Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
CDH is a birth defect that occurs when a baby’s diaphragm (a thin sheet of muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest) fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs to enter the chest cavity and prevent lung growth. CDH occurs in approximately 1 in 2500 births, with over 1600 babies diagnosed each year in the United States alone. There is currently no known cause.
84 Countries, Dozens of CDH Charities, and 1000’s of CDH Families, Friends and Researchers Unite to Raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness
2024 CDH Awareness Day Events
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day is April 19th and is recognized by patients, hospitals, charities, and governments around the world! Click here to learn why this day was chosen.
Go see light-ups, participate in fundraisers, hold your own event, and more by clicking the button below!
CDH Awareness Day Light Ups
View the list of landmarks around the world that will be lighting up on or around April 19th to raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness! Make sure to participate in our Dinner by CDH Light initiative to raise more awareness and funds for the children!
2024 CDH Race for Research
Every year we go live on the CDH Telethon for up to 12 hours raising Congenital DiaphragmaticHernia Awareness and we also hold a virtual CDH Race for Research to raise funds to help the kids! This year, we are combining the two!
Join us virtually starting on April 1st to walk / run / ride the 110 kms of the Camino Ingles on the Camino de Santiago, where our President, Dawn Ireland, is walking and vlogging directly from the Camino, from the CDH Study Group Conference, and all through April.
2024 CDH Awareness Proclamations
Every year, states, provinces, and towns proclaim April as “Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month”. The United States Senate has proclaimed April as “Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month” many times!
View the list of 2024 proclamations and learn how you can ask your mayor to write one as well.
Virtual CDH Awareness Ribbons
Every year we post the names of all the CDH patients who are members of CDH International and who give permission to be listed. Scroll through the 1000’s of names and donate $5 to add an addition ribbon by the name of someone you love born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia to help us serve more patient families in their time of need.
Get Involved for April, 2024
Fundraise for CDH International
Our organization is able to provide resources, unbiased and accurate information, support services, and research because of our wonderful donors and fundraisers. Please consider holding an event or creating a Facebook Fundraiser in honor or memory of someone you love born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
Donate to Fight Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
CDH is one of the most expensive and least funded birth defects. Funding is needed for research, awareness efforts, family support services, patient expenses, funerals, scholarships, and more.
CDHi is a registered charity in the US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
