About Us

Our mission is to provide free and accessible peer support, resources, and educational materials for families affected by congenital lung malformations

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CPAM Parents is a grassroots project that grew out of the connection between four moms whose babies were diagnosed with congenital lung malformations: CPAM, BPS and CBA.

During that difficult time, being able to connect with other parents who understood what we were going through—and to share tips and reliable information—made all the difference in what was often a stressful and isolating experience.

That spirit of emotional and practical support and shared knowledge is behind CPAM Parents: it’s the website we wished we’d had at the moment of diagnosis.

The Team

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Emily Lake runs CPAM Parents day-to-day and directs the CPAM Parent Connections program. Her son was diagnosed with a bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) in 2024. Emily holds a PhD from Stanford University with a background in social science research and is passionate about making research accessible to everyone, especially the communities it represents. She brings years of experience facilitating peer support groups through a grief and bereavement nonprofit, which has deeply shaped her approach to community care. Emily lives in California with her husband, their two boys, and two cats.

You can email Emily at: emily@cpamparents.org

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Marisa Schwab, MD, serves as a medical advisor for CPAM Parents. Dr Schwab is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery at Stanford University and practices at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She completed her medical education at Georgetown University, general surgery residency at UCSF, and pediatric surgery fellowship at Stanford University. With considerable experience working on congenital lung malformations, Dr Schwab helps ensure that all medical information in the CPAM Parents Education Hub is clear, accurate, and up to date.

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Heather Raney serves as the Privacy & Compliance Lead for CPAM Parents. In 2024, her daughter was diagnosed with CPAM (congenital pulmonary airway malformation) in both lungs. With a professional background in abuse prevention, security, and extensive nonprofit leadership, Heather is committed to turning her own family’s journey into a source of guidance and strength for others. She lives in California with her husband, their healthy daughter, three cats, and one dog.

You can email Heather at: heather@cpamparents.org

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Sonja Swanson is a founding parent volunteer for CPAM Parents. In 2024, her daughter was diagnosed with CPAM, which was reclassified as congenital bronchial atresia (CBA) after a successful surgery. As a journalist, she’s interested in how parents can use thoughtful questions, research, and peer support to make more informed decisions. Sonja lives in California with her husband, daughter, dog, and cat.