Lana’s Story
Since May, we have been updating you on the story of Little Lana, a baby girl born with a serious heart condition. Her father, Bryan touched us all by posting in our UNFILTERED section about her story. Despite all of the hard times he and his family have gone through, Bryan posted to let us know how thankful he was for the people at the Ronald McDonald house at the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital. He wrote us again in July to update us and then again in August. Today he sent us one last heartbreaking update– the one we hoped we would never get– and to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. We have reprinted it below in his own words. Rest in peace Lana. Our deepest condolences go out to Bryan and the rest of Bryan’s family for the loss of their beautiful little girl.
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Ron, Fez, and all the friends of the show,
In May I shared my story about my daughter Lana. She was born with half a heart and was waiting on a transplant.
With a heavy heart I give the last update. My little girl passed away Sept 11. She fought hard and kidney failure ended up taking her from us. Lana went through 4 open heart surgeries and 100’s of medical procedures in the last 4 month’s. She was layed in our arms and we held our baby as tight as possible before she passed. We have learned so much about love and loss.
My little girl did not leave this world without teaching me a thing or two. My faith in humanity has been restored. The kind thoughts, prayers, meals, rooms, and everything complete strangers did for us in our time if need has been awesome.
I have nothing but love for the nurses and doctors who cried with us as we lost our girl. They do amazing things on a daily basis.
Finally this all started with me trying to get the word out about the Ronald McDonald House. They are truly a great organization. The staff hugged us wished us well and will plant a flower in their garsen for our girl next spring.
All we can ask is for all you to consider being organ donors, save your beer and soda tabs, and throw some change in the RMH box every once in awhile.
Peace,
Bryan Schultz
A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed…
We feel lucky to have seen it.
