For Our Turquoise Warriors!

Available at the Carepress Store here - if you go to the store, it is less than going out to the Cafepress Marketplace! 

Update on Birth at Cardinal Glennon - Angel Ali

Many of you saw the news that a brave family underwent the tracheal occlusion surgery - what was more fascinating that they used a gel as the balloons for the trach that would absorb so a second surgery would not be needed for removal.

Ali did very well at birth, however, we were just made aware by his dear Aunt that he chose wings.  Such sad news.  We hope his family knows we all hold them in our hearts and prayers.  Many of us understand a bit of what it is like to have an angel touch our lives as Ali did. 

Please keep the Davis Family and their friends - and the amazing staff at those hospitals - in your thoughts and prayers.

http://www.cardinalglennon.com/News/Pages/FirstBirthatCardinalGlennonaSuccess.aspx

Quote about Courage...

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Whole Foods Nickles for Nonprofits - Continued....

 

Breath of Hope was one of the nonprofits chosen to benefit from the Nickles for Nonprofits at the Charlottesville, Virginia Whole Foods for the month of January.  However, Whole Foods called us after the Earthquake in Haiti and asked if they could collect for the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief the remainder of the month of January.  Of course we agreed.  They then made Breath of Hope and Ronald McDonald House the nonprofits for the month of February! 

Medical Research Support Results

Another step forward in an effort to further the care of congenital diaphragmatic hernia infants has been accomplished!  Please read here.

This was an effort collaborated by a team from the Saint Louis Fetal Care Institute - Cardinal Glennon, SSM Saint Mary's Health Center and Saint Louis University.

Hope for Haiti

We are all deeply concerned with the efforts in Haiti to get help and essential needs to the people there.  As many know a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit the city of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th.  Many businesses and nonprofits are stepping in to raise funds for this effort.  The estimate for lives lost in this small country exceeds all other natural and man-made disasters of this century.  The Haitian people are a very resiliant group of amazing people.  We hope that they know the efforts of many out there, not just in the United States but world wide. 

Please consider sending a donation to the many charities out there that are working to help the people now and in the future. We have listed a few below:

American Red Cross

Doctors Without Borders

OXFAM-AMERICA INC

CARE

UNICEF

CDH in the News - Parker Reese's Legacy

Very proud that we refer families who have children diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia to Parker Reese Foundation in North Carolina. Please read this article.

Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ~Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Children's Surgical Sciences Institute at Saint Louis Childrens

Saint Louis Children's Dr. Brad Warner is the physician leader of CSSI which has assembled surgeons to evaluate surgical techniques, research and share expertise in order to improve the surgeries performed to help children.

This information was reported in the Saint Louis Children's Newsletter "Gifts" Fall 2009. Dr. Warner has also successfully recruited a fetal surgeon which will not only help in congenital diaphragmatic hernia infants but many others too. He is continuing this effort to find committed pediatric surgeons for CSSI.

Currently there is nothing like CSSI anywhere in the United States. Initially CSSI is focusing on four speciality areas:

• Fetal repair - many conditions can now be treated through fetal surgery, Dr. Warner recently recruited a pediatric surgeon to enhance the team's capabilities in fetal procedures and research congenital birth defects.
• Childhood cancer - many cancer treatments require surgery but many childhood cancers can not be cured. Research will assist in developing new surgical treatment options. Dr. Warner is searching for a cancer surgeon researcher to lead in this area for CSSI.
• Trauma - the program is quickly developing in staff to investigate treatments for childhood trauma, improve survival and aid in the prevention of traumatic incidents in the future.
• Pediatric gastroenterology - this is Dr. Warner's special interest and he continues his research through CSSI. Current research are in Necrotizing enterocolitis and short bowl syndrome. Congenital conditions such as diaphragmatic hernias are also the focus. The surgeons not only diagnose and treat CDH but have carried out new surgical methods to improve outcomes.

On March 31, 2009, a group of determined families, in memory of their amazing children and in honor of their equally amazing children went to Saint Louis Children's Hospital. They presented a check which represented donations received in memory of Cadan Christopher, Ryann Hope and Evan directed to SLCH in an effort to assist research that would benefit congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

These families, children, health professionals and their children were there (some in spirit) to help assist to start this amazing endeavor. Breath of Hope is humbled by what a small group of very determined people can do with hard work, effort and the undying fire within to make a difference. This will make a difference, now and in the future!

Happy New Year 2010

We wanted to wish all a happy and safe New Years 2010.

We know this year has been filled with the diagnoses of CDH babies. Some yet to be born, some born and fighting like the little warriors they are and some who found that wings would be more fun than feet. We are blessed to have known them all.

Keep them all in your hearts, thoughts and prayers as we embark on a New Year to bring more awareness to this birth defect, more advances in Medical Research and support for families.

Whole Foods Market - Nickles for Nonprofits

This January 2010, Breath of Hope will be one of the charities (of two) who will benefit from the Charlottesville, Virginia's location Nickles for Nonprofits.

Whole Foods in Charlottesville has launched a new program to assist local non-profits. When you bring back your reusable bags, you receive a nickle back. You have the option to take that nickel off your bill or better yet receive a wooden nickel and give it to a non-profit. There is a box located in the front of our store to hold these wooden nickels and they are real add up! Please be a supporter of our local non-profits groups. It's an easy way to help agencies that help our community.

Whole Foods Market carries Natural and Organic products and does wonderful things in each community they serve. We thank them for this opportunity!