Ethan was born with a diaphragmatic hernia – a congenital birth defect that occurs when the diaphragm does not fully form. Internal organs grow into the chest cavity and prevent lung growth. Ethan was air-lifted to University of Iowa Children's Hospital shortly after his birth. Neonatologist, Ed Bell, M.D., was the first to treat Ethan.

"We have to try to help the small lungs work as well as possible. And we have to do some things to try to help the heart pump enough blood past the lungs to be able to pick up the oxygen – if we’re able to get it into the lungs," Bell says.

Tragically, only half of babies with this condition survive. Ethan was one of the lucky ones. After surgery, his outlook improved dramatically.

Today, Ethan is a happy, healthy boy. His parents say he’s a miracle.

"There’s really not a day that goes by that I just thank the good Lord and all the doctors and the wonderful nurses that he had, I mean, every day, because it could have turned for worst," says Patricia Beckwith, Ethan’s mom.

"It’s just a miracle from the start. I really appreciate his life and life in general after what happened. From what we started with and a lot of it, I guess, if he didn’t have the NICU it might have never happened," says Kasin Beckwith, Ethan’s dad.

"They put their baby’s life in our hands, and we consider that a great honor and a great privilege," says Bell.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernias affect about one in 2,500 babies born, but the cause is still unknown. For more information on new research and treatment of diaphragmatic hernias, visit http://www.uihealthcare.com/ or http://www.cherubs-cdh.org/.

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Ed Bell, M.D.