At 36 weeks pregnant, my husband and I were told the shocking and devastating news that our baby girl had CDH. We hadn't heard of this rare birth condition, and yet it would change our world forever.

Aria was born full term, intubated immediately and rushed off to NICU to be stabalised. At 2 days old, she had a life saving operation to repair her diaphragm and move all her organs where they should be. We spent just over 2 whirlwind weeks at the Grace Ward at Westmead Children's Hospital - the most testing, emotional and stressful 2 weeks of our lives. 

Aria is now 8.5 weeks old and has been doing amazing since her operation. We will be forever indebted to the doctors and nurses who saved and cared for our baby girl.

Aria is one of the lucky babies who survived and has since beaten all the odds against her. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't remind her that she is our warrior princess, a true miracle and the strongest person we know. 

Now we are giving back to CDH Australia so it can continue to help families like us.

The only Australian charity supporting families affected by the rare birth condition, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CDH means being born with a hole in the diaphragm, and affects 1 in 2,500 births. This week, 2 families will receive a CDH diagnosis. The fatality rate is 50%. Families are shattered by the loss of their child. CDH survivors face ongoing health complications. For a family receiving a CDH diagnosis, fear and anxiety can be overwhelming. We fund research, deliver education, provide support services and deliver hope.