My name is Robert Scott Ater and I was 14 1/2 years old when I went to be with the Lord forever on April 22, 2006 at 1:00 pm. I was born with a congenital brain malformation called a migrational cell defect. It affected the outer layering of my brain. As a result, at 2 1/2 months old I began having horrible seizures. My mom and dad did everything they could to help me but I lost milestones daily. The only hope was  in a procedure called a "Hemispherectomy". The doctor's evaluated me and after I turned 18 months old they took me into surgery to remove the right side of my brain. I did really well. But...I contracted salmonella meningitis 4 months later and the seizures returned, and I had endured 6 more brain surgeries,including the placement of a VP Shunt. I was in ICU for several weeks and they didn't think that I was going to live. It was a very rare disease to get but I was the "unusual" from birth, and I was such a fighter that I recovered. Alot of things happened though along the way...I had to have a g-button placed before the brain surgery and a Nissan. That changed the way I ate,which was now through a tube in my stomach. I had a great Mom and Dad who really loved me and took really good care of me. Over the years my lungs started to become a problem and I developed asthma as well as chronic lung disease. I had floppy-airways and my seizures never did get under control, about 3-30 a day....everyday. I tried to get better but my body was wearing out. I was always on medications...besides my regulars, I was on an antibiotic and steroids for lung infections all the time and eventually I needed oxygen...but that didn't help much...I then contracted the RSV Virus, and eventually my parents had to have an ethics committe meeting with all my doctors...by this time I have had over 11 brain surgeries and 32 body surgeries, for all kinds of things. The doctor's kept telling my parents that I was ready for Hospice, and my parents became very sad. I now was not able to digest my food any longer (That diagnosis is called Terminal Feeding Intolerance. They said that when a person's brain begins the process of shutting the body down, often it is the GI system that is the first to go. The GI system is a big organ system and very vital and connected to the brain with lots of big nerves. When the brain starts to shut down and the gut gets "turned off" it is very painful for the person to continue being fed) and my lungs were also getting weaker...I coughed all the time, and had to be suctioned over 50 times a day over a 24 hour period. All day and night.No one really got any rest. My parents and doctors did not want to put a trach in as it was only preventing the inevitable...I would have been on a ventilator and that would not have been  fair to me. About 3weeks after the meeting, I started to have kidney shutdown and I was not tolerating any of my feedings anymore....a decision was then sadly made to let me go home. After 7 days without food,or meds....I peacefully went home to God with Jesus. My family misses me very much and I loved them as much as they loved me. I miss them too. But I have a new body now....I was once profoundly disabled...I couldn't walk, sit, talk (except for MAMA) and now I am running and doing all kinds of things in Heaven. I have lots of friends here...one who is my Mom's dear friends daughter, Mischa, she was 2 1/2 days old when she got here. I hold her and sing to her! I am living for the very first time in my life now and it feels great. My mama cries alot but she'll be okay. She knows where I am. Someday we will be together again.

I have 4 sisters....Jen, Alisha, Elaina and Jamie. I have  7 nephews...Taylor, Devynn, Vincent, Joshua, Jordyn, Mason and Weston and one niece...Jeweleah. I know they miss me too.

My mama did everything she could for me and I couldn't have asked for better parents. God hand picked them just for me. I was closest with my mama but I sure loved my daddy too, and my sissies.

I had great nurses who took real good care of me. There was Sharon, Kathy, Rachael and Letha. I was a very lucky boy to have had so many good people in my earth life. I can't wait to see all of them in Heaven someday. Say prayers for my mama....and daddy. They are having to adjust alot to life on earth without me...but it will be okay. God is blessing everyone whose life I have touched....I will only be a memory away.

I want everyone who wants to see me look at this site and to remember that my Mother needs your support....and my Dad. My sisters could use a prayer and a hug too. I was totally okay with who and how I was...please don't feel sorry for me...be happy! After you view my site, say a special prayer for me and my Mama and Daddy. Don't forget my sisters and all those whose lives were touched by me, because MY LIFE was definitly touched by theirs!

 

You'll see lots of  happy memories here! Okay...let's take a look...

 

 

ater@att.net