What is the cause of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH)? I asked my gynae when we first discovered that the baby in my womb had right-sided-CDH. He had no answer except comforting me that it wasn't my fault - nothing that I did or what I had not done could be the cause of CDH.
I remembered I was so overwhelmed that although I looked as cool as cucumber on the outside, inside I was bombarded by a tsunami of questions and doubt and guilt.
Could it be I didn't eat properly? Could it be I didn't take enough iron supplement? Could it be the other I tried to move the big shelf? Could it be.....? The questions were unending, all pointing at me with the trumpet of blame.
Then I regretted I didn't sign up for the stem cell's storage during my first pregnancy. The stem cells from his brother could have saved his life. The big brother came out healthy. And if I did store his stem cells, perhaps they could inject it into me to build the muscle for the diaphragm.
I was lost. I was confused. How could a healthy baby in womb had his diaphragm's muscle partly missing? And then with the hole, now his liver and intestine and kidney were inside his right chest cavity, sharing the same chamber with the right lung? What else could not happen?
Could stem cell be the saviour or future cure for CDH? No one has the answer till today. Although yes, there are some researches being done now to help looking for solution. CDH has killed a lot of newborns. I am lucky Jansen is still alive.
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