Save the Cherubs & cherub Aaron Younce make the newspaper with the world's first CDH awareness billboard!

We made the paper!  Here is an article posted in the Wilkesboro, NC "The Record"

http://www.therecordofwilkes.com/newsa.asp?edition_number=556&pg=F

Local youth on first billboard for CDH campaign

By REBECCA TRIPLETT-JOHNSON

For The Record

Aaron Younce, of North Wilkesboro, is featured on the first ever billboard for the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Association's [CDHA] national awareness campaign, 'Save the Cherubs'. 

And, Wilkes County is the premier site for the billboard presentation.   The electronic sign which rotates images every few seconds, is located on the east bound side of West D Street near Arby's and will remain through June 23.  Billboard space was donated by Lamar Advertising.   Williamson and her husband Craig, members of the Younce family and Severt were on hand as the billboard was first displayed last week.

Younce is depicted on the sign wearing cherub wings, the symbol of 'Save the Cherubs' campaign, which was founded by Dawn Williamson in 1995.   Photos for the campaign were taken by The Record's Missy Severt and are being used on billboards, pamphlets and the CDHA website.
Younce, the son of Carl and Julie Younce, attends Mountain View Elementary School and has lived with the severe disorder since his birth in 1999.  

 "I am so happy to be on the billboard so that lots of people can see it and learn about what CDH is," said Younce.  "I hope it will also help people understand what 'Save the Cherubs' is all about and what it is doing to help others who have it while working to find out why the disorder happens to babies."   

CDH occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing the abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity preventing complete and normal lung development and growth.  One in every 2500 babies are born with CDH.

Upon Younce's birth, doctors gave his parents the horrific prognosis that he would not live.  He spent the first three months of his life in the PICU and NICU at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where he underwent two major surgeries and numerous other medical procedures to help correct some of the most critical issues.  When his team of specialists determined he had gained enough strength to go home, his family turned their nursery into an in home hospital room equipped with life saving oxygen, heart monitors, suction machines, feeding pumps and pulse oximeter.  For many years, this was the normal everyday life in the home. 

 With continued medical support, family love and God's blessings, Younce gained strength and abilities that enabled him to detach from his highly controlled and monitored lifestyle.  Today he is capable of living without daily oxygen except when he requires extra breathing help during bouts of illness.  However, CDH has left Younce with pulmonary hyperplasia of the left lung, pulmonary hypotension and asthma, making every other illness that he contracts, such as colds or viruses, much more serious and harder to fight.

 CDH, unknown to most, occurs as often as other defects such as Cystic Fibrosis and Spina Bifida.  The goal of the Raleigh based, national CDH CHERUBS non-profit organization is to bring awareness, understanding and hope for families fighting the deadly defect.

 "As a parent of a child with CDH it is so hard to watch your child struggle to just breathe at times," said Aaron's mother Julie. "To sit in the NICU and not know what the next five minutes will hold for your baby is the worst feeling in the world.  Aaron is a little older now and continues to struggle with simple things we so often take for granite like eating and gaining weight. Even with all of his continued problems never one time has he questioned why or why me. He is  going out there and telling anyone and everyone about CDH and cherubs in order to make them aware of the serious disorder in hopes of one day finding a cause and a cure.  Aaron is a hero to me."

 Younce is looking forward to spending lots of time swimming and learning about the art of clay sculpture during his summer break.  He is excited to enter the fourth grade in the fall and see all of his old friends while making new ones at school.

For more information on CDHA and 'Save the Cherubs' visit www.savethecherubs.org

 

Missy Severt, Photographer

We would like to thank Missy Severt for joining our Save the Cherubs Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness campaign!!!!

Photo Memories By Lisa

We would like to thank Photo Memories By Lisa for joining our Save the Cherubs Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness campaign!!!!

Loebach Studios Photography

We would like to thank Loebach Studios for joining our Save the Cherubs Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness campaign!!!! 

GJSmith Photography

We would like to thank GJSmith Photography for joining our Save the Cherubs Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness campaign!!!!  

Be A Photographer In The Save The Cherubs Campaign

How You Can Be A Participating Photographer In The "Save the Cherubs" Campaign

We are deeply appreciative of any time and talent that photographers chose to donate for this very important campaign.  We will try to make the process as easy as possible with minimum inconvience  to those who chose to participate.  There are only 7 things we need in your participation:

1.  E-mail us at awareness@cdhsupport.org with the following:

1. your name
   
2. web site address
3. your phone number
4. your e-mail address
5. your town and state
6. your available dates and times to take photographs
7. let us know if you will need prop wings for the shoot
   

2.  We also need your photographers release form signed and in our hands before we can schedule a photo shoot.  You can fax it or mail it in.

3.  It is mandatory that you to post a link or graphic on your site or blog announcing your participation in this campaign - as we will be advertising for you here on this site.

4.  Arrive at the photo shoot on time and ready.  We will call / e-mail you with details on where to go and when, etc.

5.  Give local interviews if requested

6.  Edit the photos and send no less than 10 to CHERUBS within 10 days of the photo shoot

7.  Send 1 autographed print (of your choice) to our main office for auction at our Angel Ball within 30 days of the photo shoot

OPTIONAL:

Hold a "Save the Cherubs" Photo Fundraiser and Raise Awareness for Both CDH and Your Studio!

1.  Set a date to hold photo sessions for all local children to dress up as "cherubs", donating a minimum of 50% of the sitting fees to CHERUBS

2.  Let CHERUBS know the date so we can advertise

3.  Advertise on your site, blog, newspaper, etc.  You are welcome to use our logo and any CHERUBS graphics to advertise.

4.  Contact your local schools, scouts, churches, etc - invite them to advertise or join in to raise more awareness for a good cause

5.  Contact your local news media about the event, invite them to drop by

6.  For the fundraiser:

1. Using your own set-up, studio, prop wings, etc, take photos of local children much like you would for holidays or other events
2. Set up some information about CDH in your waiting room to help raise awareness
   
3. You can charge whatever price you would like for the prints but please donate at least 50% of the sitting costs to CHERUBS (your donation is tax-deductible)
4. Send in your donation to CHERUBS, 3650 Rogers Rd #290, Wake Forest, NC 27587
   
5. Update your local news media on your success!
   

 

Photo by Arce Photography

Be A Model In The Save The Cherubs Campaign

How You Can Participate / Model In The "Save the Cherubs" Campaign

For our members, we need more than models.  We also need your help in making this campaign successful as we cannot do it without you!    We need you to help us make the local media awareness of this campaign, request billboard space, advertising space - all using your photographs in your town!   Your cherub will be local celebrity and possibly a national celebrity as well!    There are 5 things we need in your participation:

1.  E-mail us at awareness@cdhsupport.org with the following:

1. your name
   
2. cherub's name
3. date(s) of birth and death
4. your phone number
5. your e-mail address
6. your town and state
7. your available dates and times to model
8. write 1 paragraph about your cherub  (ex:  "Mary was born in 1998 with CDH.  She spent 3 months at NYU and came home on oxygen.  She had to go on ECMO and her odds of survival for her severe case was only 25%.  It was a rough few years, not knowing if she'd survive or where life would take her, but she did it!   She is now in middle school and a straight A student who is on the debate team")
   
9. let us know if your home is available as a photo shoot location.

2.  We also need your model release form signed and in our hands before we can schedule a photo shoot.  You can fax it or mail it in.

3.  Contact your local newspaper, TV stations and magazines to tell them about the shoot.  Don't worry - we'll make it easy for you!   Form letters can be found here.

4.  Arrive at your photo shoot on time and ready.  We will call / e-mail you with details on where to go and when, who your photographer is, what to wear, etc.

5.  Give local interviews (just be yourself and spread CDH awareness!)

Photo by Arce Photography