August 5 - Dear Nicholas Sparks

Dear Mr. Sparks,

Today I went to a women's networking meeting here in downtown Wake Forest, NC. 

They are another exclusive networking group and their charity seat is open.  CHERUBS is competing for the seat with 4 other charities.  We each had to talk about our charities, what we do and how the group could help.  Our charity was the only national one.

I knew going in that we would not get the spot.  That's not being negative, it's just a fact that we've come to accept after 20 years.  Being a national charity and not locally based (like a food bank, coats for kids, local grieving support, etc)... the odds were stacked against us.   Add in that no one has ever heard of of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and we were going to come in last in the competition.  People want a quick fix, feel-good-in-the-moment charity most often.  That's ok.  But that's not us.

Despite having the most people in need, a 5-star rating, national exposure and being a charity for critically ill babies vying for the support of a room full of moms and grandmothers... we lost.   And that's ok.

My point to today's letter that it is so hard for us to help these children.  Even in our own neighborhoods.  Even literally 2 doors down from our office.  Even when our community just lost a baby to CDH. 

CDH is not a quick fix cause, but then neither is Autism, Spina Bifida or Cystic Fibrosis.  The difference is that those causes have awareness.  They have loud voices.  Those families are getting help.  They are getting hope.

CDH desperately needs a voice too.

Sincerely,
Dawn M. Torrence Williamson
CHERUBS President & Founder