Faces of CDH Calendar for 2011

We are taking photos for the Faces of CDH Awareness Calendar for 2011, this is the fourth year we have produced this calendar. Please send pictures to pictures@cdhawareness.org by October 15, we will provide a consent form. 

Below are samples from our calendar this year.  These make great gifts for under $20 and are wonderful to give friends, family and doctors or your favorite nurse.

Thomas Jefferson Area United Way Day of Caring - Giving that Gives Back

Since 2007, Breath of Hope has participated in the Thomas Jefferson Area United Way's Laurence Richardson's Day of Caring.  Each year, in September, the Central Virginia's United Way coordinates hundreds of projects for other nonprofits and schools in the area and provides thousands of volunteers to help.  It is the time of year, other nonprofits and schools look forward to receiving volunteers to complete projects they otherwise could not have done without the human power required.

In the summer or 2007, I heard a radio advertisement requesting nonprofit organizations contact our United Way to obtain the volunteers needed for projects for one day.  We knew there was a project that we could untilize volunteers but we also wanted a project which would give back to the community.  Breath of Hope had been supplied infant hand print kits for our Expectant/New Parent Packages by individual Board Members and myself.  We had found a wholesaler which we could purchase these kits for approximately $5 each.  We knew we could assemble them using containers and paris of plaster for less than $5 each.  In fact, the total cost per kit with labels, ziplock bags and instructions are at a cost of about $1.25 each, far less than the cost we were paying.

We also had all our printed materials reviewed and edited by the University of Virginia's NICU staff lead by Robert Sinkin, MD and felt we should give back to them.  On average, 450 infants are admitted each and every year at the NICU there.  Today, a hand print kit is supplied to each and every family who has their baby admitted there.  The remaining are used in Breath of Hope's packages and we have had extra to help send to Project Sweet Peas Projects around the country.

This year we had an amazing group of volunteers from CFA Institute and Banana Republic of Barracks Road come and learn about congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Breath of Hope and help us assemble another 500 hand print kits.  And they see the results which we provide the UVA NICU.  We know that families throughout the area benefit from these simple kits.  We also know the staff at UVA's NICU enjoy giving this small token to families in order to capture their child's first days here on earth.

We thank the volunteers, the Thomas Jefferson Area's United Way (Shaele Wood should receive a metal for her coordination each and every year), PRA International for providing the space to complete this project and the UVA NICU for the inspiration, help and assistance to complete this project for three years.

Next year will be the 20th year of the United Way Day of Caring here in this area.  Twenty years of helping other nonprofits and organizations have volunteers provided so they can help others.  By giving, you give and get and it is returned,

We would also like to promote a wonderful Printer we used this year - their service and quality are amazing!  With very short notice we were able to get our labels and they went over and above the call of duty!  Lepin' Lizard Labels - order your labels from them - they are less than any others we have used and their service is amazing!

Two Days Left - Bidding Ends September 15th at 11 PM ET

ONLY 2 Days Left to Bid!!!

The Breath of Hope, Inc Auction closes on September 15, 2010 at 11:00 PM EDT. If you've got your heart set on a special item... you still have time to win! Check Out These Great Buys... You can still bid on any of the special items in our auction right up to the final seconds of this exciting event. Every tick of the clock brings us closer to the finish line. This may be your last chance to win that special item or to grab a great bargain. So don't miss out... BID NOW! Spread the Word! Remind your friends the end is almost here! Just Refer your Friends so they have the chance to offer their support and get some great last-minute deals. Don't Forget: Every bid supports the work we do at Breath of Hope, Inc! View All Auction Items Items still available! View All 73 Items Katherine in Dusk The Katharine Book Bag is about simplicity. Whether you are carrying a romance novel or a school book, this bag will let you do it in style. Its reversible sleek design allows you to get two looks for the price of one. The zippered pocket allows ... Donated by: Jennifer Zaranis Value $36.00 Current Bid $12.00 Brew Central 14-Cup Coffeemaker ¿ 14-cup coffeemaker ¿ Fully automatic with 24-hour programmability for "wake-up" coffee ¿ Brew-pause; coffee-ready indicator; auto shut-off; simple push-button controls ¿ Gold Tone filter, charcoal water filter, and instruction book included ¿ Me... Value $185.00 Current Bid Bid Now! Viva Las Vegas!, Las Vegas A Trip for Two to Las Vegas, Nevada for Four Days & Three Nights at the Luxor with Economy Class Air, Including Shared Round Trip Airport Transfers and an Evening Helicopter Ride over the Strip Come revel is the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas! Fr... Value $2,600.00 Current Bid Bid Now! Donate a Mile in the NYC Marathon 2010 Each runner is required to raise $2,500 in order to participate, this means that each mile they run will be worth $100. Donate for one mile - all proceeds raised will go to the Dhreams Research Program at Columbia University to further genetic re... Donated by: Breath of Hope Value $100.00 Current Bid View Item View All 73 Items

Guest Book   Refer Friends

Breath of Hope, Inc

PO Box 6627 Charlottesville, VA 22901
Ph: 888-264-2340
http://www.breathofhopeinc.com/

In Remembrance...

Show Us Your Support!

Beginning on September 1, 2010, Breath of Hope, Inc will be holding an online auction to raise much needed funds.

We need your support!

We're asking you to participate in one of the following ways...


How You Can Help:

Donate.
We need Auction items to add to our auction. If you have valuable merchandise, rare collectibles, business or personal services or access to unique events, we need your contribution today. Click here to Donate.

Be a Sponsor.
Contact us at breathofhopeinc@biddingforgood.org or 888-264-2340 to take advantage of promotional opportunities for your business or to pledge your individual support.

Tell Your Friends.
Do you know someone who would be interested in supporting our cause? Please share the news of the online auction with your friends so they can be part of the excitement. Refer a Friend to our auction so they can get involved.

Thank you in advance for your continued support! We look forward to your item donation and online bids!

View All Auction Items

PRESS RELEASE: 2010 Breath of Hope Scholaships Awards Announced

For More Information Contact:
Breath of Hope, Inc. 1-888-264-2340
Website: www.breathofhopeinc.com

BREATH OF HOPE, INCORPORATED SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
ANNOUNCEMENT

Breath of Hope, Inc. (BoH) a 501 c 3 nonprofit public charity is pleased to announce the following
scholarship awards to the following individuals:

• Devin Dye of LeRoy, West Virginia is the recipient of the Miracle Scholarship which will be applied to his education at West Virginia University
• Lauren M. Real of San Carlos, California is the recipient of the Miracle Scholarship which will be applied to her education at California State University
• Erin McInnis of Madison, Mississippi is the of the Hope Scholarship which will be applied to her education at Harding University
• Jacob Boyd Womack of Madison, Mississippi is the recipient of Beyond Measure Scholarship which will be applied to his education at Mississippi University
• Alex Mourtsen of Flagstaff, Arizona is the recipient of the Miracle Scholarship which will be sent to further his education at Northern Arizona University

Breath of Hope would also like to thank GMAC Financial who through their grant made these scholarship awards possible for these amazing individuals.

To learn more about Breath of Hope, please visit: www.breathofhopeinc.com call them toll-free at 1-888-264-2340.

August 19 - A Day of Hope...

Many people don't want to talk about an infant that died.  It is sad thing, but for the parents, grandparents and their sisters and brothers they do remember the joy, the hope and the beauty of that child who was theirs.  These are miracles too and no one should be ashamed or embarrassed to talk of these amazing miracles who blessed this world for a short time. 

On August 19 - it is a day of Hope and a day to remember and speak of these amazing angels.

Please feel free to visit here and be proud to display these beautiful photos in honor of these children and their families.

Make Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day 2011 in Your Area!

Every day you live you project congenital diaphragmatic hernia awareness.  Sometimes you do this silently and sometimes very vocally.   You always are aware and you wish all others would be too.

A parent of a child who is surviving this birth defect, your child does something you never thought they would do when they were in the NICU and it brings you to tears.  “I never thought my child would ever color like others”.   You savor every moment and you fear every turn that maybe you will wake from this dream and it will become a nightmare again.

As a parent of an angel who fought valiantly and chose wings, you see signs in the butterflies that land on your nose or the rainbow that suddenly fills the sky when you are at your bluest blue.  Still these babies can make our heart soar.  You savored each moment and treasure your memories.

Both know the real normal is just a setting on the washing machine.  Both were shocked at the news that their infant had this birth defect that when laid out seemed bigger than they would ever be but they both fought like warriors we read of in novels.  That alone makes us pick up and move forward, telling our stories to make others aware.

You tell others to educate them that congenital diaphragmatic hernia happens just as often as spina bifida, cystic fibrosis and congenital muscular dystrophy.  Others have heard of those and know of them but few have still heard of CDH.  Many dismiss it as a “hernia” and ignore the simple fact that still today over all the survival rates are 50%.  You know that 1800 families each year have their child diagnosed just as you did.  You know the fear, helplessness and hope these families go through each and every moment.  You know what they will face.

This is why each year we ask our states and localities to issue a Proclamation for March 31^st to be Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day.  It is a day to celebrate.  It is another day to add to our own children’s birthday or birthday and angel day.  It is a day to have our government officials to acknowledge that this birth defect still needs more education, awareness and more research to improve the survival rates, to lessen the residuals survivors and their families endure.  We need more families to burst into tears when their child jumps for the first time because they once thought they never would.

Each year, more and more people are becoming aware – and it is because of the families who take an hour of their time to sit down, edit a letter and mail it with a sample proclamation and perhaps pictures of their own child.  You then will receive this astounding document an acknowledgment that government works for the people, by the people and for you.  You hold this tangible piece that states you made others aware that may never have been otherwise.  

Please contact us at cdhawareness@breathofhopeinc.com for a sample letter and proclamation, we will be happy to send them to you and ask all you do, is send us a photo or a scan of the document when you receive it!  When at times you have felt powerless in this journey with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, you have the power to do this!

Requesting Funds for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research & It Will Raise Awareness Too!

One of the most amazing people we know, Shannon, has taken on running in the New York City Marathon on November 7, 2010.  Twenty-six miles representing congenital diaphragmatic hernia awareness through the City of New York.  This marathon is the marathon that all want to run.  They say crossing that finish line in Central Park is like no other accomplishment they ever experienced. 

The New York City Marathon also attracts runners from all over the world, media from all over the world and spectators!  Every cent raised by the runners on TEAM GCDH NYC Marathon will go to Dhreams - Diaphragmatic Hernia Research & Exploration.  The runners are doing this for these children, families and to prove something to themselves - that they can reach from within and accomplish this without quiting - after all, these children are not given that choice.

Your donations are tax-deductible and every cent raised helps!   You can donate at the link above for TEAM GCDH NYC Marathon to any runner or any of the organizations and indicate that the funds are to the NYC Marathon for CDH Research!

Shannon - thank you - and all the other runners too!  Global CDH - thank you for this opportunity and may we all help raise some awareness and some funds for congenital diaphragmatic hernia medical research!

July 10th - Zumba for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness!

Thank you Sara (Joey's Mom) for organizing this event!