Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award Winner to Research to benefit Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Sean E. McLean, MD, an assistant professor at UNC, was selected as a 2010-2014 Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program scholar. The Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

Dr. McLean plans to use the four year grant to support labratory research on how smooth muscle  cell phenotypes contribute to pulmonary hypertension utilizing mouse models for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).  Please read here for the full article.  Thank you Jean for this great find!

$5,000 GoodSearch Giveaway - Three Days Only!

GoodSearch will donate a $1 for every toolbar that is downloaded between April 6th at 9am EST and April 9th at 9am EST up to $5,000!! Please download the toolbar right now by following this link - (see below for instructions on how to create a link to your customized toolbar download page)

Our new toolbar is free to download and allows you to raise money for our cause CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS---Every breath they take is our ~BREATH OF HOPE~ every time you search or shop online! Once added to IE or Firefox, each time you shop at more than 1,300 stores (from Amazon to Zazzle!) a percentage of your purchase will automatically be donated to CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS---Every breath they take is our ~BREATH OF HOPE~ at no cost to you (and you may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals as well!). The toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet, about a penny is donated to CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA AWARENESS---Every breath they take is our ~BREATH OF HOPE~ http://www.breathofhopeinc.com/

Please hurry and do this now so that we can earn the $1 bonus per toolbar!

And, please pass this along to all of your friends. The two minutes it takes to add this toolbar to your browser can make a lifetime of difference for our cause!

Get the toolbar NOW! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/bre...

Please note: All funds raised through GoodSearch to Breath of Hope are redirected to Medical Research that will benefit congenital diaphragmatic hernia!

Happy Easter from Breath of Hope

Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless. - Charles M. Crowe

Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals. - Charles M. Crowe

I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. - Bible: John, 11. 25

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. - Pope John Paul II

What to Do for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day...

Have no plans for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Day – other than wearing turquoise?  Here are some simple things that you can do:

• Have a candle lighting ceremony – light your candle(s) at 7 PM your time and extinguish them at 8 PM just as you would for International Children’s Memorial Day or Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.  Send thoughts or say a prayer for all those affected by CDH.

• Tell one person about congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
• Donate blood, if you can.
• Print off cards with the description or definition of CDH and hand them out randomly – better yet –   do random acts of kindness and hand the card to those you do your good deed for!

• Post on your blog, carepage or website about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day.  Better – turn it turquoise if you can or put one of the Turquoise Awareness Ribbons on your site!

•  Turn your profile on Facebook or anywhere else Turquoise for the day – or use one of our ribbons!

Have fun!  This should be a day of joy – it is a day we can celebrate awareness of this birth defect – though we always spread the word – this day is something that has been recognized by 34 Governors and States and will soon be recognized by the United States!

We are not stopping this effort – our goal has always been and will always be to have all 50 States Issue Proclamations and for countries to also issue Proclamations too. 

Pennsylvania Proclamation for March 31, 2010

The State of Pennsylvania...

Has issued a proclamation for March 31, 2010 to be Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day.  Thank you Governor Rendell and Stephanie, Porter's Mom!

Help Save Lives - 3rd Annual CDH Awareness Blood Drive

In Kansas City, MO - details are here

To Make an appointment click here

Help children and babies like Sofie, Kinley and MJ! 

Most don't know that second to the ER for use in a hospital for blood, are NICUs.  Staff takes regular blood draws from infants which in turn means they must give them transfusions.  There is no replacement for human blood.  If you can't donate, please pass this on to those who may be able to!

Pleasant Hill, California Issued Proclamation!

To See Hayley accept the Proclamation and say a few words about Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, please go here: 

click on the "Council announcements and reports

First Annual CDH Walk of Hope - March 27, 2010

There is an amazing family that was touched by congenital diaphragmatic hernia.  There are many amazing families who have been touched by CDH.  This entry is about one in the thousands that have been.  In their grief, they have made their way by trying to do something to help others.  All of them.  We know families can be puzzles of pieces that sometimes just don't fit from time to time but this family has come together to have a special event. If you are in the area - pleas considering attending this event - and walking to celebrate the families affected by CDH.

1st Annual
CDH Walk of Hope
March 27th

1 Mile Walk

Saturday, March 27th Lampe Park Gardnerville, NV

$20 Advanced Registration by March 13th $25 Day of Walk

Walk Starts @ 8:30am-12pm Raffle Prizes $1ea or 6 for $5

To register please mail cash or check to Shannon Minder
106 Mill Creek Drive Coleville, CA 96107
or online at www.active.com
More information contact Shannon 530-208-6421

MJ is very proud of them!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Here's to lying, stealing, and cheating!
May you lie to save a friend;
May you steal the heart of the one you love;
and may you cheat death.

~
We're on this Earth together,
And if we would be brothers,
Fight not just on your own behalf
But for the sake of others.
~
May your past be a pleasant memory,
Your future filled with delight and mystery,
Your now a glorious moment,
That fills your life with deep contentment.

May you work like you don't need the money,
Love like you've never been hurt, and
Dance like no one is watching.
~
May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.
~
May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.