Ricky's Story
On April 1, 2007, I took my 22-month-old son, Ricky, to the ER complaining of severe constipation. Within 2 hours of arriving at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, I was told the most horrendous thing a parent could be told. Ricky was diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate (rhabdo). Rhabdo is a rare, aggressive childhood cancer that is a soft muscle tumor. Ricky had a 5.1 cm tumor stemming from his prostate blocking his rectum. Ricky endured chemotherapy and radiation and on February 8, 2008, Ricky was declared No Evidence of Disease (NED).
Rhabdo is aggressive and a remission declaration is not declared until there is no relapse in 5 years. In 2008, Ricky relapsed in the same location. Due to the extent of radiation that Ricky endured the first fight, he could not have radiation again. Our only option was harsh chemotherapy and surgery. On May 30, 2008 Ricky began chemo (he turned 3 on June 1, 2008). The chemo was very hard on Ricky and his recovery was not rapid due to the side-effects of this regimen. He received 5 blood transfusions in a 6-week period. After 7 cycles of chemo, on October 14, 2008, Ricky had surgery to remove his bladder, his prostate, a portion of his urethra and surrounding lymph nodes. A portion of his transverse colon was also removed to create a conduit for his urine, via a urostomy. On November 5, 2008 Ricky resumed the chemo regimen and on February 28, 2009, Ricky was again declared NED.
During this last phase of chemo, Ricky endured multiple infections requiring isolation and was home less than 20 days during this period. On September 17, 2009, our world was shattered when we learned that the cancer had spread to his lungs. Not willing to give up completely, we began a mild chemo regimen to stabilize the spread of the chemo and allow us to make memories. We knew that the cancer had won but we were not going let it steal our time together while he was still feeling good. Ricky began chemo for the last time on October 2, 2009 but his body was tired. On May 5, 2010 Ricky was admitted to the hospital in respiratory/kidney failure. We brought Ricky home on May 17, 2010 and at 11:07pm on May 23, 2010 (just 8 days before his 5th birthday) Ricky earned his angel wings in my arms, with his father and sister by his side.
Ricky was an old soul with a smile & spirit that caused everyone he encountered to fall in love with him. If it were not for his bald head, you would never have known that Ricky had cancer. He lived, loved, laughed and made memories daily. He was my Superman. These past 14 months have been hard. We miss him more than words can say. He taught us what living is all about and about what really matters in life. Because of Ricky I grew up. And because of Ricky, I fight to help others in this fight and pray that one day there will be a CURE for Childhood Cancer and no other parent will have to endure my heartache.