Robert Cassar
TrachKid Profile
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Robert Lawrence Cassar III 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 was vent/trach and g-tube dependent and has been weaning from the vent slowly but surely. After his most rescent operation(LTR) he is now trach-free(Thank God) Today he is 6 1/2 years old and 43 pounds. He is one tough little guy and is adored by his big brother Ken and big sister Kendra, Justin,Grandma and Mom .
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 entubated, extubated (several times) with NG tubes and OG tubes going down his mouth and nose for months on end. He endured nearly 20 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. Sue,Carol,Jen and Paula have brought him so far along in school for the past two years . I owe so much to these people. They never gave up.
God gave us all the strength to make it 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 Richey 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, 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 the kids and I all got to stay together as a family during those all those months.
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.
We have lost some very dear loved ones along the way that were some of Robbie's number one fans who always believed he would be just fine. We lost my dear Dad to cancer in 2004 and he is sadly missed by his Little Mite. We lost my My Grandma(Robbie's Great Grandma) in 2005 and she never stoped praying or giving up hope . Robbie has her eyes .Dearest Doug R. who became "Pupa" to him . We sadly lost him just last year just before Christmas. Jack and Annie who never for one moment believed that he was going ever going to do anything but grow up to a wonderful young man. We miss them all so very dearly .They all have been a very big part in Robbie's life . They will never be forgotten and Robbie will always hear about them and know how much they loved and cared or him . May they rest in God's kingdom.
Robbie is my little miracle and has given me so much in life . I can never thank him enough for being so strong and fighting so hard to stay here with us. He is my life and gives me so much strength. All three of my children are the most precious gifts that God ever gave to me and I thank him everyday .
May God Bless all of us. Especially the littlest soldiers that fight big battles of war in the NICU .Never give up hope . God Bless .
Beth
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- 3 years 35 weeks
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- United States
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- Michigan
