Featured CDH International’s Alabama Ambassador is DeAnn Strother McGilberry. DeAnn is the mom to CDH angel Claude and CDH survivor Celie.
DeAnn has been in the Fine Jewelry business for 20 plus years and is the owner of Lilly Beck Originals. She is so thankful to do something she loves everyday. DeAnn is the mother of 3 children, 2 of her 3 children were born with CDH. Claude lived 10 days and was diagnosed before birth at 20 weeks. Celie was born undiagnosed with CDH (even with a high risk ultrasound done at 7 months). She spent a month in NICU, surgery at 3 days. What a fighter she is, other than her scar you would never no she had such a rough start. Celie is now 13 and in 7th grade. She ran track this year and was doing very well until the year was cut short because of COVID-19. DeAnn remembers the doctors telling Celie should be able to do normal actives, but will probably not be a track runner, she is showing them! She also has a 3rd child, her son Chambers who is a senior in high school and 17. DeAnn is happily married to her husband Darren. Most of their time is spent at a ball field and they are so proud of Chambers, for in the fall he will be kicking and playing baseball at Millsaps College. Celie is still modeling so they often travel between AL, NY and Miami. DeAnn wouldn’t change a minute of this time she gets to spend with both of them.
DeAnn’s family actively participates in the CDH research studies, for they never want their children to go through what they have. Having been on both sides of CDH, she hopes she can be there for other parents who are going through what they did.
