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The Brendan B. McGinnis Fund at the National CMV Foundation

The National CMV Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Brendan B. McGinnis Fund, made possible by a nearly $20,000 donation from the former Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation. The fund will help to sponsor family scholarships and a family gathering at the CMV Public Health and Policy Conference in Austin, Texas on September 26^th and 27^th. The National CMV Foundation also hopes to continue the tradition of an award for researchers dedicated to advancing CMV vaccine development.Donors interested in supporting the Brendan B. McGinnis fund can make their donation “in honor of” Brendan B. McGinnis at: https://www.nationalcmv.org/get-involved/donate.aspx.

Meet the Founders: Annie Culley

Author: Annie Culley I started having symptoms around Valentine’s Day 2012. I had periodical episodes of blindness and eye flashes. I consulted with my Optometrist and he thought that I was maybe having blood clots caused by the birth control I was on. So off I went to my reproductive specialist. He pulled me off of the pills until I was able to finish all of the tests to determine what was wrong. I got progressively more and more sick. My blood pressure went through the roof; I had numbness and tingling in my limbs, horrible headaches, muscle twitches, shortness of breath, aches and just felt totally miserable.

Meet the Founders: Abigail Wright

Author: Abigail Wright In 2009, I was a newlywed on the way to taking the next big step in life: parenthood. We were totally ready and anxious to start our family. My biological clock was ticking and I read every article that I came across about preparing for pregnancy. I cut out caffeine, took prenatal vitamins and followed all of the other miscellaneous “advice” about gearing up for pregnancy.

Meet the Founders: Sara Doutre

Author: Sara Doutre In July 2010, we found out we were expecting our second baby. Because of a liver complication and an unscheduled c-section with our son Liam in 2009, I sought out a specialist in high-risk pregnancies. In order to receive the best possible care, I drove an hour each way to all of my prenatal visits to be seen at the maternal fetal diagnostic center at the University of Utah. I have a type A personality and was very proactive during my pregnancy. I took the recommended amounts of folic acid to prevent spina bifida. I participated in the recommended screenings for other markers of birth defects. I read every pamphlet provided to me by the doctors office.

Meet the Founders: Janelle Greenlee

Author: Janelle Greenlee I type this seated in the bedroom of my 12-year old daughter, Riley, who was born with congenital CMV. Riley is lying on top of a shag rug on her floor, looking up into an angled mirror, laughing and mouthing a teething toy. She kicks her legs, almost in a marching motion, and glances occasionally at her TV, which is broadcasting an international soccer match. 

Meet the Founders: Farah Armstrong

Author: Farah Armstrong When I think back to the moment I first heard about Cytomegalovirus, I still get chills down my spine. It was January 31, 2014 and my beautiful baby girl had only been born for one hour. I was still recovering from the delivery when the neonatologist came into the room to report the worst news I have received in my lifetime.