The "NO" Mom: Awareness Wednesday...For Liam Matthews

People come into your life for a variety of reasons. I have posted this before. Whether she knows it or not, the person I am posting for I still consider a friend. Things may not be the greatest for either of us right now, but oh well. We might both be on different pages in our book of life, but again, oh well. We are both adults and should know that no matter what, we should act as such.

Anyway, I am here today to write about something that has affected the Matthews family in a way they probably never thought possible. I am here today to write about Cytomegalovirus, or CMV. CMV is the virus most frequently transmitted to a developing child before birth. When a baby catches CMV prior to birth it is known as a congenital CMV infection. Approximately 90% of all infants who are infected with CMV prior to delivery are born without symptoms of the virus; however, the remaining 10% will have varying degrees of abnormalities. For infants who are infected by their mothers before birth, two potential problems exist:

1) Generalized infection may occur in the infant, and symptoms may range from moderate enlargement of the liver and spleen (with jaundice) to fatal illness. With supportive treatment most infants with CMV disease usually survive. However, from 80% to 90% will have complications within the first few years of life that may include hearing loss, vision impairment, and varying degrees of mental retardation.

2) Another 5% to 10% of infants who are infected but without symptoms at birth will subsequently have varying degrees of hearing and mental or coordination problems.

(above excerpts taken from StopCMV.com)

Liam Matthews survived. He is deaf but with the help of a cochlear implant, he is learning to hear. He has several delayed developments, but he is learning at his own pace with the help of his extremely patient and loving mother and father, friends and family members. He is making great strides and is always a smiling and happy little boy. Sometimes you can see his frustration, like when he wants to walk on his own but he just can't quite get it. But just around the corner is that happy smile when he hears something he's never heard before or when someone lets him have a sweet treat.

All in all I bet the best thing in the world for this family is when they wake up in the morning and see their little boy, their miracle, and his happy face because that is what Liam is. A happy little miracle.