13. One Breath at a Time - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)

In this moving episode, host Lisa McKelvey speaks with a mother about her family's journey with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare birth defect where the diaphragm doesn't form properly, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity and affecting lung development. For this family, the journey began on a remote station, far from specialist care.

The conversation covers the prenatal diagnosis, the immediate medical interventions required at birth, and the long road of surgeries, hospital stays, and ongoing care that CDH requires. The guest shares the emotional impact of having a child who struggles with something as basic as breathing, and the particular challenges of managing this from a remote part of Australia.

The episode explores the specialized care required for CDH patients, the importance of finding experienced medical teams, and how families cope with the uncertainty and fear that comes with a life-threatening condition. The guest discusses the daily realities of managing a child's complex medical needs while trying to maintain family normalcy.

The title "One Breath at a Time" reflects both the literal breathing challenges that CDH patients face and the metaphorical approach families must take - focusing on each moment, each breath, each small victory in their journey toward healing.