"My name is Katelyn Marie I was born November 6th, 2003..."

I have a big brother named Micheal and he is the most awesome brother ever!

I was born with Congenital CMV. It is a sneaky little virus. Because of the cCMV I have Severe/Profound Hearing loss in my right ear, Moderate/Severe Hearing loss in my left ear, possible Cortical Autio Impairment (CAI), Periferal Scar left eye, intermediate estropia, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Severe Brain Abnormalities, Brain Calcifications, Epilepsy, Severe Reflux, less than or equal to nectar thickness aspiration, and Severe Developement Delays.

I use Hearing Aids, Glasses, wheelchair, Botox injections in my hands and arms, and AFOs. March 2006 I recieved a G-Tube along with a Nissen Funduplication surgery to help with my severe reflux and resolve my "failure to thive" diagnosis. It has worked wonders, I was 14lbs in March '06 and have weighed in at an outstanding 31lbs as of January '09! I just recieve hip surgery on January 5th, 2009 (Bilateral Hip Adductor Tenotomy and Bilateral Varus Derotational Asteotomy).

I started preschool at the Cooperative Preschool for Dual Sensory Impairments and Multiple Disabilites located at the Arizona Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) in November '06 and LOVE IT THERE! We do all sorts of fun things like play with parachutes, roll down wedges, the wiggley table, and learn to walk in a gait trainer... We even go on FIELD TRIPS! My mommy and teachers are extremely pleased with my progress! I will be going through transition soon and leaving this fabulous preschool program and my mom is pretty nervous about that. There is sooo much I want to do, I just need to figure out how to do it in this body that I can not necessarily control. BUT YOU JUST WAIT, YOU ARE GOING TO BE AMAZED AT WHAT I WILL BE ABLE TO DO!

I won't let CMV get me down, I'm a beautiful girl with a pretty smile, I have an AWESOME PERSONALITY and a contagious laugh! Everyone who meets me falls in love with me! I am a strong and happy girl!

- Submitted by her mother, Heather