Dekker - California
Three years ago my husband and I decided that we wanted another baby to add to my 10 year old daughter and our 2 year old son. It only took one month and we were overjoyed when we found out we were expecting. Sadly it was short lived and a few weeks later we lost the baby. Luckily a couple months later we became pregnant again and were so excited when we made it past 12 weeks. We happily went to our 13 week ultrasound to look at our baby and hopefully find out if it was a boy or a girl. Our happiness was short lived when immediately we were told there was a problem. There was a large cystic hygroma and we were sent to a specialist for additional testing. After a CVS and a level 2 ultrasound it was determined the baby had Turner's Syndrome and would not survive. We decided to not try anymore and maybe it just wasn't in our cards.
Eight months later my husband and I were in Las Vegas and I wasn't feeling myself. So when we got home I took a pregnancy test and was terrified and thrilled to discover it was positive. I immediately went to a specialist who monitored the baby weekly and determined everything looked great. At 11 weeks we took a Maternit21 and found out not only was everything great we were also having a boy. We happily prepared for our son and decided to name him Dekker. I stressed my entire pregnancy, but everything seemed to be going perfectly. Around 27 weeks I got a headache. Nothing big and I took a Tylenol and it went away. The next 7 days the same thing. So I went to the doctor and they ran some tests and said I was fine. Then I started getting tired and really fatigued. They ran more tests. They found out I had elevated liver enzymes so they admitted me into the hospital. They monitored baby and ran more tests, including a TORCH test. Three days later my NIGHTMARE began. Not only were my headaches and fatigue getting worse I was told I tested positive for CMV. They ran an additional test and were able to determine it was a primary CMV infection. I was told to go see a specialist the next day. It was my worst fears coming true. I went back to the same office I went to with my Turner's baby and prepared for the worst. How could this be happening to me again? He was perfect.
The doctor gave me all the statistics. And the fear was overwhelming. Would he live, be able to walk, talk, see, and hear. I left the office sobbing even though they performed another ultrasound and told me he still looked great. I went home and Googled until my eyes couldn't focus. I just wanted to find a story like mine. Sick late in pregnancy, but baby is fine. I found nothing.
We monitored Dekker every week and every week he grew bigger and showed no signs of infection. I found Janelle and Dr. Adler who walked me off the ledge every time I was overwhelmed. At 39 weeks I gave birth to a perfect 8 lb 10 oz beautiful baby boy. There were no signs that he was affected by the disease. We ran a blood test at birth that came out negative and a urine test 2 weeks later that turned out positive. Ugh!!! We were set up to go to infectious disease where they ordered another hearing screen and brain ultrasound. Both came out perfect.
Dekker is now a little over a year old and as perfect as can be. He seems to be unaffected by the virus. He started crawling at 8 months and walking at 11 months. He says words and loves to change the channel on the television set. We have his hearing and eyesight tested every 3-6 months, but so far everything has been fine. I continue to worry about what possible repercussions the virus could have on his life. Right now there doesn’t seem to be any. I will continue to educate friends, family and anyone who will take the time to listen about this virus that took us completely by surprise. I warn my friends (especially those in child bearing years) to be careful and not kiss him or any child for that matter, to wash hands and not to eat off the forks of small children.
I feel like Dekker is very lucky and blessed. This could have been so much worse. It appears he will live a healthy and active life.
--Shared by his mother, Melinda