This petition is started in part of an appeal process against an application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark office for ownership of the awareness of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. CDH is a rare and often deadly birth defect that affects 1600 babies in the U.S. each year.

One organization, Breath of Hope, Inc., is seeking to own the term "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" and therefore dictating it's use. This would be detrimental to every cause, every CDH organization, every family affected by Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia that wishes to raise awareness, advocacy, research and support of this birth defect in memory and in honor of these babies. This would effectively exclude everyone but a few within a specific organization of using CDH Awareness ribbons, petitioning the government of CDH Awarness Days, holding events, fundraisers and any other activities in correlation for raising awareness of this disease without specific permission from one specific individual within one organization for their benefit.

It is our collective opinion that no one should benefit from the pain and / or deaths of babies born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia by claiming ownership of the awareness of this birth defect. We petition the United States Trademark & Copyright office to deny claims to this term and any terms that would negatively affect the families, medical care givers and general public who may be affected by CDH.

As this would be detrimental to several other organizations who have been practicing CDH Awareness for over a decade, 1000's of families around the world and general public - we hereby sign that we petition against the ownership and trademark of the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" by Breath of Hope, Inc and any entity, organization or individual.