Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Shyla Barber has worked in the medical office of OB/GYN Dr. Magdalene Karon for many years. 

Thus, when her daughter Delaney – who is 26 weeks pregnant – went in for a routine anatomy scan, she soon realized something was awry. 

“Upon that visit, they realized very quickly that when they went in to check [the baby’s] heart…her stomach was protruding up next to her heart,” Barber said. “[Dr. Karon] came in and unfortunately told us the news.” 

The yet to be born child – named Navy Jolene – has a condition known as CDH, or Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. 

Relatively rare, CDH affects approximately 1 in every 2300 children. 

“It is where the diaphragm does not form properly. The diaphragm separates your upper chest wall and your lower cavity of your body where your stomach and intestines and spleen and liver are at,” Barber said. “In Navy, it is not formed properly. It has a hole and it allows those organs to come up into the chest cavity. The only problem with that is that when they are in the chest cavity, that does not allow the lungs to form properly, so they tend to be very small…babies with CDH have a lot of breathing issues because of the fact that they have small lungs.” 

Specific to Navy Jolene’s case, which is considered moderate to severe, her lung capacity is estimated to be at approximately 30%. 

Upon receiving the news, Delaney and boyfriend Zach Byrd – both of whom are employed by Winchester Municipal Utilities (WMU) – were sent to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for consultation. 

It is there where, at 38 weeks, Navy Jolene will be delivered. 

“You have to have a level three or above [neonatal intensive care unit] that can handle these babies,” she said. “When they come out, [doctors] don’t want them to cry or anything. They want to go ahead and ventilate them.” 

It’s expected that post-birth action will be required as well. 

“Usually, if the babies are stable within the first few days, they have immediate surgery to have this repaired,” Barber said. “I’d love to say that the care stops there, but unfortunately – once the repair’s done – Navy is looking at several months in the NICU and then follow up treatments for things to do with her lungs.” 

Barber spoke of how Delaney and Zach are dealing with the process. 

“[She’s] very emotional. She goes through moments of anger and sadness. She has really turned to God though,” Barber said. “This is his first baby, so you can imagine what he’s going through and the pain he’s going through.” 

Delaney Barber added her own thoughts as well.

“It’s been pretty difficult so far,” she said. “[I’m] excited for the baby, but also scared just with everything going on…[and] the unknown of what’s to come.”

Barber wishes to thank the family of Steve and Amie Moore, as well as First Christian Church Senior Minister Jerry Johns.

With the hospital requesting her to relocate at 32 weeks pregnant, on April 21, Delaney is hoping to stay with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Charities of Greater Cincinnati. 

However, with occupancy still a question, financial risks are present with concerns including whether to seek out a hotel, rent rooms independently, or even stay in her car until a room opens. 

A mother of two elementary school children from a previous marriage, Barber also faces the struggles of missed work, upkeep of current residents, medical costs, food and travel expenses, and more. 

As a result, a GoFundMe fundraising account has been set up. 

When asked how she would ideally love to see the community respond, Shyla Barber spoke. 

“Just knowing that this is something that’s out there, that’s huge,” she said. “I would like to see that [GoFundMe account] grow and help, and maybe somebody knows somebody [who can help]…we’re kind of baffled by the whole thing.” 

“I just want a community that’s supportive and prays for us,” Delaney Barber added. “We appreciate anything that anyone does for us at this difficult time.”

The GoFundMe account, titled “Aid Delaney and Family during Navy’s CDH Journey”, can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-delaneys-family-during-cdh-journey?attribution_id=sl:cf1cfd02-e0c0-43f6-9f83-bb96a9befafc&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1-amp14_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link. 

As of March 10, just over $1,000 of a goal of $10,000 have been raised.