Born: June 21, 2010
Diagnosed: March 23, 2017
Died: January 29, 2018
– Lovable – Compassionate – Kind – Friendly – Funny –
Mom, Anita, remembers: “Ronny loved life and handled anything that was thrown at him. We did not let him know about his diagnosis but he defined DIPG and not DIPG defining him. Ronny starting to drive at an early age. First it was his John Deere gator, then he graduated to his Papa’s gator and then we would put him on our lap to start and steer the pickup.
One day while driving home on the gravel road, we were explaining that he needed to keep the truck in the middle of the road. His response was priceless. He said it’s OK Dad, I’ve got one eye on the road and one on the field, we’re good! His Dad and I laughed so hard and told Ronny that was every farmer’s dream.”
Mom Anita, Dad Jeff, older brother Joe and older sisters Emmy and Dani want others to know Ronny’s story because “More awareness needs to be raised about DIPG. Prior to Ronny’s diagnosis we had never heard of it nor our community. The London Children’s hospital where Ronny was diagnosed handles maybe one case a year if that. It is sad that there has been no major advances with DIPG in nearly 50 years and that the outcome never changes.
Ronny was fortunate when he passed that the only symptoms he had were the eye and right sided weakness. He was talking two days before and never swelled up in the face which is caused by the steroids. We are so thankful that he was spared all what DIPG could have thrown at him, but we know that there are many children who are not and that needs to STOP NOW! The course of treatment needs to advance and give all children a chance to live laugh fully.”
