Sunday, May 23, 2010

BAT BOY CAL VS. UCLA



























John was so excited when Mike's cousin arranged for him to batboy for one of Cal's last home baseball games. It was a wonderful afternoon with John's special friends, family and extended family. Mike's cousins email and photos from the day sum it up perfectly......


email from Larry Ricksen~

We witnessed a great Cal baseball game yesterday, but unfortunately we came out on the losing end as UCLA scored 3 runs in the 9th inning. Jimmy and John both got to be the bat boys for the game and did a great job. Jimmy was responsible for replenishing the umpire’s stash of balls and John was in charge of retrieving the bats after the Cal batters finished their at bat. When Jimmy left for a birthday party in the 7th John took over both duties.

It was a beautiful and breezy day with sunshine, marshmellow clouds, and family. After the game ended the Cal players were really discouraged as they had rallied with 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th to take a 2 run lead. John told his dad he heard about 20 F bombs after the end of the game. Eventually the team gathered in the outfield and the coach asked John to join the team. We learned from Mitch, a Cal player and Katie’s boyfriend, that the coach did not berate the team for their mistakes, but simply reminded them that although they lost a tough game, it should be kept in perspective, as the challenges many people courageously face in life, like John, should make them all realize that losing a baseball game is not that important.







Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Thank you OBA!



Thank you to all the OBA players and families that helped raise over $6,000 to support the John Ricksen Fund at Children's Hospital Oakland!



Monday, May 3, 2010

Lasts.......


I remember vividly the night that the doctors reviewed the 5 page treatment roadmap and went through the 20+ medications John would be on and all their potential side effects. I can not believe that we have finally completed phase 4 and will soon be entering the last and final phase (maintenance) which will last 15 more months.


We had our last scheduled overnight chemo treatment at CHO. We had dinner brought in for the staff that works so hard to care for John and the other patients. Many of these dedicated people have become friends and there was lots of emotion as we walked out of those hospital doors.


We had our last spinal chemo on Friday. These long days of not being able to eat and being put under anesthesia have taken their toll on us. We realized that we have gone through that 13 times over the course of treatment.


I administered my last round of chemo through the broviac last night! It is never easy dressing in a gown, mask and gloves and having to administer something you know is so toxic yet is helping you child.


I have been living so day-to-day that I never realized how much progress we have made. We now will enjoy looking ahead to plan for the future and that is a nice feeling!