When I first made contact with Maddie's Mission, I thought I was sharing my son Sawyer's story - or what would become his story. But preliminary results tell us that Sawyer may not ever have to face the effects of this terrible virus, because he may not have it - due in part to the excellent research-based treatment and care we received after our diagnosis. However, while our family is enjoying our precious, new, healthy newborn baby, we are painfully aware that somewhere out there other families lean over isolets in NICUs and dedicate their lives to their children's multiple therapies all because of this terrible virus. 

Our team is one that represents hope. Hope that with proper awareness, prevention and much necessary research, we can stop CMV from continuing to affect children. While I may not have had the proper awareness or prevention to keep our Sawyer from being at risk, I benefitted from the knowledge that research has given us. Sawyer and I received intravenous CMV immunoglobulin, Cytogam at 18 weeks gestation. We will never know if it helped, but we do know that research has shown this treatment can help improve a baby's outcomes. I can only hope that further research will help put a definite stop to this virus. 

So please consider making a donation, So More Will Be Like Sawyer. 

To read more about our story, click here.

In Honor of Sawyer William born on August 21 completely asymptomatic and anxiously awaiting finalized test results indicating that he is CMV-negative.