Saddest day of my life

[GrooveHT]

rob, best of luck to you, the missus, and the little one...my fiance had an operation vaguely similar to that when she was only weeks old, and she's here kicking names and taking butt, so it can be done man...prayers heading your way from Texas mang!

 

[silverburst]

Rob

Our best wishes go out to your family. Situations like these are really really hard, and often times you find alot of strength that you never imagined that you had.

I cannot imagine what a tough time it must be for you and your wife, and I know I would be a wreck if my son was in a similar condition. He is the best thing that has ever happened to us, and I am sure it is the same for all parents.

Peace, and our family's prayers are with you.

Rex, Lisa and Max

 

[slukather]

Hey Rob,

I'm glad the surgery went well, you and your family will be in my prayers, stay positive and god bless.

Scott.

 

[Earplayer]

glad to hear the surgery is over and little tom is all right... everything will be fine for you and your family - take care and be strong my friend!

all the best,
tom and family.

 

[Psychicpet]

and more prayers headed your way from Canada. all the best to your family Rob. keep strong and well.

 

[Axilla]

Glad to hear surgery went well!

Best wishes from Bavaria to the health of li'l Tom and also for Belinda and you to get to sleep a little more calm the next weeks... He'll be OK after all !

All the best

Axel

 

[pantalaimon]

thats good news. all the best for your lil' son and your family!

 

[Jim_F]

Hope your son goes on to make a full recovery - best wishes to you all !

 

[Mick]

I told you Rob, everything will be fine

 

[lumberjack]

Hey Rob,

I'm glad that things have gone well, so far.

 

[robelinda2]

Well the latter part of today wasnt so good. There are few things going wrong, enough for the liver transplant specialist to visit us and have a counselling session. It was a grim meeting! Looks like there will be a liver available should we need one, as they have already begun seacrhing for one. The hard part was getting a sheet of paper about Biliary Atresia that reads like this

"Biliary Atresia is a rare serious disease of very young babies. Watching a young infant live with this disease is a horrible and devastating experience for the parents. Many parents feel angry and helpless, and frustrated that so little is known about the disease."

then the tough bit

"The cause of Biliary Atresia is unknown. There cannot be a cure for Biliary Atresia until the cause of he disease is found. We hope that the future will bring enough new information about the disease that will eventually lead to a cure."

Pretty heavy stuff to read aint it. The next few weeks look like being hard work. Fingers crossed i guess, nothing we can do but wait and see! In the meantime i'll think of new AL's and make use of this public internet station and browse the forum and lift my mood!

 

[lumberjack]

Sorry to read things didn't go well, today. Stay strong, Rob.

 

[Plaschkes]

Stay positive Rob, we're all thinking about you guys.

 

[tommyindelaware]

fight the good fight .
a long hard fight ahead..........but i know you will win it !!!!!
i'm sure angels are helping Tom.
i have a sixeen year old son who is the air i breathe......my prayers are w/ Tom.

 

[fogman]

Rob,

Things like this always have a yo-yo effect!
Doctors have to tells you all the grim details for legal reasons and to make sure you're informed, and hopefully only have to tell you good things in the future.
I'm pretty confident that it'll all work out ok in the end, and soon to be just another bad memory.
I'm sure you, Belinda and friends and family are doing lots of support type things in the meantime.
Be sure to take care of yourself. Play your guitar lots to work through it. Maybe even write a letter to Tom and you can show it to him in 20 years and laugh about it or something!

 

[GWDavis28]

Rob, once again, I hope things get better for Tom. Your right tough things to read, but take it one bit at a time. Make one hurtle and move to the next man.

My best to you and Belinda. Prayers and hopes from my family to yours.

Glenn |B)

 

[Big Poppa]

Now the reality speech. Your son has a serious illness. The first thing they want you to not do is read about internet or medical books. when we read the diagnosis/PRognosis of RECESSIVE POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE it devastated us with the same effects on parents friends and family. Most kids with what Casey had die at birth and the usual life span is two to three years. Casey is 19.

Being confronted with a devastating health issue with your child never goes away. We live from one blood test to the next and inbetween a healthy dose of denial where we try to pretend it isnt there.

YOu wish it was you. Anybody but your son. But you know something? You will be amazed that the strength that the three of you have. It is amazing what you can deal with once you get your mind right. I cant promise what your result will be but I can tell you our story in more detail and let you know that good things can happen and what we did to help make it reality.

For three years we wouldnt let Caseys doctor mention the word Transplant. He had to call it the T word. WIth Caseys disease the cysts grow and grow roots that kill the kidneys and take over the whole stomach cavity. Severe hypertension is the main after effect. He was on six bloodpressure medicine. We finally had to confront the T word when his kidneys had grown so large that they had pressed the liver under ihis rib cage and collapsed his stomach and he could no longer walk. I had to carry him to the bathroom and to bed. Casey is 19 now.

First we had to do a bilateral nephrectomy where the remove both kidneys and we had to go through two stage s of dialysis...first hemo then perotoneal. THe perotomeal requiredhooking him up to a machine for 11 hours per day and programming the machine just right. I did the programming and hooking and unhooking Casey to the machine. Stacey had a hard time with that. He has to have a shot each day that was a very painful injection I couldnt do that Stacey could. Casey is 19 now.WE found strength through faith and determination.

WE were scared to death of the transplant and that ended up being the godsent gift of a normal llfe to our son. Sure he has to take 13 pills a day, but he is living large and very happy 19 year old with dreams and an exciting future ahead of him.

I tell you these greusome details not to scare you but to let you know that you can get through this and that you will get through this. Unfortunately it is something you just have to deal with and attack with all of your strength and faith and whatever gets you through the night.

I can cry at the drop of a hat and have while typing this but I also learned alot about life, friends, family, and Casey was the ultimate challenge but what a wonderful person he has become.

I cant promise you anything but can give you hope. Hope through realizing that you now have new life mission and purpose. Attack and embrace it. Gain perspective through it....things that used to get you upset will forever seem trivial.

Many think that my lifes goal and mission is guitars. Wrong. My mission in life is to make transplants last longer and the after affects much smaller for all organs. The Casey Lee Ball foundation has helped bring drugs to the market that help kids with all transplants. THis is what my deepest mission is. I promised Caseys doctor the first time that he went flat lined and they brought him back that I would dedicate my life to helping them in any way possible. It is a promise I keep everyday.

Go forward my friend.

 

[leftyguitarblue]

what an absolutely amazing story of survival. I am proud to be a part of the Ernie ball family and wouldn't even dream of buying from another company. Where else would "the man" of a major guitar company take the time to help one one his "customers" like this? I am really moved by the compassion and help you have shown to Rob and his family. God bless you Sterling.

Please let us know where we can donate money to the foundation you spoke of. I want to help.

 

[Earplayer]

rob you will come through this with little tom and belinda - prayers and hope from austria!

@big poppa
just let me tell you this - you are a wonderful person and your post really touched my heart!

all the best,
tom.

 

[Big Poppa]

I have always been reluctant to really share the story. I did not share parts of the story today to detract or to gain admiration...I did it because I felt that Rob might benefit in some small way.