I would like to start off by saying hello. I am Alejandro Alva and I am a proud survivor of CDH for 18 years. For years, I was angry and wondering why out of all people in the world why I had to suffer through this. Since my birth, I had to undergo six surgeries (three repairs and closures) and rely on oxygen tanks and feeding tubes. It was a mystery to both me and my mother, how could this happen? My mother never smoked and never drank, it also didn't appear to be genetic. In the past two years, I came to accept my condition and embrace it. I was meant to survive for this long and I want to help this cause as best as I can. If there are any parents whose children have CDH, please notify me. I would love to talk to people and hear your stories. I want to learn more about my condition. Please and thank you. You may contact me at: alex_alva13@yahoo.com