Shine Bright Ronan.....

I have been away for awhile....mostly for lack of time but this has been a rough week to say the least.  Have you ever felt so connected to someone you have never met before?  I had not until about 9 months ago when I heard that the son of a classmate of mine from Sunnyslope had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.  This is an aggressive childhood cancer that has no cure and the treatments are pretty aggressive themselves.  That is when I met Ronan and Maya Thompson.  Everyday, I was checking my email for updates on the blog to see where they were at or how his treatment was going.  Every day and every night, I would check in to see if there was an update.  Monday morning, there was no update.  My heart sank and I hoped that it was because it had been Mother's Day and Maya was having a nice day with her family.  I wish I could say that was why.  Rockstar Ronan lost his battle early Monday morning.....the day after Mother's Day, days before he was to turn 4 years old, and less than a year from when he was diagnosed.  I was so sad and angry all at the same time.  How is it that we have all this technology and we don't have a cure for these diseases?  It reaffirms why I am involved with Team in Training fighting for a cure for blood cancers.  I am connected to this cause because I lost my Grandma to leukemia but with all the research, finding cures in one form of cancer can lead to progress in another.  While cancer sucks for everyone, seeing someone who had such a life ahead of him lose it at such a young age made me sick to my stomach.  Seeing these little kids who are bald from chemo and think that needles and ports are normal is not okay.  


I write Mission emails to my teammates every week as Mission Captain and here is my letter for this week:

Hello TEAM Arizona!

I hope everyone had a great weekend and all the Mom's out there had a great Mother's Day!!

Normally, I send out my mission emails towards the end of the week but today is different. Today I am reminded of why I continue to get up early on Saturdays and why I ask people for money until they ignore my emails for awhile....it is for people like Ronan, the little guy we have been talking about more for the past week or so.

Sadly, Ronan lost his battle this morning with cancer, an ugly childhood cancer that is so aggressive that it took his little life 9 months after he was diagnosed, the day after Mother's Day, and 3 days before he was to turn 4 years old. Why? That is one question I will never understand but one that make me fight even harder.

www.rockstarronan.com - if you need inspiration, there it is. In the form of the most beautiful blue eyes that are now looking down on all of us from above. So many tears shed today across the country for this little boy; tears of sadness and anger. Disgust that there is not a cure for these cancers.

I know that I sleep better at night knowing that I am doing what I can to make a difference and that people are helped because of the money I raise and you should all feel the same way. Your hard work and dedication to this cause makes a difference in many lives and for that, you should be very proud. I am...proud of all of you for sticking with this goal you set months ago. Not only are you completing an endurance event, which not many people can say they have done. You are doing so for a cause, which makes the experience a much sweeter one in the end. Thank you for being here and for fighting for those who are currently fighting, who have fought and won, and for those who fought the good fight and did not win.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and a great practice this weekend...whether you are running, walking, or hiking. You are inspiring to those around you.

In honor of Ronan, a huge fan of Star Wars, I leave you with a quote from Yoda, "Do or do not, there is no try." Thank you for going above and beyond trying and just doing what you are with TNT for all those affected by a blood cancer.

May the Force be with you as we approach all of our events.

Go TEAM!

Joy Gaeraths
Mission Captain


LLS Mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Helping to fund research to find a cure for blood cancers.....one step at a time in memory of my Grandma - http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/anchor11/nautweety - Thanks for your support!!

Ronan - take care of your amazing family - Mama Maya, Woody, Liam, and Quinn need you to get through this.  You have touched so many people all over the world.....thank you.  Now, you can be our Yoda and show us the way....May the Force be with you, Ronan.