I know all of the people on here have 'sad days'. A day when tears come easily. I am having one of those days today so I'd like to give thanks.

Today is CDH awareness day so I jumped on here to catch up with the cherubs family. I remember very well how scared I was when we found out our unborn son had CDH. It saddens me to read about new families having to deal with this medical condition. And it breaks my heart to read about other parents grieving for their children who have passed away.

The first time I got on this website was to learn about CDH after our son was diagnosed in utero. The facts about CDH (or lack there of) were overwhelming and I cried and cried. I didn't return for weeks. Then after a lot of research on CDH I had had it with medical terms that were hard to comprehend and craved information from people who had a personal experience with the condition. So I came back to cherubs and started reading other people's stories and reached out. So much support on here! The people I have met and corresponded with have been so helpful, from before Henry was born and even after he passed.

I want to say thank you to cherubs and all of the kind people who have reached out to me and offered love and support.

THANK YOU

Henry Davis Williams was born 11-13-12 at 3:23am and passed just a few hours later.

The doctors cannot give us a concrete reason why Henry passed away. Oddly enough, the one health problem we knew Henry was suffering from, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, played no part in his passing. He had a good lung, and it was working hard. Henry had a severe case of metabolic acidosis and despite the doctors best efforts, it could not be cured. The doctors also feel Henry had Fryns syndrome, a very rare condition. Most babies with fryns pass away in utero. However, a few affected individuals have lived into childhood. Many of these children have had severe developmental delay and intellectual disability.

Henry was a very sick little boy. We feel very strongly that all of the love and support we received throughout our pregnancy fed Henry and kept him healthy and strong enough to not only reach full term but to also come out fighting. We are so thankful for the time we had with him, holding and loving on him. A memory we will cherish forever in our hearts.

I am at 39 weeks. Baby seems to be comfortable just chillin inside me and that is fine. I am progressing but slowly. I am completely thinned out, station -2 and finger tip dilated (as of 10-30-12). I had two non stress tests last week that came back fine. I will have a check up on 11-6-12. We have been at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital for almost two weeks now. Baby's weight gain has slowed. Estimated at 6lb 2oz on 10-22-12. We expected around 7lb by then. I am glad we are near the hospital but sure do miss home.

Check ups have been going well. My bp is good and baby's heart rate is 130. I am 80-90% effaced and a smidgen dilated, as of 10-15-12. Baby is starting to drop and I can tell. I had a non stress test and doc said it looked great. We have an ultrasound on Monday, 10-22-12 and will move to Cleveland that day also. (We are giving birth at university hospital.) We hope to move into the Ronald McDonald house if there is vacancy. Doc thinks the baby is on its way and may come next week. I am 37 weeks. So glad my baby has made it this far in utero!

I have started a page on caringbridge for updates on our journey. Here is the address.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babywilliams2012

We had a checkup with ultrasound on 9-24-12. I was a little over 33 weeks. Scan went well. Baby weighs 4.13 lb. fluid level is good and all of our vitals are good. Also baby's head is down. Doc took a close look at the brain. Last scan she was concerned with some fluid at base. This time she was not as concerned. She said all vents were closed except one and brain looked good. She said that a lot of others may be born with this opening and we just don't know because not all babies get scanned this much or could of been overlooked. She said it may affect balance or coordination or maybe dandy walker syndrome.

Then she looked at the mouth which was hard because umbilical cord was blocking view. She said she though front pallet looked good but could not see back. Also at last scan, she was concerned with baby's small chin but she said maybe it is because mommy has small chin.

Still because of these three concerns along with the CDH and clubbed feet, she wants to do a test of cord blood after birth to see if baby has a syndrome not picked up by amino test done in June (which came back normal).

Bowel is still only thing in chest and heart still looks good. She could not get a good look at lungs but did find one and last scan she saw two (lung head ratio was a lil over 1). Baby's ribs were casting a shadow that made it hard to see clearly.

I will go back for just checkup on 10-8-12. Then another scan/non stress test/glucose test/strep b test/checkup on 10-22-12.

I go to my local health department next week for a TDaP and flu vaccine. My husband and our parents will also be getting vaccinated before baby comes.

I asked about what drugs were safe for delivering a CDH baby, since there is maybe issues with breathing and such. Doc said epidural would be fine but did not recommend any interveineous drugs be given to me after I was dilated 3cm.

I am 34 weeks tomorrow and just keep praying that baby stays in me and keeps getting bigger and keeps developing those lungs!

We met with a few doctors at Cleveland University Hospital. First was the ob/gyn then neonatologist and last was a surgeon. They all were very nice and knowledgeable. I had an ultrasound and they see TWO LUNGS!! They say our baby has 20-30% of it's diaphragm missing. Bowels in chest, liver and stomach are still down. They say our baby is a 'moderate' case. Baby is growing and moving a lot, which is great. We have decided to continue care with them. At some point I will move to the Ronald McDonald house so I am close when I go into labor (we live 90+ miles away). I feel great except for the expected sleep problems (frequent urination, sore hips, broken sleep). And I feel a lot better (more positive) than I did a month ago. I have another ultrasound on 9-24-12.

We have a meeting with the docs at Cleveland's University Hospitals (Rainbow babies and children) on Aug. 28, 2012. I am looking for other CDH families who have experience with this hospital.

I am 35, married 8 years. We are expecting our first child 11-10-12. Our baby was diagnosed with CDH at 22.5 weeks.

They think the intestines are in chest but stomach and liver are down. Heart is pushed to right side but formed and functioning. Baby also has clubbed feet.

We have been referred to University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.