Book for children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Synopsis:

An atypical baby book with typical baby book contents such as handprints, photos, family tree and vaccination record - but also specialized sections for dealing with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. A must have book for all new and expectant CDH parents.

Product Details:

· Paperback: 202 pages
· Binding: Wire-O
· Publisher: CHERUBS (December 2009)
· Product Number: 030-374494584


OR download for free to print yourself at:

http://www.cdhsupport.org/expectant/CDHBabyBook.pdf


To give you an idea of what's included:

Table of Contents


Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

• What Is CDH?
• What are Fetal Interventions for CDH?
• Recent CDH Research News
• International CDH Study Group
• Medical Terms You Need To Know
• Questions & Facts About CDH
• ECMO
• Normal Values & Blood Gas Interpretation
• History of CDH
• CDH Treatments
• CDH Research Site

Getting Ready For Your Cherub

• Welcome To Holland
• Preparing For the Birth
• For Parents Who Are Expecting Children With CDH
• Our Pregnancy
• Journal Entries
• Baby Showers
• Advice To Be Prepared
• Questions To Ask The Doctor About Our Cherub
• Music To Listen To
• Sources of Financial Help
• Advice For Family and Friends
• Earning True Gift of Motherhood
• Sources of Information and Support
• CHERUBS State & International Representatives
• I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me!
• Designating A Cherub Liaison
• Our Cherub’s Blog

Our Cherub

• Our Family Tree
• Baby’s Birth Day
• Our Medical Team
• Cherub’s Medical History
• Important Medical Milestones
• Journal Entries
• Handprints & Footprints
• Mommy’s First Hold
• Daddy’s First Hold
• Hospital Visitors
• Cherub’s Firsts Photos
• Baby’s Milestones
• Journal Entries
• Baby’s Favorites
• Going Home!
• Our Home Support Team
• Medical Appointments Calendar
• Delayed Immunization Schedule
• Our Cherub’s Vaccination Record
• Journal Entries
• Feeding Diary
• Siblings
• Journal Entries

CHERUBS

• About CHERUBS
• Services Offered by CHERUBS
• Questions About CHERUBS
• History of CHERUBS
• CHERUBS 5 Funds For CDH Families
• CHERUBS Wish List
• How You Can Help CHERUBS
• Personalized Donation Sheet
• CHERUBS Resources for Families
• God’s Loan
• CHERUBS Mission
• Adopt A Hospital Program
• No One Knows
• Stories of Cherubs
• CDH Calendar
• Submitting Photos & Stories
• Updating Your Membership Form
• Using CHERUBS On-Line Calendar
• How To Volunteer
• 5 Easy Steps To Volunteer
• ACDHO

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness

• History of the CDH Awareness Ribbon
• CHERUBS Cafepress Store
• Simple Ways To Raise Awareness
• CDH Awareness Kits
• CDH Statistics
• CDH Awareness Bracelets
• CDH Awareness Ribbon Magnets & Buttons
• Order Form
• Mementos, Scrapbook Items, Records

If You Have To Say Good-Bye

• Advice To Parents Who Have To Say Good-Bye
• Funeral Home Information
• Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
• Little Angels
• Chronic Sorrow Grief Process
• Brooks To Read
• Are You There?
• Why Not My Cherub?
• Journal Entries

On The Second Day of CDH Christmas....

This summer CHERUBS was approached by the Discovery Channel for our assistance in an episode of Mystery Diagnosis. The producers requested graphics of adult late diagnosis of CDH and we submitted several graphics created by Shana Kelly, Tamara Klein and Dawn Williamson. Thank you, ladies!!!! Though the graphics weren't used in the show, we were able to give medical information and help raise awareness. If you slow down the credits on the show, you'll see CHERUBS listed and a link to our charity will be posted on the Discovery Channel site when the podcast is posted. We are very proud to have been a part of this episode and to help raise more CDH Awareness!

The episode airs again this week! The episode is Season 7, Episode 10: "The Woman Who Couldn't Stop Burping". Check your local listings for channel information but this is what Discovery Health has listed as air times:

December 14, 2009 at 10:00 pm
December 15, 2009 at 2:00 am
December 19, 2009 at 5:00 pm

CHERUBS New CDH Awareness Blogger Template

Repost:

Like our new look? It's a look in progress but we hope to raise a lot of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness!!!

We're by no means blog template experts but we think we can help you to use this on your Blogger blog (this only works with Blogger - we're working on Wordpress templates still).

How to install this blog template:

#1. Please know that you'll lose your widgets if you install this (all the little cool squares on the side). But you can add them back after you install the template!

#2. Go to http://www.cdhsupport.org/graphics/cherubstemplate.xml and http://www.cdhsupport.org/graphics/cherubsblog.txt save these files to your hard drive. This is the coding for the template that you'll need later.

#3. Go to your Blogger account and log in. Under the Dashboard you want to click on the Layout Tab. You want to choose Edit HTML

#4. Under "Upload a template from a file on your hard drive:" you want to choose and upload the cherubstemplate.xml file you saved in step #2. It may warn you that your widgets will be deleted, save it anyway.

#5. Still under the Layout Tab, now you want to go to Page Elements. You should see an element on the right named "HTML/JavaScript". Click on Edit on that element.

#6. A new window will pop up. Leave the title blank and under Content, copy and paste all the coding from the cherubsblog.txt file you saved in step #2. Save it and the window will close.

#7. Save your template by clicking on the Orange save button.

#8. To add the CDH babies being born counter, click on the Page Element that says "Congenital Diaphragmatic He..." and download and copy and paste this coding under Content. http://www.cdhsupport.org/graphics/cdhstats.txt

#9. To join the CDH Blog Ring, you need to sign up and follow the directions found here. Paste that coding in the Element that says "CDH Blogs Ring" http://cdhsupport.blogspot.com/2008/10/new-blog-ring-for-cdh-families.html

#10. To add the Goodsearch and Goodshop for CHERUBS code, click on the Page Element that says "Goodsearch and Goodshop f..." and download and copy and paste this coding under Content. http://www.cdhsupport.org/graphics/cherubgoodsearch.txt

That's it! Sound compicated? It's really not, we just wanted to be very detailed in instructions. :)

Hopefully this new template will raise lots and lots of CDH Awareness!

On The First Day of CDH Christmas....

CHERUBS is proud to announce the donation of 3 Soap Opera Digest awards by our celebrity spokesperson, soap opera superstar, Patsy Pease. These are the actual awards given to Ms. Pease during her role as Kimberly Brady Donovan on “Days of Our Lives”. Ms. Pease removed this hard earned awards from her own home to donate to CHERUBS to "do more good than sitting on a mantle". Her generousity and kindess is so grately appreciated and we know that these awards will help to bring more services to CDH families!



These awards will be auctioned at next year's Angel Ball on August 21, 2010 at Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TV8Z5NE3Nc
This video shows Patsy Pease and Charles Shaunessy accepting one of the awards that has been donated to CHERUBS.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2YZLBu2iHs
This video shows Patsy Pease accepting one of the above awards.

We are elated to further announce that Ms. Pease will be in attendance at our 2010 CHERUBS Angel Ball and will present the auction winners with the awards.

Ms. Pease is a member of CHERUBS and mom to a survivor of Diaphragmatic Eventration. She is an absolute joy and pleasure to work with and we are very much in her debt for her kindness, generousity and support to our charity.

Every day for 12 days from December 10th to December 22nd CHERUBS will be announcing news or new services for the CDH Community!!!




January 31, 2009 Press Release:

CONTACT:
Dawn Williamson *
dawn.williamson@cdhsupport.org
919.610.0129

Charity for Babies Born Without Diaphragms & Lungs Welcomes New Celebrity Spokeswoman, Patsy Pease

After struggling since 1995 to bring more awareness to Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a birth defect that affects 1600 babies each year in the U.S., CHERUBS announces their first celebrity spokesperson, actress Patsy Pease.

Raleigh, NC - CHERUBS, a non-profit organization founded to not only help parents of children born with CDH, but to lead the medical community in finding the cause and prevention of this devastating birth defect, is working hard to raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness.

Founded in 1995 by Dawn Torrence, CHERUBS is the world’s largest CDH organization with over 2600 members in 38 different countries and all 50 states. Dawn is the mother of Shane Torrence (1/28/93-9/11/99), born with left-sided CDH and multiple birth defects. Immediately after Shane’s birth, Dawn searched for a support group, but there were none available. After spending hundreds of hours in the hospital's medical library researching CDH and finding support only from parents she met at the hospital, Dawn felt a great need for a CDH support group.

CHERUBS serves the CDH community without charging parents or medical care providers for it’s services. It receives no grant funding and has no paid employees. Fundraisers help to provide the services that CHERUBS offers, often on a shoe-string budget. Many charities are struggling during this economy and it is especially hard for smaller charities without marketing budgets to compete for media attention to awareness and for research funds. CHERUBS was thrilled when Ms. Pease agreed to become a spokesperson for a cause dear to her heart as well. “Whatever I can do to help will be my pleasure” Pease said.

Ms. Pease’s son was born with Eventration of the Diaphragm, a form of CDH and part of Arthrogryposis. Ms. Pease is well aware of the struggles CDH families face. “My son Russell was born with Arthrogryposis in 1990. He has had 11 surgeries before the age 0f 15. His first was to correct an eventrated diaphragm at 11 hours old. He was given a 10% chance for survival. Part of his multiple contracture and diaphragm problems resulted in Restrictive Lung Disease ( He breathes at 40 % capacity) Despite Russell's condition he earned a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 12. I was given invaluable advice by one of his surgeons long ago...."Don't treat him like anything is wrong with him and never do anything for him that he can do for himself". I watched with tears as he struggled to find his strengths and weaknesses and in turn discovered my own. I thank God for trusting and believing in me to care for my teacher, my inspiration.....my son.”

Eventration of the Diaphragm is a form of CDH that occurs when the weakened muscle of the diaphragm allows organs from the abdominal cavity to move into the chest cavity; but unlike more common types of CDH, the diaphragm remains intact. Arthrogryposis is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures and sometimes includes muscle weakness and fibrosis.

CDH affects 1 in every 2500 babies, representing approximately 1600 babies in the United States each year, half of which do not survive. Some of the other half, like Torrence’s son, who only lived until the age of 6, end up suffering through life with lasting health problems such as feeding aversions, gastrointestinal problems, asthma, allergies, scoliosis, or long-term pulmonary problems. CDH has affected over a half million babies around the world since 2000.

“I wanted to create an organization to help those parents of children with CDH,” said Torrence. “I know exactly how it feels to be going through everything that they have to deal with and have no one to turn to, and I want them to know that CHERUBS is there for them every step of the way.”

There are more children born each year with CDH than there are children born with Cystic Fibrosis, and although there is no known cure or typical treatment, there is still a significant lack of research and awareness in the public and medical communities about CDH.

“There is still so much research that needs to be done,” said Torrence. “CHERUBS wants to be able to help as many families as possible, because we understand the hurt and confusion that comes along with having a child with CDH. We want to spare other families from the devastating effects of CDH so that more babies are lost to this birth defect.

In 2009 this birth defect should not still exist, much less still have so many unanswered questions and so little research. We will keep fighting, keep researching and keep raising awareness until the cause and prevention of CDH is found. We work toward saving babies in the future and honoring those we have already lost.

We plan to work on several projects this year including an educational video on Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia that will be free to families and hospitals. We also just published a book of stories of these children and are in the midst of planning many events, including our CHERUBS Angel Ball in Durham in October and our 2009 International CDH Conference in San Antonio in July.

We are always so busy at CHERUBS and try so hard to bring more attention to this birth defect. Having Patsy on board is such a Godsend. I look forward to working with her to help raise more awareness so that we can bring more research to CDH and more information and support to these families”.

###

About CHERUBS

CHERUBS is an international charity located in North Carolina founded in 1995. CHERUBS serves families of children and adults born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). As of January 2009, CHERUBS has over 2600 members in all 50 states and 38 countries. Board Members include the founding father of in-utero surgery, genetic counselors, epidemiologists, pediatric surgeons and parents of children born with CDH. CHERUBS is a volunteer-run organization and a United States Internal Revenue Service recognized 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.

About Patsy Pease

Patsy Pease is best known for playing the character of Kimberly Brady Donovan on “Days of Our Lives” from 1990 to 2008. She is one half of the soap’s supercouple of Kim and Shane (played by Charles Shaunnessy). She has also appeared in “Two Shades of Blue” (1999), “Total Reality” (1997), “The Young and the Restless” (1996), “Hardball” (1994), “Silk Stalkings” (1992), “Space Raisers” (1983), “Remington Steele” (1983), “Trapper John, M.D.” (1983), “Search for Tomorrow” (1979-1982). Ms. Pease has won several Soap Opera Digest Awards. She is a strong advocate for raising awareness of child abuse, giving lectures and speeches on her own personal experiences. She has semi-retired to raise her children and to continue her charity work.


*Special thanks to Rachel Wells at 919 Marketing for writing much of this press release.

Patsy and her cherub, Russ

CHERUBS Jewelry Holiday Fundraiser by Lilly Beck Originals

From Lilly Beck Originals.....

Stop by, visit and shop for Christmas ~ 25% goes to Cherubs

www.lillybeckoriginals.com

Jewelry made with swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls, abolone, shell, millifiori glass, turqoiuse, wood, glass beads, semi-precious stones, czech glass, and much much more ~

All pieces have Sterling Silver findings~

There are pieces for all ages starting at $14 ~

Everything from Childrens jewelry, Funky Fun pieces, The Everyday Collection and Beautiful Dressy pieces ~

Order ~ Dec 10th thru Dec 25th ~ and 25% of the total sales will go to Cherubs

When checking out put the code ~ CDH ~ on your checkout page

Free shipping ~ orders need to be placed by Dec 21st for Christmas delivery...

Items can be gift wrapped as well, please note that in your checkout ...

Thank you so much...

Please pass this website and fundraising information on to all your friends, family and anyone else you can think of ~ will post what we raised right after Christmas~

CHERUBS Updates - Bringing You Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness & Support for 15 Years!

CDH & CHERUBS NEWS:

* $5 Million Chase Community Giving Contest - Vote for CHERUBS! Help choose which charities receive $5,000,000 in grant money from Chase. CHERUBS has the opportunity to win money that could do a lot of good for our cause!!! Voting is done through Facebook. http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/374756?src=wallpost&ref=mf You must become a fan of the application, then vote. Please forward to your family and friends!

* CHERUBS 12 Days of CDH Christmas - From December 10th to December 22nd, CHERUBS will be unveiling 12 new deliveries to the CDH community. From news, services, fundraisers, awareness projects and products and CDH research - we'll be bringing even more to the CDH community table. Some little, some big, but all to help children and families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. What will they be? Stay tuned to our blog to find out! http://cdhsupport.blogspot.com/

* CHERUBS HOPE (Helping Other Parents Expecting) Totebag Project - our first totebag was delivered in October in person to the family of Andrew Hobbs at Duke University. It was an honor to meet Andrew and though he grew his wings, he touched our hearts forever. We have sent out over 50 totebags since October to new and expectant CDH parents and our supplies are getting low. Thank you to everyone who has donated for this project!!!!! Families around the world have sent in blankets, cameras, journals, teddy bears, footprint kits, pens, notebooks and so much more!!!! If you can donate, please do! I personally plan to hold a baby shower in memory of my cherub, Shane, to gather items for these totebags - I hope you will consider doing this in honor or memory of your cherub too! It's a great low-key way to raise awareness and donated items and have fun too! http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/hope.php

* 2010 CDH Awareness Media Blitz Campaign - in 2010 CHERUBS will be conducting a massive international Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness campaign through a number of venues. Through the internet, newspapers, events, Congress, television, music and magazines we will be raising CDH awareness through a world-wide marketing blitz. We will also be raising CDH research money and reaching even more families who need support! We are VERY excited about all of our plans for 2010! To do this, we need the help of photographers and models (CDH survivors). It doesn't matter where you live, you can help. We need photographers and cherubs around the country helping us to pull off this campaign! If you would like to help in other ways (marketing, media, etc) please let us know! If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail us at awareness@cdhsupport.org and let us know how you would like ot help and where you are located.

* 2010 International CDH Conference - to be held in July, 2010 in San Francisco, California. Details to be posted in January! http://www.cdhconference.org

* Congressional Bill for CDH Research - there is so little research for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia compared to other birth defects and illnesses and even less funds for researchers. CHERUBS is working hard to raise more government funding for CDH. We need your help - if you have any connections to get this bill into Congress, please let us know. We will be asking members to send letters soon and hope that you will all participate in this historic event of bringing CDH Awareness and Research to Capitol Hill!. We are also collecting photos and video of cherubs to send in with letters to our law makers to get this bill passed. http://www.cdhbills.org

* Congressional Bill for Awareness - We are also working on another bill to save CDH Awareness. As most of you know, the term "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" has been trademarked. CHERUBS and several other CDH organizations are fighting this trademark to keep CDH Awareness free for everyone. This trademark is the only trademark of it's kind on the USPTO registry. We are working hard with other causes to stop this trademark and any future trademarks that would hinder awareness of any birth defect or other cause. We are collecting videos to submit to our Congressmen with the bill we hope to get introduced into the Senate in 2010. http://www.cdhbills.org

* CDH Research Site - the research database site will be unveiled soon! This database will include over 2500 CDH patients and their medical histories, with research on long-term patient information that can be tabulated on the fly. Working with the International CDH Study Group, we hope to find the cause, prevention and best treatments for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. http://www.cdhresearch.org

* Adopt A Hospital Program - our new program to help bring more informational materials to CDH parents has been very productive. We have many hospitals donated and we've received several letters, calls and e-mails from doctors thanking us for the kits of brochures, Parent Reference Guides, newsletters, both "Stories of Cherubs" books and more. We still have many more hospitals up for adoption. http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/hospitaladopt.php

* International Children's Memorial Day - The 2009 International Children's Memorial Day is Sunday, December 13th. At 7:00 pm in each time zone, people will be lighting candles to remember all children lost. Over a half million babies have been affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia since 2000. This means that over a quarter of a million babies have have been lost to this devastating birth defect. Over 800 babies are lost to CDH in the United States alone each year. CHERUBS has participated in NCMD for over a decade. We remember all the families who mourn their children from Congenital Diaphragmatic and those who mourn their children lost from other circumstances. This week our web site home page will go black in memory of those cherubs lost as we list every child in membership lost to CDH. It remain this way until December 14th. This is our solemn tribute to those cherubs with wings as well as our way to bring awareness to the many children lost to CDH.

* ACDHO - The Alliance of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Organizations is a group of over 50 CDH charities, sites and researchers working together to bring support, research and maintain integrity in the CDH Community. ACDHO has a new leader and a new site coming soon, along with the "ACDHO Seal of Integrity" so that CDH parents will know which groups have their best interests at heart and which hospitals have an expertise in CDH care. CHERUBS is proud to be a founding member of ACDHO.

* CHERUBS Silver Lining Newsletter - Our latest issue will be out in 2 weeks, full of the latest news, photos from our 2009 conference in San Antonio and other events and much more!

* CDH Baby Book - the first version is now included in our CDH HOPE Totebags but the final version will be available soon on our site for free download and hard copies for purchase on our Cafepress.com store and Amazon.com

* New CHERUBS Volunteers - we have many new volunteers and a new Volunteer Coordinator, Barbara Wagner. If you would like to contact your State / Country Representative or volunteer yourself, please visit http://cdhsupport.org/volunteers/

* CHERUBS Non-Profit Status - in November, 2009 CHERUBS status went from from a private non-profit foundation to a public non-profit foundation as per the advice of our lawyers and the IRS. Public non-profit status will allow us to work on the Congressional Bills and to gain grant funding to bring even more services to CDH families. CHERUBS has been a 501(c)III non-profit organization since February, 1995.

* Having trouble logging on to our web site? - Please send an e-mail to login@cdhsupport.org with your name and cherub's name and we'll respond as soon as we can to help you out!

HOLIDAY FUNDRAISERS:

* 2010 CDH Cherubs Calendar - featuring over 650 beautiful faces of CDH - the most photos of CDH patients ever collected! If you have ever submitted your cherub's photo, it will be included. http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs.415954058

* Hand Crafted CDH Awareness Ribbon Ornaments - hand-made by member, Barbara Wagner, these beautiful ornaments are wonderful gifts. Buy 1 for a loved one and another for yourself! All proceeds are donated to CHERUBS. http://cdhsupport.blogspot.com/2009/11/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia.html

* CDH Awareness Kits - The first CDH Awareness Kits ever created! They include a totebag, Parent Reference Guide, CDH Awareness Ribbon buttons, CDH Awareness Bracelets, brochures and a CDH Awareness Ribbon car magnet. http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/cdhawarenesskit.php Order your kits by December 9 and they will be mailed out December 10th, in time for holiday gifts.

* CDH Awareness Bracelets - Great stocking stuffers! In pink or blue, for adults or children. Just $4.00 each with FREE shipping! http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/cdhawarenessbracelets.php Order your bracelets by December 9 and they will be mailed out December 10th, in time for holiday gifts.

* CHERUBS Cafepress Store - 1000's of official CDH Awareness items and more!!! The world's first CDH Awareness Store has sweatshirts, books, calendars, mugs, teddy bears, onesies, bibs, t-shirts, clocks, totebags and so much more. Many designs to chose from suitable for kids, men and women. http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs

* Personalized CDH Awareness Ribbons - over 100 CDH families have requested free personalized CDH Awareness ribbons that have been added to Cafepress. http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs/5842791 All ribbons submitted by December 7th will be posted by December 8th to be available for holiday purchases! If you would like one please send your cherub's photo, name and date(s) to ribbons@cherubs-cdh.org

* New 2009 Holiday Gifts! - lots of great new holiday designs with our CDH Awareness Ribbon! http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs/3918237

* 2009 Holiday Kid's Drawings - see these great drawings and purchase items on our Cafepress Store! All entries will be posted by December 8th! http://www.cafepress.com/cherubs/6953277

* Adopt A Hospital Program - A great gift in honor or in memory of a cherub for the holidays. We still have many more hospitals up for adoption! http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/hospitaladopt.php

WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP FOR FREE:

* Vote for CHERUBS in the $5 Million Chase Community Giving Contest - CHERUBS has the opportunity to win money that could do a lot of good for our cause!!! Voting is done through Facebook. http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/374756?src=wallpost&ref=mf You must become a fan of the application, then vote. Please forward to your family and friends!

* Goodshop / Goodsearch for CHERUBS - You can raise money just by searching or shopping on-line! By going through Goodsearch.com instead of Google, Yahoo or another search engine, Goodsearch donates money to CHERUBS. It does not cost you a penny and it is powered by Yahoo. You can shop at 1000's of stores! To make it even easier, you can download the free GoodSearch toolbar! It is safe and easy to install and it makes it so easy to search on-line and to shop as well! And it helps stores to remember that you are GoodShopping for CHERUBS even if you forget to go through the GoodSearch site to go shopping! You can download it at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/ Don't forget to choose CHERUBS as your designated charity.

* Firstgiving.com - is a free on-line fundraising site that allows you to create free web pages to collect donations for CHERUBS in honor or in memory of your cherub! You can write your story, upload your photo and send the page to your family and friends. They handle all donations through credit cards, you see who has donated and they send us a check. It's an easy, safe way to collect donations from family and friends around the world. http://www.firstgiving.com/10125

* Submit Your Cherub's Photographs - for the CDH Song Video, the CDH Research Congressional Bill and our new web site. Send your cherub's photo to awareness@cdhsupport.org with your cherub's name and date(s).

* Submit Your Cherub's Videos - for the CDH Song Video, the CDH Awareness Congressional Bill and the CDH Research Congressional Bills. Upload your video to YouTube and also send it to us at awareness@cdhsupport.org You can see other submitted videos at

* Congressional Bills - help us to find a Congressman or Senator to sponsor these bills by writing to your state law makers. Information and letter templates will be available soon. Visit this site and e-mail us if you would like to help. http://www.cdhbills.org

* CDH Awareness Trademark - sign the petition against this trademark and ask family and friends to sign as well. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/index.html

* Submit Your Cherub's Story & Photo - for our newsletter, web site, projects and more. Send them to membership@cdhsupport.org

* Raise On-Line CDH Awareness - visit our site and grab and CDH Awareness Ribbon graphics to use for free on your site, blog or e-mail signature. We have free graphics for Blogspot and Myspace, a CDH counter, CDH webring and much more. All of our graphics are free to use and copyright free. http://www.cdhsupport.org

* Refer CDH Families - make sure that other CDH families have support and information as well. Forward this e-mail to them. CHERUBS is free to join! http://www.cdhsupport.org

DONATE TO CHERUBS:

* Donate On-Line - Donations to CHERUBS are tax-deductible and much needed! No one at CHERUBS receives a salary and we are currently not grant funded. CHERUBS subsists solely on volunteers, donations and fundraisers. All donations go to help us further of our mission of helping families affected by CDH through research, awareness and support. http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/index.php

* Donate By Mail - You can also donate by check or money order to CHERUBS, 3650 Rogers Rd #290, Wake Forest, NC 27587, USA. U.S. currency in the form of checks or money orders only please. Checks can be made out to CHERUBS.

* CHERUBS HOPE Totebag Project - We need many items for this project. http://www.cdhsupport.org/donate/hope.php

2009 National Children's Memorial Day

This week our web site home page is black in memory of those cherubs lost as we list every child in membership lost to CDH. It remain this way until December 14th. This is our solemn tribute to those cherubs with wings as well as our way to bring awareness to the many children lost to CDH.

http://www.cdhsupport.org

The 2009 National Children's Memorial Day is Sunday, December 13th. At 7:00 pm in each time zone, people will be lighting candles to remember all children lost.

Over a half million babies have been affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia since 2000. This means that over a quarter of a million babies have have been lost to this devastating birth defect. Over 800 babies are lost to CDH in the United States alone each year.

CHERUBS has participated in NCMD for over a decade. We remember all the families who mourn their children from Congenital Diaphragmatic and those who mourn their children lost from other circumstances.

If you would like your cherub's name added or removed, please e-mail us at awareness@cdhsupport.org You *must* be a member of CHERUBS to be listed. You can join for free at http://www.cdhsupport.org/members

Members names will automatically be included. Please contact us if you do not want your cherub's name listed. Please make sure to have your membership form (profile) updated with your cherub's name and status if you have recently lost your cherubs.

Prayers & Quotes for December 3, 2009

Prayers & Quotes for December 3, 2009

If you have a prayer request for a cherub or a family member of a cherub, you can send it to prayers@cdhsupport.org.

Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:

Newborn cherub Briana H. arrived 12/2 and was put on ECMO.
Angel cherub Kasey C.’s mom Nicolle is expecting a baby!!
Angel cherub Ireland B.’s mom Chanda is expecting a baby!!
Cherub Ruby S. needs help with eating. She is still on a NG tube, but has started refusing her solids.
Cherub Holly M. is having a gtube inserted this week, for she needs to start gaining weight.
Cherub Addisen C. is having a bone graft surgery on 12/14 for her cleft lip/palate.
Newborn cherub Kalliope R. arrived 11/8 and is home and doing well. She was not born with a diaphragmatic hernia, but a diaphragm eventration…doctors misdiagnosed prenatally.
Cherub Nicole T. needs prayers for she is facing a surgery next year to have rods inserted to help with her scoliosis.
Newborn cherub Carter A. is thriving at home! He is still throwing up and is very uncomfortable respiratory wise when this happens. He has started home therapy in various areas of development.
Newborn cherub Lewis B. is off the vent and off of CPAP! Mom and dad got their first cuddles this week! Happy 3 weeks Lewis!
Newborn cherub Joshua L. is off the vent and fighting two different infections. He has started feeds again. Mom got her first cuddle with Joshua after 23 days last night!
Cherub Adam H.’s brother Aaron will be undergoing a endoscopy under anesthesia on 12/14 to see what the cause of his reflux is after dealing with reflux for 6 years (since he was born) and a variety of treatments. Tissue samples will be taken for a biopsy.
Cherub Adam H.’s grandma has recently been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer.
Newborn cherub Chase K. had his temporary shunt removed due to a leakage. Please pray his brain begins to drain the fluid the right way and continue to heal. He has had to have spinal taps to remove the fluid.
Newborn cherub Mia M. had to have an operation for an intestinal blockage and also a gtube inserted for feeds. She also just came off her nasal cannulas this week!
Cherub Ethan H. has reherniated and surgery has been moved to 12/15.
Cherub Dylan J. has reherniated and surgery is set for 12/3. A nissen fundoplication will be done too.
Newborn cherub Zoe L. and her twin sister Sadie L. are still in the hospital, but working on getting home.
To all our families and friends that are fighting against the flu, colds, sickness…may you feel better soon and have no complications.


Cherubs on Their Way:

Cherub Jeremiah M., due 3/30
Cherub baby boy Ruben, due 2/24
Cherub Averi G.
Cherub Jaden M., due at the beginning of the new year.
All families expecting a baby with CDH, may you have continued hope and strength for the journey that lies ahead.


Newly Grieving Families:

Cherub Maisie K. and family, grew her wings on 11/24
Cherub Alicia C. and family, grew her wings on 11/24
Cherub Luca R. and family, born 11/10 and lived for almost 10 hours in Chicago, Illinois
Cherub Wyatt S. and family
Cherub Lewis M. and family
Cherub Andrew H. and family
Cherub Nolan R. and family
Cherub Zoe F. and family
Cherub Jonathan M. and family
Cherub Ireland B. and family
Cherub Vincent S. and family
Cherub M.J. S. and family
Cherub Rafael E. and family
Cherub Floyd D. and family
Cherub Peter N. and family
Cherub Avery K. and family
Cherub Jackson B. and family
To all families affected by CDH and the loss of their precious child, may continued peace and comfort surround them.


Today’s Quotes:

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.” -Pablo Casals

“I believe we are free, within limits, and yet there is an unseen hand, a guiding angel, that somehow, like a submerged propeller, drives us on.” -Rabindranath Tagore

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” -Ashley Smith

“Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” -Christopher Reeve

Are You Currently Unemployed? Boost Your Resume While Helping A Good Cause!

In these hard economic times millions of people are out of work. Long periods of unemployment can look horrible on a resume. Volunteering your skills is an excellent way to boost your resume, fill in that empty time gap, help others and gain on the job training!

CHERUBS has a need for many professional volunteers to help with our dozens of services and projects. We are a 501(c)III non-profit operating in Raleigh, North Carolina. We are completely run by volunteers who wish to help families of babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a devastating birth defect.

We need long-term and short-term volunteers; both local and telecommuting.

We are looking for the following:
(*local to Raleigh area)

• Professional Grant Writer
• Professional Fundraiser*
• Professional Event Planner*
• Professional Marketing Coordinator
• Professional Media Coordinator
  
• Photographers
• Graphic Artists
• Writers
• Videographers
• Web Designers
• PHP Coders*
• Database Engineers*
• Decorators*
  
• Flash Animators
• Phone Sales / Fundraising
  
• Knitters & Crochets (for baby blankets)
• Office Work (stuffing envelopes, totebags, folding newsletters, etc)*
  

All volunteers must fill out the forms located at http://cdhsupport.org/volunteers before you can begin. This is also a great opportunity for college students and retirees.

CHERUBS 12 Days of CDH Christmas

From December 10th to December 22nd, CHERUBS will be unveiling 12 new deliveries to the CDH community. From news, services, fundraisers, awareness projects and products and CDH research - we'll be bringing even more to the CDH community table. Some little, some big. But all to help children and families affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.

What will they be? Stay tuned to find out! :)