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Boy fighting cancer gets ride of his life
Published November 21, 2009
LAKE JACKSON — They are men who show courage in the face of great danger, but 7-year-old Peyton Ricker’s story brought the group of Lake Jackson volunteer firefighters to tears.
In an effort to honor the boy who is living with cancer, firefighters drove Peyton to school at Bess Brannen Elementary on a fire truck and named him an honorary firefighter Friday.
Robert and Jenna Ricker found out Peyton had a tumor on his brain stem in July 2008, Robert Ricker said. Peyton’s erratic walking and other symptoms caused them to take him to the hospital.
“Up until a year and a half ago, he was a regular kid,” Jenna Ricker said.
The couple were taken into a room and told their son wouldn’t make it.
“They said people don’t survive from this,” Jenna Ricker said. Peyton was given nine to 18 months to live.
Peyton received some treatments doctors hoped would prolong his life, but 15 months after the diagnosis, his health has taken a turn for the worse. The kid who loved to play soccer and basketball has begun losing some of his function and spends most of his time in a wheelchair, Robert Ricker said.
The family hopes they are prepared.
“From the very beginning, all of our kids have known what the likely outcome would be,” Jenna Ricker said.
Peyton and his family have handled the diagnosis with a grace that has impressed many people in their lives.
“Peyton still has a really good attitude,” Jenna Ricker said. “He can tell his body is changing. He’s just getting used to it.”
He continues to go to school, play with his brothers and sister, and he even wrote a book about a manatee.
“He’s very aware of what’s coming, but he knows everything is going to be OK,” Jenna Ricker said.
Tyler, 8, said he enjoys playing with his brother.
“He likes Legos,” Tyler said. “He likes going on different coasters, but not the ones with loops.”
The Rickers take every chance they can to spend time as a family, Robert Ricker said.
“It makes you appreciate the moments that you have a little more,” he said.
While Peyton has spent the last year enjoying life as best he can, others have watched his fight in awe.
“He’s a wonderful kid,” said Lisa Trail, Peyton’s second-grade teacher. Peyton loves to laugh and make other people laugh, she said.
Though his classmates don’t fully understand what is going on with Peyton, he is teaching them lessons every day, she said.
Out of gratitude for the lessons Peyton has taught not only fellow students, but those three times his age, Lake Jackson volunteer firefighters presented Peyton with a special day.
“We heard that he’d been wanting a fire truck ride for a long time,” Lake Jackson Fire Chief Mike Harper said. “We wanted to fulfill one of his wishes.”
The group also presented Peyton with a Wii gaming system, games and his own firefighter uniform.
Peyton also was named an honorary firefighter and Friday was Peyton Ricker Day in Lake Jackson.
The recognition was about honoring a “little man” whose strength and courage has inspired so many adults, said Benny Lowery, a Lake Jackson volunteer firefighter.
“He’s an amazing boy on a journey none of us have ever taken,” Lowery said.
Peyton has been an inspiration to everyone, Mayor Bob Sipple said.
Peyton was surprised by the ride.
“I thought, ‘What is that?’” Peyton said. He was excited and said thank you for each gift he received. He especially was excited to learn he is an honorary firefighter.
“They said I’m their brother now,” Peyton said.
Also excited to enjoy the ride were Peyton’s sister and three brothers.
Robert Ricker was shocked by the amount of effort and time the group put into making Peyton’s day special. They are not the only ones who have donated time and money to give Peyton and his family some special days to remember, he said.
“It’s very humbling for us to see all of the people who want to do good and love our family, whether they know us or not,” Jenna Ricker said.
As the Rickers enjoy time with their son, they are comforted by the knowledge their precious boy is in God’s hands.
“We will see him again, and he will always be our son,” Jenna Ricker said.
Katlynn Lanham covers Lake Jackson for The Facts. Contact her at 979-237-0150.
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