Also, Ich soll meine Geschichte einmal auf Deutsch erzählen. Habe bitte ein bisschen Geduld mit mir, ich bin Amerikanerin und schriebe noch mit einige Rechtschreibfehlern. :oops:
Meine Tochter, Rebecca, ist am 5 Oct. 2004 im Mannheim geboren. Wir haben den Diagnose Zwerchfellhernie schon in die 21 Woche bekommen. Rebecca wurde per Kaisterschnitt auf die Welt gebracht und fast sofort am ECMO angeschlossen. Sie hat die erste 9 Tage alle super vertragen und wir waren volle Hoffnung. Nach 9 Tagen haben die Ärzte beschlossen (mit unsere volle Einverständniss) das ECMO abzuschallten und nach 2 Tage zu Operieren. Auch das hat super geklappt, aber den abend vor den OP hatte die Rebecca einen Zusammenbruch, alles ging schief - die Gefässe in ihre Lunge waren irritiert und hatte zu viel druck entwickelt. Wir haben noch ein Tage gewartet und dann beschlossen den OP machen zu lassen. Sie hat den OP dem Umständen gut überstanden aber hat sich nie richtig erholt. 4 Wochen nach ihre Geburt, starb sie.
Ich bin jetzt Mitarbeiterin beim Cherubs um andere Betroffene zu helfen und zu unterstutzen. Ich möchte mehr Aufmerksamkeit rundum diese Geburtsdefekt hier in Deutschland zu erwecken.

Happy Thanksgiving!!
I really love this holiday! It gives us a chance to reflect. I am so very thankful for so many things. God has really blessed me more than I imagined possible. :D
My husband's family was supposed to come up for the feast, but all are sick. :( So it will just be us and a couple of friends. But that is really ok. I mean, they can't help it that they got sick!! The only problem is I have a huge turkey defrosting in the fridge!! We will probably be eating leftovers for a week! Isn't that part of the tradition? :shock:
This sunday is the first of Advent. A big deal here in Germany. I will be stringing lights and setting up a wreath. I am like a little kid when it comes to holidays. The 6th of December is St. Nicolaus Day. Children clean their boots (the biggest ones they have) and place them outside by the front door. If they have been good, St. Nicolaus will fill their boots with candy and small gifts, if they were bad then he puts a switch in the boots for the parents to spank him with! Very much like Santa in the States. My girls love this, and of course they are on their best behavior as the day comes closer. :lol:

Hugs from Germany,
Crista

I have spent the entire morning trying to find german CDH families online. There is not much out there. I sent out a couple of emails and have to be patient, I guess. That is NOT one of my better qualities! There is an ECMO group, but the email and address is outdated. This is frustrating!! I might have to start up my own website - scary!

Hello!

This is my first entry, so I thought I should introduce myself. My name is Crista, I am 32 years old, an American married to a Hungarian living in Germany. I have 3 daughters.

Tabitha is my oldest, she is almost 12. :shock: She had a normal birth, but had immune problems for 4 years and now has asthma and allergies. Other than that she is your regular teenie. :roll:

Julianna is 5. She was a premee (34 weeks) and she had tha awful RSV at 4 months of age. :( She is a busy body and a clown, she keeps us on our toes. :D

Rebecca is my Cherub. :cry: She was born with a LCDH and only lived for 4 weeks. We miss her, and we will never forget her.


I have volunteered to be an international rep. for Germany. I am anxious to get started and meet people. I want to use the experience that I had to help others. I can speak fleunt German. I have been here for 18 years. My Dad was US Army and that is how I ended up over here. Maybe I will tell that story another day.
Now that you have an idea of who I am, I will sign off for now.

Hugs from Germany,
Crista :wink: