Coping With CMV

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)-- An unknown disorder that impacts just as many children as Down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome hit one mother by surprise.

Lisa Saunders found out her daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with the cytomegalvirus better known as CMV at birth.

She decided to write a book to help parents that may have never heard of the virus find resources and hopefully a bit of inspiration too.

"It's the number one cause of viral birth defects," explains Lisa Saunders as she describes what she now understands about CMV.

The symptoms of babies born with CMV can range from mild to severe. Lisa believes this is the reason why few people even recognize their child may be impacted.

"So many children come out looking normal but then parents are realizing [they] are not hearing well or they may have some vision problems," says Lisa.

Lisa says when her daughter was diagnosed, doctors said her daughter would be a quadraplegic.

Lisa explains "When she was born they told us she would never walk, never talk, never roll over, really never do anything."

Lisa says the first sign was after an initial CAT scan, doctors determined that Elizabeth had too much calcium through her brain.

CMV is a virus in the herpes family and spreads from person to person. It is present in body fluids, such as in urine, blood or saliva.

It is typically harmless, but can cause severe illness in unborn babies if they get it from their moms.

Lisa doesn't want to scare mothers to be, but warns, "If you're pregnant they don't tell you that there is cytomegalovirus and you don't want to catch that if you're pregnant."

Lisa decided to write a book called, "Anything But a Dog" about Elizabeth's happy moments with a homeless dog that the family adopted. Her hope is that it will inspire other families to learn more about CMV and search for happiness in life no matter what the situation.

"This dog that I never wanted, came into her life and now we could go places and go to another room and know that she wouldn't be alone," says Lisa.

For Lisa she wanted to highlight the good moments of the journey with her daughter Elizabeth. She explains that most of the happiness was a result of the family dog.

Lisa says, "He was a part of her happy story, he kept her company on the couch for the last five years of her life."

To find out more about Lisa Saunders and the book "Anything But a Dog," click here:

www.authorlisasaunders.com

To find out more about CMV, click here: http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/

Written By: Lauren Vance, Multimedia Producer