Scan of baby lifts paramedic suffering tumour

Mar 11 2008 Western Mail

A PARAMEDIC diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour just weeks after finding out his wife was pregnant has been treated to a special scan of his unborn child.

Nick Ronchetti and his wife Lucy were able to see their baby daughter sucking her thumb in an emotional viewing of a 3D scan at a private clinic.

The scan was paid for by the Cardiff Ambulance Staff Association for Mr Ronchetti’s 40th birthday after colleagues found out about the tumour.

Mrs Ronchetti, 25, said, “We could see the baby sucking its thumb, smiling, opening her eyes and sucking on the amniotic fluid.

“It was then we found out the baby is a girl. It was obviously very emotional for both of us but it was afterwards that it really sank in.

“It was so generous of Nick’s colleagues. They have been brilliant, he’s really realised how many friends he has in the ambulance service – they’re a really good bunch.”

Mrs Ronchetti was just three weeks into the pregnancy when her husband was diagnosed with the tumour.

“The prognosis isn’t good but we don’t know exactly, because we haven’t wanted to,” she said.

“We’re just hoping the treatment will do as much as it can. The adrenaline’s carrying me through everything at the moment.

“The averages are very varied with this type of tumour – it could be a long time or it could be a short time – we just don’t know.”

She said her husband was very unwell when she had her routine 20-week scan and it was then his colleagues came up with the idea of paying for the more sophisticated scan.

The couple, who live in Whitchurch, Cardiff, were given a DVD of the scanning session so Mr Ronchetti could watch it when he was feeling a little better.

Fellow paramedic Chris Joyce said, “The whole region of Cardiff and the Vale are now actively involved in fundraising for him.”