12 Aug Erupting with Joy: Yuma-area Mom Creates Hospital Room Surprise for Five-year-old Cash

Five-year-old Cash loves building miniature volcanoes with his mom, Tamara Lozano. So, she figured out a way to build a science project volcano in his hospital room during his weeks of inpatient hospital care to correct issues with his heart.

Engineering and watching the bedside eruption was a reward for Cash making it through another uncomfortable medical procedure. Tamara credits Ronald McDonald House as her “home away from home” with giving her the ability to create a moment of joy for her son during a difficult time.

“Staying at Ronald McDonald House gives me peace of mind,” says Tamara, who resides with Cash and her 15-year-old daughter Olivea in Somerton, about 10 miles south of Yuma. “I’m able to show up better for my son in big and small ways because my basic needs are taken care of at the House. I can detach from the hospital to sleep and recharge.”

Doctors first noticed Cash’s heart wasn’t developing correctly during a routine anatomy ultrasound while Tamara was still pregnant. In the womb, Cash had both transposition of the great arteries, or TGA, and pulmonary stenosis, a narrowing of the pulmonary valve. Doctors explained Cash would need a series of surgeries to correct the congenital heart defects throughout the first few years of his life.

Tamara’s first stay at RMHCCNAZ took place just a couple months after this discovery, while she was still pregnant and waiting to go into labor in Phoenix.

In fact, the family has spent several stints at Ronald McDonald House as Cash underwent a series of surgeries at Phoenix Children’s to correct the congenital heart defects.

Cash’s most recent hospitalization began with an emergency helicopter ride from Yuma to Phoenix after a bout with COVID caused colitis in his stomach. Cash’s heart wasn’t strong enough to pump oxygenated blood to his intestines, which sent him into shock.

Surgeons had to wait for Cash’s body to fight off the virus so he would be strong enough for the heart surgery that would save his life. Tamara slept on a small couch next to Cash’s hospital bed until a spot became available at the Roanoke House in Phoenix, where she stayed for nearly 90 nights.

Four long weeks after he was initially Life Flighted from Yuma to Phoenix Children’s, doctors decided the life-saving heart surgery couldn’t wait any longer.

Today, Cash is on his way to recovery. He was released from the hospital and will live at Ronald McDonald House with his mom and older sister for several weeks while he continues to get stronger and goes to frequent follow up appointments.

Reflecting on her experience, Tamara explains how difficult it was not knowing if her son would survive.

“All of my strength came from my faith,” she said.

Tamara hopes to return home to Somerton soon. But in the meantime, she’s taking it one day at a time.

“When I think too far into the future, I start to worry,” says Tamara. “I have to remind myself that if something goes wrong, we have access to a hospital, and if we have to go to the hospital, we will have help from Ronald McDonald House. Our needs will be taken care of, and I only have to worry about being mom for Cash and Olivea.”