Fighting CDH

Hi my name is Gavin. My mommy and daddy found out at 17 weeks that I had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). My diaphragm did not develop and it caused my stomach, bowels, spleen, and the tip of my liver to move into my chest cavity. This caused my lungs to become compressed and underdeveloped. I underwent in utero surgery at 32 weeks to put a stent in my trachea to help keep the fluid in my lungs to help them develop and mature. I was born on June 11, 2013 at 38 weeks. I have since undergone surgeries to put a patch where my diaphragm should be. Then had another surgery to close me up. I fought hard for 14 days and got really tired. The doctors decided that I needed a little help so they put me on ECMO. ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is a procedure that gives my heart and lungs a rest so that I can get stronger. It does this by helping the oxygen flow through my lungs and heart to be dispersed throughout my body, and it also discharges the carbon dioxide for me. I will be in the NICU at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for 3 to 5 months. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we continue on this journey. God Bless everyone who has given us support and prayers. We really appreciate them all!