‘Roman Reigns’: 2-year-old receives new heart, then beats cancer

CEDAR SPRINGS, Mich. ( WOOD ) — He’s not even 2 years old, but a little boy from Michigan has gone through more than most people will see in a lifetime.

Roman DiLeo isn’t named after the WWE wrestler Roman Reigns, but his parents and doctors at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor know he has the strength of the six-time WWE champion, and then some.

“She said ‘Roman,’ and I was like, the wrestler? He’s a strong dude. I like that. I’m having a boy. I want a strong name,” father Tony DiLeo remembered.

Before he was even born, Roman was fighting for his life — which is pretty hard to imagine as today the little boy is bursting with energy and life.

“After we found out something was wrong with his heart, the cardiologist we worked with … she made the comment that Roman is clearly not concerned with any of our concerns, and not listening to anything that we’re saying,” said Ashley DiLeo.

Roman’s heart condition was discovered while in utero at 25 weeks. Ashley and her husband traveled to Ann Arbor for Roman to be born at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. As soon as he was born, he was whisked away by specialists.

“It was intense,” Tony said.

“It was a lot of emotions but we stayed in the moment and did what we needed to do to get through each second,” Ashley agreed.

It’s that state of mind, vibe and outlook on life that has enabled the DiLeos to get through Roman’s birth and everything since.

“From day one we decided, hey, it is what it is. Control what we can control and keep positive and think good things will end up happening,” Tony said.

Roman needed a new heart, so the DiLeos lived at the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor waiting for the day he would get one. That day came when Roman wasn’t even 6 months old. Someone else’s loss became Roman’s chance at life: a new tiny heart transplanted into Roman’s tiny body.

This is where this happy story should end. However, Roman’s fight wasn’t over yet.

“The transplant team does a very good job of preparing you for the good, the bad and the ugly,” Ashley said.

Roman was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma. About 10% of transplant patients come down with it. This fighter was going to have to fight again, but once more, Roman surprised all doctors and his parents.

“His first round of chemo, (he) went from physically being sick to we put him in the car and he was yelling and happy and playing with his toys,” Tony said.

Which brings us to the present time, just days away from his second birthday.

“The world is his oyster,” Ashley said.

Roman is always energetic – and he’s going to need it to keep up with a new baby sister this fall.

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