A couple whose son was born without a diaphragm are reeling after doctors revealed their unborn second child will have the same severe condition - a one in 50,000 chance. Neil and Amy Rubenstein's son Aiden, now three, was born with a severe case of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). The condition usually causes a hole to develop in the baby’s diaphragm - but Aiden was born with no diaphragm at all and had to have a new one made out of sports clothes fabric. Neil and Amy Rubenstein have been told that their unborn child has the same diaphragm abnormality that their son Aiden, three, suffers from. The condition is not thought to be genetic Neil and Amy Rubenstein have been told that their unborn child has the same diaphragm abnormality that their son Aiden, three, suffers from. The condition is not thought to be genetic The family, from Chicago in Illinois, U.S., were shocked when doctors diagnosed their unborn second child with the same condition - just 20 weeks into the pregnancy. ‘It was like a bomb that hit us. Neither of us could speak,’ said Mrs Rubenstein. ‘I had to be peeled off the examination table by Neil. We were hysterical.’ More... 'The Pill gave me a stroke': Beauty queen, 18, claims Yasmin caused a blood clot in her brain - and damaged her vision 'It teaches you how precious life is': Toddler defies the odds to reach his second birthday despite being born with THREE major heart defects Aiden has been undergoing treatment at the Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago under the care of paediatric surgeon Dr Marieta Reynolds. She said: ‘In my 30 years of working with CDH patients, I have never seen a family with two children with this same condition.’ At present, no-one knows what causes CDH, which kills more than half of its sufferers. Aidan was born without a diaphragm because he has a severe case of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. The condition normally causes children to be born with a hole in their diaphragm Aidan was born without a diaphragm because he has a severe case of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. The condition normally causes children to be born with a hole in their diaphragm The couple learned during Mrs Rubenstein's 20 week scan that their second child has the same condition. They say they were so shocked that they could not speak The couple learned during Mrs Rubenstein's 20 week scan that their second child has the same condition. They say they were so shocked that they could not speak Patients must undergo surgery that closes the hole by either stitching together the muscle or using Gore-Tex fabric, which is used in waterproof clothing. But as a result, they suffer with pulmonary hypertension – high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs - and underdeveloped lungs, meaning they find it difficult to breathe independently. There is no suggestion CDH is genetic, which makes the Rubenstein's diagnosis all the more shocking. Aiden's surgeon, Marieta Reynolds, said: 'In my 30 years of working with CDH patients, I have never seen a family with two children with this same condition' Aiden's surgeon, Marieta Reynolds, said: 'In my 30 years of working with CDH patients, I have never seen a family with two children with this same condition' Aiden had a diaphragm created out of Gore-Tex - a material that is usually used for making sports clothing Aiden had a diaphragm created out of Gore-Tex - a material that is usually used for making sports clothing Mrs Rubenstein spoke about when the baby was diagnosed. She said: 'It was like a bomb that hit us. Neither of us could speak. I had to be peeled off the examination table by Neil. We were hysterical' Mrs Rubenstein spoke about when the baby was diagnosed. She said: 'It was like a bomb that hit us. Neither of us could speak. I had to be peeled off the examination table by Neil. We were hysterical' They had already undergone five years of fertility treatments in an attempt to avoid passing on a gene that Mrs Rubenstein carries for neurofibromatosis – a genetic condition that causes tumours to grow along the nerves. The fertility treatments did not work and they conceived Aidan naturally - but the neurofibromatosis gene was not passed on. Today, Aiden has all the appearance of a healthy child, but the family live in constant fear that his diaphragm could rupture or that he could twist his intestine. Mr Rubenstein said: ‘When you see how well Aidan is doing now you can't imagine how touch-and-go it was at one time, how sick he was. Mr and Mrs Rubenstein say they live in fear of Aiden's diaphragm rupturing. They say that he is now just like any other child other than for his scar Mr and Mrs Rubenstein say they live in fear of Aiden's diaphragm rupturing. They say that he is now just like any other child other than for his scar Before Aiden (pictured in hospital as a baby) was conceived naturally, his parents had five years of failed fertility treatments in an attempt to produce a child without a genetic condition that Mrs Rubenstein carries. Luckily, he does not have it Before Aiden (pictured in hospital as a baby) was conceived naturally, his parents had five years of failed fertility treatments in an attempt to produce a child without a genetic condition that Mrs Rubenstein carries. Luckily, he does not have it Mr and Mrs Rubenstein say they will approach their new baby's illness with the same optimism that helped them cope with Aiden's. Image shows an ultrasound scan of the baby Mr and Mrs Rubenstein say they will approach their new baby's illness with the same optimism that helped them cope with Aiden's. Image shows an ultrasound scan of the baby ‘If you see him, apart from his scar, you wouldn't think that there was ever anything wrong with him.’ The couple are determined to raise awareness of the condition, which affects as many children as cystic fibrosis. So much so, that they have donated two of their frozen embryos to CDH research in the hope of finding the cause of the condition. And while they find themselves facing the same heart-breaking fight again, they have vowed to face it with the same optimism and vigour that has given Aiden a second chance at life. WHAT IS CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA? CDH is a hole in the diaphragm that allows organs from the abdomen to move into the chest. This prevents the normal development of the lungs meaning the baby will struggle to breathe when it is born. In severe cases, no diaphragm is present at all. CDH affects about one in every 2,500 babies. It is often diagnosed during a routine pregnancy ultrasound - otherwise it will be picked up when the baby is born and struggles to breathe. The outlook for babies with CDH is increasingly positive with new surgical techniques being developed. It is not known what causes CDH. It can lead to complications including chronic lung disease, failure to thrive and developmental delays. Babies with the condition require surgery to repair the hole and return the organs to the abdominal cavity.

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Keeping active for half an hour a day can reduce the risk of cancer of the womb by nearly half, according to a study.
Just 38 minutes of daily physical activity, combined with maintaining a healthy weight, could help to prevent 44 per cent of new cases in Britain.
The World Cancer Research Fund's Continuous Update Project found strong evidence that about 3,700 cases could be prevented every year.
Only 56 per cent of UK women are active for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and only 39 per cent are a healthy weight.
Womb cancer mostly affects women aged over 60. The most common is endometrial – affecting the womb lining – which is fourth most common of all cancers affecting British women.
Doctor Elisa Bandera, a CUP panel member and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at Rutgers Cancer Institute in the United States, said: 'Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, but a significant proportion of cases could be prevented every year by maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.
Fellow CUP panel member Professor Hilary Powers, of Sheffield University, said: 'It is not just the individual who can make changes to reduce their risk of cancer.
'Governments and other organisations can do a lot to make a healthier lifestyle an easier option for us all.'
Researchers at Imperial College London collated and reviewed all the scientific research available on womb cancer, diet, physical activity and body weight in the first global review since 2007.

An international panel of experts judged the evidence and scientists at WCRF estimated that about 44 per cent of UK cases could be prevented through physical activity and body weight.
Scientists believe there are several reasons for the link between body fat and cancer, such as fat cells releasing hormones that can increase the risk of some cancers.
Regular physical activity can help to keep these hormone levels healthy as well as strengthening the immune system and maintaining a healthy digestive system.
World Cancer Research Fund executive director Karen Sadler said: 'To reduce the risk of womb and other cancers, World Cancer Research Fund recommends being as lean as possible without becoming underweight and being active for at least 30 minutes every day.
The study also revealed evidence that drinking coffee can cut the risk of womb cancer, but not enough to recommend it as a  protection.
Karen Sadler of the WCRF said: ‘The evidence on coffee is very interesting, but a lot more work still needs to be done.’

Interesting: The study also suggests drinking coffee can help cut the risk of developing womb cancer

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