“I look at my scar when I feel lost to remember where I came from and how lucky I am. It reminds me that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. CDH defines who I am, but my condition does not limit who I can become.”

- Thomas Banzhof

Thomas Banzhof

College: Gonzaga University - Fall, 2024

• His CDH Story: Resilience is part of my personality; I pride myself on battling until the end. I am lucky to be here today thanks to the work of amazing doctors, but the price of a successful CDH surgery was a damaged left lung. My doctors warned my parents that I would struggle with physical activity, especially sports, involving cardio. Ironically, I love sports. I play soccer, and started running cross country my sophomore year, earning a varsity spot. In my junior year, I helped my team win the league title and became a leader. My hard work paid off, as I was named team captain this past season and led the team to a league championship and outstanding year finish. During cross country, I developed exercise-induced asthma during taxing workouts. My limited lung capacity causes wheezing and lack of sufficient airflow. After years of invincibility, I felt CDH finally catching up to me. I considered giving up because cross country “was not for me,” but I spoke with my doctor and got an inhaler to help with my asthma while running. However, I still wheeze and struggle to breathe whenever I run especially hard. On occasion I still notice the pain and wheezing, but I use it to motivate me further and remind me of all the struggles I endured to get where I was at that moment. It’s the perfect culmination of everything CDH represents - pushing through when the situation is bleak, overcoming fear and discomfort, manifesting positive results and leaning on a team- in a metaphorical fight against the race clock

• Hobbies and Interests: Sports, sports, sports! Baseball, soccer, cross-country…you name it, I watch or play it! I coach alongside my dad and brother, dealing with the “administrative” side of the game, such as keeping kids on the bench engaged, encouraging the players through successes and mistakes, and administering high-fives by the dugout. Additionally, I help with repairing the fields, running the snack shack, and setting up league fundraisers, which raised enough money to buy new all-star jerseys for the teams. My work as a student ambassador taught me how to interact with all sorts of people and even communicate in Spanish as well as English. I plan to apply my advanced intrapersonal skills to the CDH community by spreading awareness.

• Professional Aspirations: I want to support the CDH community financially and through hands-on experience. I plan to go to law school after earning my undergraduate degree and pursue a career in a law field (hopefully in the world of sports), by donating to Fore Hadley, creating partnerships with the professional organizations I become a part of, and making myself available as a guide for kids struggling with CDH side effects in their lives, I will make this community stronger.

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