Ice Cream Sundae Party for Ryan Roberts Held by The Tommy Show at Carmine’s

two friends splitting the Titanic Banana Split

Can ice cream make memories? I think so.  Don’t you recall some of your favorite childhood moments involving ice cream?  Amazingly (as someone who later in life would discover she is lactose intolerant, waaah!), as I reach back into my mind’s eye, some of the happiest experiences of my youth incorporated adventures to Dairy Queen with my family.  Yes. The simplest pleasures in life can mean the most.

We at the Punch were alerted of our local friends doing a big gesture in a national movement.  The Tommy Show of 94.7 FRESH FM held a “Free Ice Cream Sundae Party” at Carmine’s in Penn Quarter on Thursday for a very special someone.

a family splitting the Titanic Banana Split

Here’s the deal – and thank you to all who made it:

From The Tommy Show: Last week, 21-month year old Ryan Robert’s family learned he would not survive a heart defect. Ryan, who was born with Down syndrome, had to have four surgeries, the first at four days old.  Thursday night, 245 miles away, Washingtonian families had a banana split to celebrate his life.

the famous Titanic at Carmine's

Thursday night: Families from all over the DMV got their Ice Cream Party on at Carmine’s in Penn Quarter. The reason for the free dessert bonanza? A twenty-one month year old named Ryan hundreds of miles away. Ryan’s story hit the national platform after his parents Diane and Erik received the worst news of their life. Since he was just four days old Ryan has been in and out of the hospital with heart complications and operations. There is nothing more the doctors can do for him. Taking the terrible news to Facebook Diane informed her ‘friends’ that the family didn’t want teddybears or flowers she simply wanted them to ‘have a banana split for dinner with their kids and create a memory.’ The request went viral. Within days over 70,000 families took the advice and began posting photos of their own Banana Split Party for Ryan on the social network. NBC’s the Today Show made a mention and the word spread further. DC’s morning show, The Tommy Show on 94.7 FRESH FM heard the story and aside from encouraging their listeners to do the same planned a giant Ice Cream Social for Ryan. Friends of the Tommy Show came from all over the area to take part and Carmine’s served up their signature banana split Titanics to anyone who stopped by.

Carmine’s served more than 20 of the mammoth desserts and brought hundreds of smiles to those in attendance!

Thank you to all who contributed to this incredible story which grew because of the power of social media and traditional media merging together, especially Tommy, Kelly and Jen of The Tommy Show and Carmine’s.

*Photos courtesy of The Tommy Show