"I had just gotten married on March 1, 2003, and we found out we were expecting our first child the following month..."

On my first prenatal visit, they asked me so many questions in the paperwork that looking back they didn't even give a second thought to. I worked as a substitute teacher at the time, most around that time with 3 and 4 year olds. But like almost every case, I was unaware of CMV, and the precautions I should have taken. I am sure just like me, every mother that has had their child affected by this has gone over and over in their head what they could have done differently, or how they could have been more careful.

During my whole pregnancy, I had nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. I was induced one week early. I was in labor for 8 hours. Michael Ryan Ruiz was born at 3:47pm on December 17, 2003. Right away he was having some trouble breathing. They kept reassuring me that everthing was fine. The problem was the hospital I had him at had no NICU. They took him to the nursery and put him under an oxygen hood. They never brought him to me, so I went to see him.

Hours passed, they weren't bringing him to my room. We were going crazy asking questions - until about 11 or 12 midnight they realized he was having seizures and the pediatrician came in and said he had stopped breathing and turned grey. They went from reassuring us to telling us he may not make it. The nearest NICU was about 45 minutes away. The halo flight wasn't available so they had to send a transport team by ambulance from that NICU 45 minutes away.

The first time I held my child was when the transport team arrived they brought him in - they told me in case he didn't make it. I had to stay behind and my husband went with my son to the NICU. Two weeks passed and we found out the cause of my son's problems, CMV. Not knowing what this meant for him we where somewhat relieved to hear it was a virus - our mindset back then was just give him medicine for it - fix it. We went through so many ups and downs during those 2 months. He stayed in the NICU for 2 months. He was given gancyclovir during his stay in the hospital and went home on it as well.

He is now 5 years old - will be 6 in December. We were told he would be 100% deaf - he passed his newborn hearing screen and had his last hearing screen when he was 4. He passed that as well. He has Quad. Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, and Microcephaly. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I know my husband feels the same. We adore him.

He is non verbal - tries hard though. Has said ma-ma and tries to tell everyone Hi!!!! He cannot feed himself or sit unassisted. He uses a wheelchair which is orange (Texas longhorn fan). He started school at 3 years old and LOVES IT!!!! He is now in kindergarten. He has been in T-Ball for 2 seasons, and he is in 4-H this year and is going to show a goat. The town we live in is really supportive and show him so much love. He is a very happy little boy, and we are so grateful for every day with him.

- Submitted by his mother, Christol