Crab Crawl

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia or CDH effects roughly 1 in every 2500 babies born in the US. With this condition comes a staggering 50% mortality rate. These babies have become lovingly known as Cherubs. “Cherub – a winged angelic being who directly attends to God.”

Rich and Casey Englehardt met CDH during their first pregnancy. The diagnosis at the 20 - week sonogram was the beginning of the toughest journey of Rich and Casey’s lives. Over the next few months, they took every step possible, met every specialist available, had a team of surgeons on standby, and had unwavering support from a small army of family and friends. Richard Englehardt III was born on September 27, 2016. Sadly, due to the severity of his condition, there was nothing that could be done. Richard was called to heaven a few short hours later.

Four years later, Rich’s friends and co-worker’s, Anthony and Ali Gentile were also introduced to CDH. On June 18, 2020 Ali gave birth to their son Roger Matthew. At six weeks old, Roger was taken to the Emergency Room for what his parent’s thought was indigestion. That is where their journey began. Roger was diagnosed with CDH, which had now caused his heart to move, and his lung to collapse. He was immediately placed on a ventilator and taken to the pediatric ICU. Roger had life-saving surgery the next morning. Now three years and countless follow up appointments later, Roger is a happy and healthy little boy, with no signs of reoccurrence thus far.

CDH has had a profound impact on the Englehardts, and the Gentiles. Although their stories are different, both families recognize the fortuitous opportunity to do something really special… For the Cherubs