Adventure Day One

May 9, 2008 - What Do You Remember from the Call the Weekend of October 11, 2002.  We received an email from Rickey’s sister, Dana-Lee, she writes: 

 

It was a beautiful sunny day in California, and I remember the phone call from Rickey very vividly.  When he began speaking, I knew that it wasn’t going to be a “feel good call”. I went outside in the backyard and sat on the bricks next to the pool.  I was trying to get myself ready for the news.

 

Rickey then told me about his leukemia.  I was stunned and couldn’t believe that this was happening to Rickey.  It just didn’t seem right.  How could he have the same disease as our bother, Carl Jr.?  I remembered asking a lot of questions - the main one, “are you sure?”  Rickey than began to tell me how he would go in his car at lunch to take a nap.  He knew that something was wrong, and he was just always tired. In a very quiet voice, he told me that he emotionally could not tell the other brothers and sisters about his condition.  Would I call each one and tell them that he had leukemia.

 

I said that I would call each family member and be sure that they knew what was happening.  I was glad that he entrust in me to tell the family.  I needed to be able to do something for him since I felt helpless about what was getting ready to happen to him that would change his life forever.

 

He explained to me that it was an aggressive leukemia and that he was going to start chemotherapy on Monday.  My first reaction was that I wanted to be there with him.  I told him that perhaps Lauren, my daughter, and I could travel to be with him during his chemotherapy.

 

Right after I hung up the telephone, I told Larry, my husband, about the call, had a good cry and then called every brother and sister.  Surprisingly, every one of them was home for me to tell the news — Our baby brother is very, very ill and he needs us.

 

Until our next blog – remember life is an adventure, embrace the journey.  You can make a difference one day at a time. 

 

Share your adventure with us!

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