Ryan Dempster and Family are Being Stronger

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Riley, daughter of Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cub Pitcher and his wife, Jenny, was born into the world last on April 1. She is about 10 weeks, but she had DiGeorge syndrome, a rare congenital disease which prevents her from swallowing and digesting food.

“It is something that you would’ve never wished on your worst enemy”, said Dempster, it’s the worst nightmare to every parents Just to sit and watch your 6-week-old go through something like that.

“April was as miserable as I’ve ever been, being away from my wife, my son and my daughter’s in a hospital and she’s never seen the outside of anything except an ambulance ride to and from the airport to get medically transported from Arizona to Childrens in Chicago.”

Riley has been through some numerous procedure to correct her condition, now, she is in the process to getting Riley home by the end of this month.

“Even when we get her home we’re going to have nurses 24-hours a day. But it’ll be nice to have her home to see her. You don’t have to go to hospital, and it’ll be nice for Brady, to have his sister home, hopefully by (June) 22. That would be nice”.

This condition has certainly take lots of attention and effort, it has to be so hard to manage between hospital, field and little guy, Brady.

“I don’t take it out to the field. I don’t think it affects me. Maybe it does. Early on in the season, when things would go bad, I’d get mad, punching Gatorade machines, and snapping after I had a bad inning, because I wouldn’t try to show it or let the emotion out. It just started to eat away at me, because for the first month of her life I saw her for five days”.

Supported by his team mates, so he can accompany her baby while doing the procedure. Dempster also feels lucky for a neonatologist in Arizona has suggested that Jenny’s preterm labor was brought on by polyhydramnios, leading doctors to order a DNA test which revealed the existence of the condition. “Some kids’ parents don’t find out till they’re two years old, and they’re making up for lost ground, whereas with us, we can take the early steps to help do whatever we can for Riley’s future,” Ryan notes. “By the time she is two, hopefully she’s as normal as any other kid.”

And Riley will be just alright, because she has good heart, and it brings so much hope for herlife.

“We’re in a position where we can make a difference, not just for our own daughter but for other kids with this. Just be able to create awareness for it.

This DiGeorge syndrome’s a partial chromosome, a 22-Q deletion. There are a lot of variations of what Riley has, but the biggest thing with her is it affects her swallowing and secretions.

“It’s genetic, but it’s not hereditary, because neither of us, Jenny or I, have it. It’s basically a mutation through conception. It just happens. It’s like 1-in-2,000 kids can get it. Sometimes the symptoms can be very, very small”.

Jenny is a strong mom and wife, she always make sure, her husband is ready for game. And Dempster’s try to be proffessional in every game he had.

“The only time it would affect me was after an inning, where things were going bad, and just frustration and anger sets in because no little kid deserves that, not just my kid”.

“Riley’ll be one strong woman because of it, and it’ll make us stronger. Thank God she’s ours. Think about how many kids out there who never get the right treatment. We’re fortunate, both financially and professionally, where we can make an impact on her life, and hopefully the lives of others, and that’s what we’re trying to do”.

Things happened always for a reason, just be strong and keep the faith always while through those things.

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1 COMMENT

  1. I can honestly relate to this store. I am currently in the Army and i had my daughter 6 Nov 09 and 5 days later she went in to cardiac shock. She is 6months now and only 12 pounds. But she is our blessing. My and my husband are dual military and we are trying to make it. I am very greatful for my sister who is here 24/7 to help take care of my children. May God be with you and your family.

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