Senate Recognizes April 2014 as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Awareness Month

Statement

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced a resolution declaring April 2014 as Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) month. Sessions' grandson, Jim Beau, is a CDH survivor. Sessions issued the following statement today after the Senate unanimously adopted the bipartisan resolution:

"I am pleased that for the second consecutive year the Senate has unanimously declared April as National Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Awareness Month.

CDH impacts more than 1,000 babies each year in the United States and since 2000 CDH has affected more than 700,000 babies worldwide. This dangerous condition occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. Surgical repair is often not a permanent solution for CDH and patients typically have some long-term limitations. Though the effects of CDH can be debilitating, with ever improving medical care and technology life continues to improve for CDH children now and for their long term capabilities. The goal remains to raise awareness, improve treatment, and find a cure.

This bipartisan effort by the Senate encourages increased awareness of CDH and promotes the importance of prenatal care. This resolution also seeks to improve screening and treatment for CDH, discover the causes of this defect, and to develop a cure. This resolution is supported by CHERUBS, the Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support."

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