Robert Lawrence Cassar III
 |
Robbie was born December 31st 2001 while on our Christmas Disney vacation in Florida. He arrived three months early and was 1 pound 3 ounces and 11 inches long. He lived his first 11 months of life in the hospital (8 months in Tampa at Tampa General's NICU and 3 months in Mott's Children's Hospital at U of M). He fought hard for his life when all odds were against him. He is a true inspiration and we were blessed with this gift from God. Robbie went through many operations and is vent/trach and g-tube dependent and is weaning from the vent slowly but surely. Today he is 21 months old and 18 pounds. He is one tough little guy and is adored by his big brother and sister, as well as Mom and Dad.
 |
Our Tiny Hero Robbie
 |
Our family photo in the NICU with Robbie at 4 months old
Robbie has been through so very much during his 11 month hospital stay. He has knocked at deaths door many times, leaving death confused and disappointed (Thank God). He has been poked , picked, prodded, with needles, IV's , PIC lines, femoral lines, blood gas draws (hourly at times), as well as intubated, extubated (several times) with NG tubes and OG tubes going down his mouth and nose for months on end. He endured 9 operations (as many as three at one time) Nurses like Laura, Kathy, Pam, Sarina, Pauline, Ogee, Sounie, Lacy, Mary, Betty, Karen, Dave, Stephanie, Angie, Brenda, Ava, Melissa, Gloribelle, Heather, Carlina, Tammy, Tamara, Tina, Carol, Donna, Susan, Shannon, Tara, Jeannie, Jody, Sally, Emily, Jackie, Lorrie, Sam, Christine, Lisa, Patti, Jen, Trina, etc., helped take such wonderful care of Robbie. Also R/T's Rick, Lisa, Joann, Wally, Mark, Debbie, Mark G., Kathy, etc. They not only made sure that he was well taken care of medically, but emotionally as well. They also made sure we were ok. They are part responsible for the reason Robbie is here today. Doctor's Nelson, Ladd, Ahkiel, Calhoun, Ashmead, Saste, Hobner, D'Andrea, Kemper, etc., have brought our baby so far, even though he was not expected to live from the beginning. I owe so much to these people. They never gave up.
God gave us all the strength to get through. Robbie did the most work and never gave up in his quest to survive. My Mom and Dad were there for us the entire time, making trips back and forth from New Port Richie to Tampa. They helped in so many ways including making sure the kids had some well deserved breaks. My Dad did all of this while he was battling cancer. We would never have made it without their love and support. Our family and friends gave us great support from miles away. Their prayers helped so much and their e-mails got us through another day, (My fellow members of The Kiwanis Club of Woodhaven, The Fundofamilies, friends from Tampa General, Orchid Lake, Kathy F. from The Ronald McDonald House, Mott's Children's, AmyJo H., Rhonda, Kelly K., Julie S., Auntie Susie, The Gladwells, etc.).
I am very proud of Ken and Kendra for all they had to sacrifice and endure as they did so very happily and with out one complaint . The love they have for him is so pure. I am thankful that Rob believed that we were all to stay together as a family, and we did.
 |
Kendra, Ken and Robbie
Some say they don't know how we went through all of this, but we did because of love, support, hope, with God's answering of our prayers as well as Robbie's will to survive. It was so hard to see him go through all that he did, but we stayed by him each step of the way. We lived with the knowledge that we would make his life so worth living and keep it filled with love and support.
 |
Robbie October 2003
- My Little Hero Poem
- New Photos Posted August 2004
