Rossouw cCMV life long Journey

22 November 2023, Rossouw's birth. A day that is incredible for many mums & dads, suddenly became a thriller for us.

Rossouw was born by emergency cesarean at 37 weeks. This little body weighed just 1.8 kg. They later determined through tests that he was born with CMV.

cCMV: a lifelong journey.

CMV (sy-toe-MEG-a-low virus) is a cold-like virus that is harmless to most people. If a pregnant woman contracts the virus, it can pass to the growing baby. This is called congenital CMV (cCMV). Congenital CMV/cCMV is a leading cause of childhood hearing loss and developmental disabilities. 1 in 200 babies in the United States are born with cCMV and 1 in 5 will have a permanent disability or health condition as a result of cCMV. 

We have come to realize that people know very little to nothing about this virus and therefore we have a passion to make people aware of cCMV.

Our little Rossouw was in the hospital for 33 days, most of that time he was in intensive care. He has a hardened liver with growth, an enlarged spleen and kidney failure. This virus is life-threatening, so Rossouw still has a long way to go.

The bills, treatment and medication are a daily struggle we live with. It is not a path we cannot walk alone. We depend not only on our neighbors for help and prayers, but also for donations. Everyone makes a difference in Rossouw's life.

As parents, we only want the best possible treatment for our little fig! There is life with cCMV.