I seriously feel like I’ve just been through labor again. I am that tired, exhausted, and so relieved. All of the same feelings that come with childbirth. Ronan’s surgery was smooth sailing. Dr. La Quaglia is a God, is blessed by God, and has angels surrounding him every second of the day. We met with him and he told us how perfectly the surgery went, how he was able to save every organ, and how great and healthy they all looked. He was very confident that he got all of the base tumor. He looked everywhere, even in his chest and under his arteries and did not see any other signs of Neuroblastoma. This does not mean we are out of the woods yet…. The Neuroblastoma is still in Ronan’s body, but the base tumor is gone. He said the tumor was about the size of the golf ball but wouldn’t let me see it due to it already being sent off to the lab. I don’t care that much; it is gone, Ronan is here, and we are so thankful. After meeting with Dr. L, we soon were taken back to see Ronan. I was so nervous but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. Waiting for him to come out of surgery was way harder. He looked so brave and big in the bed, all hooked up to everything you could possibly imagine. The tubes didn’t freak me out at all because underneath all of that stuff was my baby boy… waiting for me. I kissed on him and told him how proud I was of him, how brave he was and how we could finally put this part of our life behind us. He kept nodding his head and was listening to every word I said. After surgery we had to be transported across the street to the Picu. The guys who were transporting us wanted Ronan as sedated as possible, but Ro wasn’t having it. They had to give him tons of medicine just to keep him calm. We heard a lot of “Wow, what a strong kid you have.” And also a lot of “He is really tall for 3.” There was a lot of laughing about Ronan and his strength. Everybody kept telling us what a good thing it was. This is par for the course with Ro… nothing is going to stop our little guy. After they finally got him sedated enough, he was transported across the street to the Picu. I rode in the ambulance with him and we were quickly moved into our room. Woody and I have been up for almost 24 hours now… my eyes are barely open. Ronan is just now getting his breathing tube out, or excavating him as they call it.
Awwww…. I tried my best to update you all last night, early this morning, but I was so tired and taking care of Ro. It is 7 a.m. here now and Ronan is asleep. He has been having a little trouble breathing on his own, so they have hooked him up to machine that is giving him a little extra oxygen. This is normal after such a major surgery. We will be moved over to Sloan this afternoon considering all goes well today. Woody slept most of the night; I did not. That’s a mama bear for you though. And Woo needs his rest; he requires much more sleep than I do. The nurses and doctors here have been amazing. So very sweet and attentive. We could not be more pleased with the job they are doing. Our nurse looks like she is about 12. She is the cutest little thing and is so great with Ronan. What a doll.
Guess how many views Ronan’s blog got yesterday?!?! 8,122! Can you believe that! In one day alone! You all were so busy spreading the word on Ronan to make sure we had everyone praying for him. I cannot say thank you enough. I know it is because of all of you, your prayers, and positive energy, that he got through yesterday with flying colors. Our little guy is going to change the world and you all are helping him. He WILL be the poster child for this awful disease. Please keep spreading the word and sharing his story. Thank you all for holding his heart in yours and going with us on this journey. We still have a very long road ahead of us; but I feel like today is a fresh start for Ronan. He is finally free of the tumor our of his abdomen. It’s as if he has been given a new life; this is his rebirth. January 3, 2010 will forever be Ronan’s second birthday. And that makes him a Capricorn, just like his mama:) Us stubborn goats can get through anything!!
Please know how much you all mean to us, even though we don’t know half of you. Your words kept me going yesterday and If it wouldn’t have been for all of you, I would have locked myself in a bathroom somewhere and would not have come out until Ronan’s surgery was over. To all of my family and friends, I love you all so much. I am so blessed and thankful for your support and love during this time in my life. I also could not have made it though yesterday without the most amazing man alive, my husband. He truly is one in a million and the best husband and father in the world. I am so lucky, thankful, and humbled.
I am seriously in the middle of an episode of Grey’s Anatomy right now. Well, minus all the sex. I was just visited by the most amazing woman Dr. and her “team” of residents. I am beyond fascinated, impressed, and the Doctor could not have been more knowledgable, kind, and positive. I got to watch her ask her questions to her residents and see them scramble for the answers. It was awesome. She said it is not often that she see’s children respond so well after such a major surgery. She said most kids lay in the Picu for days. Her exact words were, “I don’t know Ronan, but maybe he is just such a rockstar that this is just how he is.” How awesome is it that she, this incredible woman, called Ronan a Rockstar without even knowing his nickname! I loved it!!! Made my day:) Ronan will be transported back over to Sloan later this afternoon. He has been so corporative and listening to everything we tell him to do. He really is a brand new boy!
This mama has had no sleep and I don’t see sleep happening anytime soon. I am over the moon with how well Ronan is doing and I feel so fortunate that we were able to bring him here, to the best surgeon in the world. I know we made the right decision. We are right where we need to be and today we can breathe a big sigh of relief that this part of Ronan’s journey is done and over with. Bring on the Stem Cell Transplant!!!! Ronan has proven time and time again, that he can get through anything. He truly is such an inspiration and a Rockstar!! What a little blessing to the world he is.
Love you all so much. Thank you again for your support and love!!!
xoxo
ROCKSTAR RONAN 
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