JUST seven weeks ago, one Cardenden family had never heard of the charity CDH UK.

Ruth and Gary Docherty, along with daughters Katie and Olivia, are now gearing up for a special fundraiser for the organisation after what was supposed to be a joyful event turned into heartbreak.

Excited at the prospect of a new baby in the family, the couple went for a 19 week scan with their two girls.

However, they were left devastated to learn that their boy Daniel, who is due in September, has a condition which means they have no idea what the future will hold.

Ruth said the whole family had been left in shock.

"We went for the scan to see what we were having – we had had t-shirts all printed and the girls were really excited," she told the Times.

"They looked and it was a boy and we had real tears of joy, it was our little boy.

"After a few minutes we thought she was being very thorough but she then asked if there was any chance the girls could go out.

"They said our baby had congenital diaphragmatic hernia which basically means the diaphragm has not formed right and there is a hole."

Daniel's condition, which doctors say is in the "serious" category, allows the intestines that should be below the diaphragm to slip up into the chest area and compromise the growth of the lungs.

Childminder Ruth will have to travel to the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow to have Daniel.

"When we go in and have him, we won't be allowed to cuddle him," she said. "They will need to incubate him straight away and operate in the first few weeks."

If surgery is successful, Ruth, 33, of Derran Drive, is aware her baby boy will face a series of health challenges.

"The lungs can still grow within the first few years but they say he will never be able to run a marathon as it is a lifelong condition.

"However if he is able to be active, be alive and active enough to run about with his sisters, I don't care about him running a marathon.

"We just want him in our arms and want him to survive.

"We can have hope and I have now had a good few weeks where I feel hopeful but, at the same time, you don't want to get your hopes up too much. 

"We cannot go and buy what we want to buy and we cannot prepare a room as we just don't know what is going to happen."

After receiving support from CDH UK in her efforts to come to terms with Daniel's condition, Ruth decided to organise the fundraiser.

"I had been in a really bad place and then decided right, I fancy doing some sort of fundraising to get myself something else to focus on," she said.

Along with the Cardenden Amateur Swimming Club her girls swim with, she has organised 'Dive for Daniel' where members – including Katie and Olivia – will team up to swim the 37km length of Loch Ness in Bowhill Swimming Club on June 27.

"The way the swimming club has supported us has been amazing," said Ruth. "Throughout this time when it has been so hard, they have come on board and said they are going to raise money as a club."

Soon after receiving their devastating news, the Dochertys were receiving help from CDH UK which, as well as carrying out research, provides parents with information, support and financial help when required.

Ruth and Gary were able to join a support group for expectant parents and this has already proved invaluable.

"It is a great charity and has already helped us so much," added Ruth.

"At the beginning, Gary had his own feelings, grandparents have their own feelings but as a mum and having this baby and feeling him kick every day, I needed to speak to a mum in exactly the same position as me."

Anyone wanting to help with fundraising for Dive for Daniel, can visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ruth-docherty.