CMV: The Dangerous Virus You’ve Never Heard Of
Donate now to protect newborn babies like Leo
Each year in Australia, hundreds of infants are born with CMV, the leading infectious cause of disabilities in newborns.
Meet Leo: A Story of Resilience Against CMV
When Leo was born, his parents were filled with the usual joy and excitement of welcoming a new life into the world. However, that joy was overshadowed by fear as the months passed. By 10 months old, Leo was still like a newborn—he wasn’t rolling, sitting, or even babbling. His mum, Sara, was deeply worried: “He was far behind where his older sister had been at the same age,” she recalls. “People said boys can be lazy and slower, but I just knew it was more than that.”
A scan revealed that Leo’s brain had been damaged by cytomegalovirus (CMV)—a virus they had never even heard of. Leo was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of the virus, which also caused profound permanent hearing loss and delayed his ability to walk.
CMV is more common than you might think, with over 2,000 babies being born with the virus each year, and one in five developing long-term health issues, such as cerebral palsy, as a result.
Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of the risks. Like all pregnant women, Sara had been warned about the dangers of drinking alcohol and eating certain foods during her pregnancy, but no-one mentioned CMV. A recent survey found only 14% of women aged 20-40 know about CMV.
Your gift will ensure more women like Sara know about CMV and how to protect their unborn babies from infection.
“There is no way that Leo would be where he is right now without the CPA team
Without those guided, structured therapies and support, he simply wouldn’t be this four-year-old bundle of energy, running, talking and doing all the things he’s able to do now.”
Sara – Leo’s mum
Sara and Steve are incredibly proud of their fun-loving little boy. But it’s been a tough road for everyone, and Leo will live with the impact of CMV for his entire life. Sara explains: “Leo has permanent, profound hearing loss in his left ear which affects his talking. He was 23 months old before he started walking.”
Despite the challenges, Leo’s parents were able to access the care and resources they needed at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, all thanks to the support from compassionate donors like you. There are still many families who need your help—please donate today to ensure every newborn baby has the chance for a healthy start.
Leo’s journey is one of resilience that shows the critical need for greater awareness and prevention of CMV. Your donation today will ensure that more families like Leo’s are informed and supported, preventing other children from facing the same challenges as Leo.
Dr Hayley Smithers-Sheedy
Dr Hayley, a research fellow at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, has dedicated her career to CMV and finding ways to stop the damage it can do.
What is CMV?
Dr Hayley explains:
“CMV is a really common virus. Most of us will have had it by the time we’re in our forties. It’s not dangerous if you’re healthy, however, if a pregnant woman has a first-time infection, particularly early in pregnancy, it can cause damage to the baby’s developing nervous system and brain.”
“The virus is passed on through bodily fluids like urine and saliva. Young children can continue to spread the virus for up to two years after becoming infected. This means women who already have babies or work with young children are particularly at risk.”
The virus is particularly harmful in the first trimester when a baby’s major organs are forming.
If a baby is infected in the womb (known as congenital CMV), it can cause permanent hearing loss, delays to a baby’s development, vision loss, cerebral palsy and stillbirth.
Every day in Australia another baby is born with a lifelong disability caused by CMV.
Your gift today could protect Australian babies from hearing loss, vision loss and cerebral palsy.
What Your Donation Supports
When you donate to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, you’re directly contributing to life-saving initiatives
Education & Awareness: Your support helps CPA distribute crucial information about CMV to expecting parents, healthcare providers, and communities, ensuring that more people are aware of the risks and prevention methods.
Screening & Early Detection: Help fund programs that can help identify children at risk of disability in the first months of life. Early detection and early intervention is key to giving babies the best chance at a healthy life.
Family Support: From providing resources and guidance to offering emotional support, your donation helps families access therapy their child needs bringing confidence and hope.
Research & Development: Your generosity also fuels research into better treatments and interventions, aiming to reduce the impact of CMV on future generations.
“I hope that by sharing our story we’ll help raise awareness of CMV and what can happen.” Sara, Leo’s Mum.
Together we have the power to prevent permanent disability in Australian babies.
Thank you for joining us in the fight against this dangerous virus.
Meet some inspiring young kids!
Aidyn
Born just shy of 23 weeks, Aidyn is now a happy, cheeky, and funny kid. He lives with severe cerebral palsy, and is making amazing progress with the support of CPA therapies like Telepractice sessions and physiotherapy, to get ready for his first year of school.
Christopher
Christopher has defied the odds and surprises everyone around him with this strength, determination, will to live and capacity to love. Born at 37 weeks after suffering brain damage in the womb due to CMV, Christopher has severe CP, is non-verbal, and has no control over his limbs.
Dax
Dax has had it tough from day one when he was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. After a difficult and complicated diagnosis, Dax started therapy with CPA and inspires everyone every day with his infectious determination and constant positive progress.