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Angelina's Story
"When I was about 5 months pregnant I was scheduled for a normal routine level 2 ultrasound..."
During and after the ultrasound I was told nothing, only that I was expecting a little girl. About a week later I was called in for another ultrasound and the doctor told me that I was sent in because the baby looked small for her gestational age and that her head was extremely small.
I went through a series of blood tests and also did the amniocentesis test. I was called in and told I had cmv and that it had passed to the baby. I had no clue what I was going through and that I was about to face something I never thought that would happen to me.
Angelina was born on August 6, 2009 at 3 lbs 5 oz. She had to be born premature at 31 weeks due to growing acites in her stomach. She was diagnosed with microcephaly, large liver and spleen, and she also had brain calcifications. I was so scared the first time I saw her, she had red spots all over her body and a tube down her throat.
I am only 16 and it's hard to process things in my mind when the doctors were telling me that she might come out like this or like that, so I just shut them all out and hoped for the best.The doctors predicted that she would most likely die because of how sick she was.
My baby was treated with Ganciclovir but couldn't tolerate it for more than 2 weeks--she got anemic. I stayed positive and prayed for my little one. She has gone through more than me honestly, but she has made me strong.
Angelina came home October 1, 2009. She has grown so big. She is 1 year old now. I don't think she can see because she doesn't follow or look at me. She laughs alot, can't sit up yet or walk but I'm working on it. Angelina eats all blended foods and drinks out of a bottle.
I am such a young mother but have passed everyone's expectations and if it wasn't for Angelina and her father, I wouldn't be such a good person. I hope that my experience can help other parents like me and they can know they are not alone. To all the parents with children like Angelina, never lose hope always have faith and raise more awareness for CMV!
- Shared by her mother, Jasmine