The Diaz Family

Scroll down to see updates as the Diaz family progresses in their CDH Journey! (All updates are written and given by parents with consent)

Initial Backstory

September 13, 2025

Today I was traveling back to our home in Odessa, TX, and along the way I was reflecting on all the changes we have made and will still need to make during this stage—work, moving, cars, insurance, support, money, bills, savings, plans—everything that has already happened and everything that is still to come.

We, Arlette and Natanael, are requesting this contribution as the great help it is to complement some of the many expenses that these changes have brought with them.

We are a young married couple, both 27 years old, and we infinitely desire to live the rest of our lives with our little one, “Amari,” our baby who is currently 31 weeks in gestation. We’ve been struggling through life, just like many others, I suppose. It has only been a bit more difficult emotionally and psychologically because this is our second pregnancy—we went through a loss a couple of years ago that left our hearts broken. Now we are doing everything possible, and even more, so that this time will be different—with faith and hope, while at the same time dealing with insurances that treat everything like a business… a sudden move, leaving our home to live in an RV Park for a few months until it’s safe to return, dealing with work and whether they will give us the support we need or not, wondering if family will stand behind us—an endless list of challenges we’ve faced these past few months.

Even so, we are ready and hopeful that sooner rather than later, we will return home as three—4 counting our wonderful dog Waffle—to hear children’s songs and see toys scattered everywhere. That is the only thing that matters: to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel.

For these reasons, we are requesting as much support as possible to come out of this situation with smiles!

Update 9/30/2025

Amari is doing good. She is having breathing exercise movements and is moving more. Her birth date was moved earlier due to her condition and size. So we’ll meet her sooner than later. We appreciate the help as we continue to prepare for her arrival. I can’t say things haven’t been hard but, I appreciate the support I have from loved ones, coming from far to stay with me as I can’t be left alone. It’s a change for everyone. Even my little Waffle (our dog) she’s making her own sacrifices here as well for our little one.

Update 10/31/2025

October has been another roller coaster ride. We are waiting for Amari and counting down the days. My wife was presenting preclamsia symptoms and had an unexpected emergency visit. Thankfully everything turned out fine. Baby is moving a lot in mom’s stomach and is looking bigger. We are both very excited to meet her soon.

Update 11/30/2025

"This journey seems to be getting longer but our little warrior has put so much effort on her part and still continues to do so. She’s had 3 surgeries and has had tubes changed from ventilator to ventilator, tubes being changed that go into her stomach. Now she is finally breathing on her own, the chest tube is out and she’s able to move more freely. We are able to hold her now and it’s one of the best feelings. It’s been a roller coaster of emotions and continues to be as new things arise. She’s not able to eat yet because something is wrong inside her and that won’t get figured out until possibly next week. Another possible surgery was put on the table and doctors say it’s too soon for another surgery but if the case to have it done shows, she’ll need it right away. She’s been losing weight and her skin color changes often. Having the days pass by and just watching her crunch down, turn red, complain, cry when in pain is awful. The vomiting seems to have stopped. Watching her have gone through so much and still continuing to struggle breaks our hearts. We can’t be given a timeframe as to how longer she’ll be here but leaving in the next few weeks is not looking to be an option. We don’t mind having to stay longer. We want to take her home being completely okay. It is becoming more difficult to stay longer and the help we can get is greatly appreciated."

Update 12/30/2025

It’s been rough these days. Our baby turned a month and is not far from turning two. She has been working on her feeding and had been progressing but now she’s back where we started and showing more discomfort. I’ve tried advocating for her to get more done but get shut down. She drastically reduced in feeds and we feel there is more to it than “it’s common in CDH baby’s”. I (mom) have postpartum depression/anxiety and NICU trauma. Sometimes I feel as if I have PTSD. Dad had to go back to work and is doing his very best. He really wants to be more present but it is a lot to carry. My return date to work is coming soon and I still need and want to be here with our baby. Work says they understand and are there to support but they have only contacted me to pay insurance bills. Bills… more and more of them along with every other letter in the mail that has been looked at but not received as much attention because our heads are not there. We want her to get better but have seen her regress. Watching her every cry and discomfort and not being able to soothe her each time is heartbreaking. She is really trying to get better but it’s just too much for her right now. The g-tube has been mentioned as an option a few times but we haven’t exhausted all the options before getting to that point to really say “we’ve tried everything, everything has been ruled out, okay let’s do the g-tube”. The thought of her undergoing another surgery alone is a whole other worry. She’s trying hard and we want what’s medically best for her and best for her to thrive. She doesn’t have a discharge date. It’s “it depends on her, how she does” situation. Initially we were told that maybe by Christmas but that ship has long sailed and an answer of “it could be months” came up.