Featured CDH International’s New Jersey Ambassador is Dania Diaz. Dania is the mom to CDH survivor Luna.
“Hi, my name is Dania. I am the very proud mother of Luna, a 7-year-old RCDH survivor. I’ve lived in northern New Jersey almost my entire life. I am a bilingual (Spanish) school psychologist. I am very passionate about serving the school-aged special education population, particularly in urban settings. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Caldwell University. I also hold a Master’s Degree in School Psychology and an Educational Specialist degree from Seton Hall University. I enjoy spending time running, cooking, traveling, and watching movies with my family.
Our world was turned completely upside down when Luna was diagnosed with a severe right-sided CDH at 20 weeks gestation in December 2011. After receiving very poor prognoses from several local hospitals, my husband and I refused to give up and turned to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. We consulted with the team there and were so very happy to receive a more positive prognosis. Luna was born at CHOP and had her CDH repair at 4 days old. Luna did great! After 11 days on a ventilator, she was extubated. Luna continued to do well and was discharged after spending 5 weeks in the NICU. She is now a very happy and healthy first-grader.
I look forward to becoming more involved in the CDH International community as a NJ ambassador.”
