Riktor had been sick for over 6 weeks when the doctors found a brain tumor on December 26, 2006. He was diagnosed with medullablastoma with spinal metastases (brain cancer that spread down his spine) just days later. On January 3rd (just before Riktor's 3rd birthday), Riktor had his first brain surgery which successfully removed the brain tumor. Since then Riktor has had 9 more various surgeries (one of which, where he had a shunt put into his brain so that it would work properly), 6 rounds of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and 6 weeks of radiation therapy. His Mom, Melissa, was forced to quit her job to care for Riktor during his treatments. Rob, his Dad, worked part time while caring for Nolan, Riktor’s now 1 1/2 year old little brother, and driving back and forth from Rohnert Park to Children’s Hospital Oakland or Berkeley (where they were staying for outpatient treatment) to see Riktor and Melissa. Riktor also has a 14 year old big sister, Stacia, who since August 2007 lives with her Mom in Red Bluff. Riktor has now finished all of his treatment and is in remission. He still has a bit of healing to go from the stem cell transplant, there are some viruses that he can't fight yet. Riktor is feeling great now, though, and trying to get back up to speed with the other kids. Riktor is a fighter and a wonderful, happy boy that has not let cancer put out his inner light.
This year has been a tremendous struggle financially and emotionally for the entire family. They are still trying to put their lives back together after all of the enormous changes they had to make to pull through this fight together. Please read the family’s blog by clicking on Current News to learn more about Riktor or how you can help the family.
