ABOUT ETHAN

Since the moment he was born on October 30, 2007 at Women & Infants Hospital, Ethan endured many illnesses and procedures that most adults do not encounter in a lifetime.  He was our heroic little fighter who had an amazing determination and spirit from his very first breath to his last on January 25, 2011. Ethan passed away at the age of three.

 

Four days after being home with Ethan, he was struggling to breathe, even with oxygen.  We rushed him to Hasbro on January 6, 2008, for the first of what would be multiple times to the ER and the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit).  We fell into a pattern of him coming home for a short while to returning back to the ER for a few weeks or even month-long stays.  There were a few very close calls with him.  He really always kept us on our toes.  

 

Inevitably, Ethan was ventilator dependent and required 24-hour care. He continued to spend most of his time at Hasbro.  ER admissions to Hasbro became way too familiar and part of our regular routine.  Ethan’s care and overall wellness came to a point where he needed full-time respiratory therapists and nursing care.  One of Ethan’s specialists suggested we consider placing Ethan at a pediatric facility.

 

In January 2009, we placed him at Tavares Pediatric Center in Providence, RI.  It was one of the hardest, yet, most selfless decisions we ever had to make for him.  Tavares provided us with peace of mind that Ethan was well taken care of day after day.  The nurses and staff loved and cared for him with no boundaries.  They made sure he was always comfortable and had him participate in all kinds of activities.  Above all, they provided us and our family with support and compassion, especially on days when we needed it most.

 

As our guiding angel, we continue with the mission of our Foundation to help children and adults just like Ethan.  He is our inspiration to keep moving forward and we all know he is always behind us every step of the way.