Ronan's Lovies

Amanda will be 23 next month, has lived in Arizona since she was nine, and is the oldest of five kids.  Her youngest sibling is 6 and a half years old! Amanda has always been around kids, loves to babysit, and is passionate about helping children.  Amanda was introduced to Maya's blog days after Ronan died by a family she babysits for. Like many of us, the blog changed Amanda's life, perspective, and career goals. Amanda reached out to the Foundation offering to help, and board member Rebecca realized that they had two common facebook friends  - Rebecca's sister and niece!  We put Amanda right to work, and she has been invaluable in helping us read, organize, and answer the thousands of amazing messages we receive.  Amanda has volunteered at all Foundation events, is volunteering at Run Like A Rockstar this month, and is always, always willing to lend a helping hand. 

Meghan grew up in Tennessee, and moved to Arizona in 1995 to attend ASU. She fell in love with the wonderful weather, palm trees, year-round golf, and all of the other things this City in the desert has to offer. She has enjoyed a career working in real estate for 10 years, and in 2010, started her own gift line called Lil’ Basket Case. Meghan is married to a great man, loves being a bonus mom to her eleven-year old step-son, Jacob, and enjoys every second they share as a family.
Meghan says, “I will never forget the day I was introduced to Ronan’s story. I received an email from a client, on May 12, 2011, asking for auction item donations for a fundraiser called the Brightest Star in the Sky. Her email included a brief and heartbreaking snippet about the Thompson family and Rockstar Ronan. I woke up early the next morning, clicked on the link and the very first post I read was “Where is Ronan”. To this day, I get a visceral reaction seeing those words, and with a single blog post, my life changed forever. Ro’s story lit a fire in my soul. I had to get involved, to raise awareness, to raise money and to scream from the rooftops about the dirty little secret that is childhood cancer.” Meghan is invaluable to the Foundation. She is chairing the Rockstar Run, and is the Foundation’s Local Fundraising Chair. Meghan is GOLD!

I never knew the impact a single person could have on ones life. I never knew the bravery, strength and beauty a child could portray. I never knew how pure the soul of a mother could be. It was after finding Maya's blog, that I would learn all of these things. It was after seeing Ronan's piercing blue eyes and spicy little spirit, that my life would forever be changed. It's been nearly two years now, that I've known about Ronan. Two years that have molded me into the person I know I am meant to be. Two years that have taught me the importance of love. Although I never met Ronan, I know that he is the last thing from ordinary. He is all things beautiful. He is wiser than most adults. He is powerful. He's simply amazing. A lot of these qualities come from his incredible mother, Maya. The way she writes to him is like nothing I have ever seen before. There are two words to describe the relationship between Maya and her son: love story. A true love story that has captivated the hearts of thousands and continues to do so. I'm eighteen and I have already been taught more about life than most will in a lifetime. This comes from Ronan and Maya. This is something no school can ever teach and no book can ever explain. I have been taught how to love, and love hard. How to be kind, despite the cruelty of this world. How to always be happy, no matter how bad things may seem. Because it could always be worse.

For Ronan, for Maya, for their family and for all of the children fighting cancer, I will forever and always, appreciate what I have and what I am given, I will take each day and live it to the fullest, as every second we are given, is a gift.

A blog. It all happened because I was shown a blog. From the moment I finished the first entry, I was already changed. Maya Thompson began a blog talking about her son, Ronan, a three year old with intense and innocent blue eyes accompanied with golden hair, who had been diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. Each post is brutally honest, saddening, uplifting, real, and inspiring all at once. Although we were total strangers, I quickly came to be captivated by her family's story and willing to do anything I could to help them.

It was then, after reading Maya's words, that I realized many important things; appreciating loved ones, enjoying the simple things and good health, and becoming more honest, selfless, and open-minded. So often, we go through life worrying about trivial things when the real matter is making sure each and every day counts. The second I begin to feel sorry for myself, I immediately think of Ronan, the three year old who never hurt a fly, and his mother, the warrior who will never give up, and suddenly any problem I'm facing is no longer a problem. Never in my life have I seen anyone face such a harsh, grim reality with as much grace, dignity, positivity, and love as Maya. I also never realized how quickly and simply my outlook on life could be changed by someone whom I had never even met.

From now on, I can only hope to have such a profound effect on someone, to make someone's life a little bit better, to have changed someone for the better. I owe a million thanks to the Thompson family for opening up my eyes and showing me that life is comprised of much more than things you acquire, and that to live means to see all the beauty around you, in everyone and everything. Because of Maya and Ronan, I have learned that to live does not always mean you are alive, and that there is a constant force of undying love and dedication that is somewhere within us all. When I look in a mirror four years from now, I hope to catch a reflection of Ronan and Maya. Ronan has taught me more than any class at school could ever teach, the value of life.