A NORTH Bendigo family hopes to raise awareness of a rare condition which affects one in every 2500-3000 newborn babies and has a mortality rate of 50 per cent.
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Chantelle and Joshua Morrison's fourth child Noah was born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia on March 11, 2014.
CDH babies are born with a hole in the diaphragm that results in vital organs moving into the chest cavity.
At just three days old, Noah had surgery to remove the organs in his chest.
He spent more than a month in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital before his parents were allowed to take him home.
The Morrison family will host a gala dinner and auction night on July 11 to honour Noah and all other CDH babies - both survivors and angel babies.
"Not a day goes by we don't look at our boy and thank our lucky stars he is with us," Mr and Mrs Morrison wrote on the Noah's Hope website.
"The heartache of what we watched our son live through to be with us will be something that never leaves us. Everyday, we think of all CDH babies who grew their angel wings well before their time, and pray that one day there will be a cure or at the very least answers on why our beautiful babies are born with such a horrible condition."
All proceeds from the event will go to CDH Australia, a volunteer-run organisation which provides support for families with babies affected by the condition.
Mrs Morrison said it would be an emotional night, with parents of babies affected by CDH to tell their stories.
"It will be a very emotional but powerful tone to help people understand the severity of the condition," she said.
Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan is the official ambassador.
Mrs Morrison said she was calling on the community and businesses to support the cause through donations for the auction.
The event is on at the All Seasons Bendigo at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Tickets can be purchased individually for $100 each or in tables of 10 for businesses.
For more information or to make a booking, contact Chantelle Morrison via noahshope@outlook.com or on 0432 111 245.