Cody's story is going nation wide !!!!! With help from Blue

[BeverlyCawvey]

Hi Everyone,

Blue Cross BlueAdvantage HMO. Has asked us if we wanted Cody's story told. After Cody was born last December . We had to call them to ask
Questions about Cody and getting him on our plan A.S.A.P.
WE told them everything that was told to us about getting his C.D.H fixed. We later called them saying he was going to be in Children's for a while and the lady we talked to at Blue Cross BlueAdvantage HMO seemed very concerned about Cody, so we gave her his web site info. Last week we got a call from the branch in Texas, She said everyone has been following Cody's journey at now 4 branches
(Blue Cross BlueAdvantage HMO) They want to spread the word about Cody and C.D.H.
His story is going to
Be sent out nation wide. In there Blue Cross BlueAdvantage HMO news letter.
Story below and pictures I sent to them, they wrote the letter, we just had to email 3 pictures..









When BlueAdvantage HMO members Beverly and Sherdell Cawvey were told by
Their physicians that the child Beverly was carrying had a fetal
Diaphragmatic hernia and would have a slim chance of surviving birth, the
Cawveys were devastated.


“The doctors said our son would only have a 4 percent chance of living and
Would likely suffer heart failure immediately after birth,” says Sherdell
Cawvey. “They recommended we terminate the pregnancy, but that was not an
Option for us.” The Cawveys were not going to give up on their son and Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois didn't give up either.


Their son, Dakota, "Cody" was born last December and spent the next nine months in
The hospital. He was stabilized after birth, placed on E.C.M.O. (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation).
Before they corrected the Fetal diaphragmatic hernia. Later to find out he also had Tracheomalacia and Bronchomalacia ( floppy airways) Cody had to get a trach with vent support to help him breath, while his air ways get stronger.


A diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital defect that develops during the
Formation of the diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest cavity from
The abdominal cavity. In a diaphragmatic hernia, the diaphragm does not
Completely form, and a gap is created between the chest and the abdominal
Cavities. Due to the gap, the intestines, spleen, liver and stomach may
Move up into the chest cavity preventing the lungs from developing
Properly, which makes breathing difficult or impossible.


Dakota has been at home for three months now and is thriving and
Feisty, even though he breathes with the help of a Trach and ventilator, say
His parents.


“Cody has now had care costing more than $2.5 million, and we are so
Grateful for our BlueAdvantage HMO coverage,” says Sherdell. “He will
Continue to need procedures and physical therapy, but the doctors tell us
That he has a great chance to live a normal life.

“The HMO customer service has been so helpful and nice to us. They've
Really helped us get access to the physicians, equipment and care we needed
To help Cody survive. Thank God we have such good insurance. Cody’s really
Beat the odds.” www.dakota-cody.com.

[Chris and TracyMeats]

Wonderful news!! Cody's story being told nationwide with the help of Blue Cross is awesome--what a great way to share Cody's story and to let others know about CDH.

Happy 1st Birthday Cody!!

[MelissaKelly]

Awesome, Beverly!

We have a great relationship with our insurance company, too. It's good to hear the occasional positive story from dealing with them!

Cody looks great.

[Dawn Torrence Ireland]

That is WONDERFUL, Beverly!!!!!

[BeverlyCawvey]

Thanks everyone.... I know this is great to spread CDH info!!!
I have been doing so now for 9 months.

[Dawn Torrence Ireland]

Hey Bev,

Tell us more about Cody's Foundation!

LOVE his Santa costume photo, it's adorable!!!

[BeverlyCawvey]

Hi Dawn

I opened his foundation in sep. after he got home..

Its to Raise Money for Children's Memorial E.C.M.O & C.D.H. Research all money raised goes for Dr. Reynolds Research on ECMO & C.D.H. at Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital. in honor of Cody's Foundation.

Our Mission:




our Mission is to spread info about CDH and raise money for CDH Research



Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) is a birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm does not fully form, allowing organs to enter the chest cavity preventing lung growth. CDH strikes 1 in every 2500 babies1, of all races, religious backgrounds, and financial status - no matter how well the prenatal care.
Nearly 4 million babies are born in the United States each year. This means that approximately 1600 babies are born with CDH each year - in the U.S. alone! There are more babies born with CDH than with Cystic Fibrosis (1 in 3900) and it's almost as common as Spina Bifida (7 in 10,000) 2 - yet, you probably have never heard of it until it affected someone that you love.



The cause of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia is not yet known.

We need to find the cause please donate to help in

CDH Research !




50% of babies born with CDH do not survive and sometimes the remaining 50% have to overcome very difficult medical complications. Many CDH babies have minor lasting health problems such as feeding aversions, asthma, scoliosis, or short-term oxygen dependency. A small number have major lasting health problems such as ventilator dependency, brain damage, or hearing problems. Many patients have no long-lasting medical problems at all other than a scar from the CDH repair. CDH can occur alone or with other birth defects, and rarely, it occurs as part of a syndrome.

Every CDH baby is different, there is no way to predict the outcome of any patient. Some babies with no diaphragm and little lung growth have survived, while some babies with full lungs do not. These children are very different, requiring different treatments, and varying amounts of medical support.


ECMO

has saved the life's of a lot of babies born with CDH..



Extracorporeal Life Support (also known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ECMO) is cardiopulmonary bypass pumping done for prolonged periods of time at a child's bedside. Cardiopulmonary bypass was originally developed to allow surgery on the pediatric heart during "open heart surgery." However, we have been able to adapt the technology to support children who suffer pulmonary failure from a large variety of causes.

Children with overwhelming pneumonias, those born with severe congenital anomalies such as diaphragmatic hernia with pulmonary hypoplasia, or children who have heart failure following cardiac surgery may be candidates for ECMO support. In all of these children, ECMO circulates a child's blood so that oxygen can be supplied to the body and gaseous wastes removed, allowing time for healing for a child's damaged lungs.

please read this. http://www.dakota-cody.com/about_dakota.htm so you understand more about our Mission.

the website URL:http://specialneedchildren.info/Cody's Foundation is a nonprofit organization

http://specialneedchildren.info/diap...c%20hernia.htm

=)

[Dawn Torrence Ireland]

WONDERFUL, Beverly!!!!

[DanielleGolding]

Fantastic Beverly, Cody is such a cutie pie

[KarlaHolt]

GREAT NEWS! Cody is amazing!