What is CDH?

CDH is a congenital abnormality that is often life-threatening. This developmental defect occurs during the formation of the fetal diaphragm. The failure of the diaphragm to completely close (usually on the left hand side) during development can have devastating consequences for the unborn child. The defect allows migration of abdominal organs, including the bowel, the stomach, the spleen and sometimes the liver into the chest on the affected side. This may severely limit the growth of the baby’s lungs, causing life-threatening respiratory compromise at birth.

Jackson Dean has a left-side CDH, which means the hole in his diaphragm is on his left side.  Below is a picture of what his chest cavity looks like.  It is possible for more organs to be invovled than just small intestines.  The heart is also pushed to the right side of the chest cavity as it does not have room on the left side.

Below is a picture of a chest cavity not impacted by CDH.