Translate This Page To: Spanish German French Italian Portuguese Norwegian Brought to you From FreeTranslation.com Give a gift in honor of this child. Davin Rucker Davin and Sister To e-mail Davin click here: Davin Rucker (room# ICU) http://www.childrens.com/Patients_Families/emailPatient.cfm UPDATE: 12-11-03 It is with great sadness that we have to write today...Heaven now has a new angel. Davin peacefully went to sleep on Thursday, December 11, 2003 at about 5:35 pm. with his wonderful Daddy by his side. He courageously fought this fight to the end...He will definitely be missed!! We will write more later about arrangements, etc. as it is too hard to write right now. God Bless, Rushell, Shauna, Tuesdey and Davin UPDATE: 12-10-03 Davin was started on Hospice yesterday...He sleeps 22+ hours per day and is in alot of pain...Right now, we are working with Hospice to try and find the combination of meds out there to make him have no pain...This is the hardest thing we have EVER dealt with in our lives...It really, really sucks!! I just can't believe we are having to watch our precious son die!! It is so awful!! Words cannot even describe how we are feeling...Please pray for all of our family for strength to get through this...We really need the prayers right now. Tears flow constantly...Our hearts are aching so terribly right now...Of course we are getting no sleep...The pain meds that we give Davin is given once every two hours, so we have a timer to go off every two hours so that he doesn't miss a dose...We don't want him to be in any pain... We want to let everyone know that we APPRECIATE all the cards, gifts, guestbook entries, words of encouragement, etc...They really help out alot!! More than words can say...We are sorry we can't personally respond to each of you, but please know that we love each and every one of you...Please know that... Just a reminder that if you live in the Dallas area, Davin's school is having a Garage Sale Fundraiser for our family...It will be held this Saturday, December 13, 2003 at: Shorehaven Elementary 600 Shorehaven Drive Garland, TX 75040 If you need directions, please feel free to email me and I will tell you how to get there... God Bless!! Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 12-06-03 Just a quick update...Davin is still not feeling the greatest...He has just been laying in bed since we got home from the hospital, not eating much either...Please Pray!! It breaks our hearts to see him like this...We are meeting with the Hospice nurse on Monday to find out more about their program...Also, we are looking into an alternative treatment called Protocel...We have read numerous success stories about this product...Our way of thinking is it doesn't hurt to try...The only drawback is that insurance does not cover the expenses because it is considered alternative...We are in a major financial crisis already...Davin's school is going to help us out with our first fundraiser to help cover costs for his care and for this new treatment. UPDATE: 12-02-03 We spoke to Davin's oncologist today about the official pathology report on Davin's biopsy...It is all tumor...and growing at a very rapid pace...this tumor was not present three months ago...It grew that quickly...With that said, we are running out of options for Davin...The tumor is inoperable, he can't have any more radiation, and they are already giving him the best chemotherapy drug available...all the other chemo's are less potent than the one he is getting now...and the tumor still grew...This is the hardest thing we have ever ever had to go through...I just can't believe this!! The oncologist said that he doesn't like giving any specific time periods, but that he probably has three to four months to live...We have an appointment with Hospice at the end of this week, just so we can get everything started and we won't be in such a panic once the time comes to call them in...Right now, we are still going to remain positive (although that is easier said than done...as I bawl my eyes out through typing this)...Davin is such a fighter...He has fought for ten years now...We will not give up hope!! Please, please continue to pray!! We need all the prayers we can get!! We are at home now...Davin got discharged from the hospital today; so he is resting comfortably in his OWN bed... :) Lord, please give us the strength we need to deal with this situation...We are still looking for a miracle... God Bless!! Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 11-29-03 Hello to our family and friends, Davin had his surgery yesterday and he made it through okay...The neurosurgeon was only able to get biopsy's...He said that there are definitely tumor cells and his cerebellum looks very abnormal...He said the tumors are INOPERABLE...Please PRAY for a miracle!! We are waiting for the official biopsy reports to know more...they say it takes about 48 hours...PLEASE PRAY!! DAVIN NEEDS ALL THE PRAYERS WE CAN GET!! He is in ICU at Children's and is in *ALOT* of pain...I wish I could take the pain away!! I will update as soon as I have more info...we don't have internet access at the hospital, so I will update when I can...PLEASE PRAY!! Davin Rucker c/o Children's Medical Center of Dallas 1935 Motor Street Dallas, TX 75235 God Bless!! Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 11-26-03 Davin will be having brain surgery this Friday, November 28th at 7:30 a.m. Please keep our family in your prayers at this time... If all of this isn't enough, Davin lost his balance and fell on Sunday and busted part of his front tooth out...He had to go to the dentist and they had to do a partial root canal on him (a pulpectomy)...They will do the complete root canal sometime in March or April of next year......LORD GIVE US STRENGTH!! Davin Rucker c/o Children's Medical Center of Dallas 1935 Motor Street Dallas, TX 75235 UPDATE: 11-21-03 Davin will be having brain surgery again...We are not sure of the date yet, the doctor is supposed to call us back today after he talks with the neurosurgeon. This time the spots are on the back left part of his brain...the first time, they were on the front left part...They are going to take as much tissue as they can safely take and then do a biopsy on it to figure out where we need to go from here treatment wise...The tumor isn't a solid mass like the first one...on the MRI, it looked like a haze or smoke over the left back part of his brain, so they can't go in and resect it like they did the first time... PLEASE PRAY!! God Bless!! Shauna UPDATE: 11-20-03 Well, the doctor called us last night and didn't have news that we really wanted to hear. Davin's MRI showed some abnormal bright spots on his Cerebellum that are about 3 to 4 inches from the original tumor site...Dr. Bowers said that he is puzzled by these bright spots because when the contrast was given during his MRI, the spots weren't bright anymore like they were before the contrast was given. Davin's original tumor did just the opposite, it got really bright when the contrast was given. He said normally tumors in the same individual respond the same way each time...So, with that said, Davin is going back for some more tests today...He will have an MRI of his spine and he will have what's called an MRI Spectroscopy...This particular test is just like an MRI, but they inject a different type of contrast and they zoom in to these bright spots...They are then able to tell what the chemical make up of the spots is...Tumors are known to have high concentrations of certain chemicals...These tests will be at 2:30 pm today and we will meet at Dr. Bowers office at 4:30 pm to get the results...We just don't like the sound of all of this...There is definitely something there...I will update as soon as we get the results this evening. Please pray...Pray hard!! Please ask everyone that you know to pray...We truly believe the power of prayer can make miracles happen!! God Bless!! Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 11-19-03 Please keep Davin in your prayers!! We had to take him to the Emergency Room this past weekend because he was having the same symptoms that he had a year ago when he was diagnosed with the brain tumor...vomiting, headache, weakness on his right side, and drooling...We are so worried!! He had an MRI done last night...we should know the results later on this afternoon or tomorrow...PLEASE PRAY!! One minute he is doing great and then the next minute, this...It is constantly on our minds...I can't imagine what is going through his little mind!! It isn't fair!! We are praying for a miracle...I know God produces them, so please pray with us!! As soon as we get some results, I will update this page... On a lighter note...We had a blast in Hawaii!! I will update more about the trip later on and I will post some new pictures... Thank you everyone for checking on little Davin...Please come again soon!! God Bless!! Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 10-23-03b Well, Davin went to the doctor yesterday...and we still don't know anything!! We are so frustrated!! The dentist spoke with Davin's oncologist and she thinks what is seen on the x-ray is a projection of a "bone flap"...so you ask, What is a bone flap??? Well, of course I was wondering the same thing...It is the piece of skull that was removed during his tumor resection surgery and then put back in, kind of like a jig saw puzzle piece...It is still Davin's actual bone...My guess is the skull fuses back together kind of like when you break a bone...Well, the oncologist wasn't real sure about this theory but he says he will get to the bottom of it...We hope it is sooner than later...The "not knowing" is killing us!! We thought we'd let everyone know what we know...and that's not much!! We will update as soon as we get more news...Please just keep PRAYING!! Thank you, too, for everyone that checks in on little Davin...It truly means the world to us knowing that so many people care!! God Bless!! The Rucker Family~~Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey Monday, October 20, 2003 Just a quick update...We still have not heard anything about the dental x-ray...Davin's oncologist thinks it could be "artifact" on the x-ray, like Davin moved or something and caused a shadow...I still won't be satisfied until we know for sure...considering his medical history...He goes to see the doctor tomorrow, so hopefully we will have more answers then...Another thing...Davin had seizure activity yesterday...This all just worries us to death!! PLEASE, PLEASE PRAY!! PLEASE HAVE EVERYONE YOU KNOW PRAY FOR LITTLE DAVIN AND ALL THE OTHER PRECIOUS CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM THESE AWFUL DISEASES!! We will post an update as soon as we know something... God Bless!! The Rucker Family~~Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 10-16-03 Hello to our family and friends, We need your prayers!! Davin went to the dentist this morning (Thursday, October 16, 2003) for a regular check-up...They did a panoramic x-ray, as well as bite wings...The dentist stared at the panoramic x-ray for several minutes and didn't say anything...Then he grabbed it and said I'll be right back, I need to go consult with another dentist...Well, I'm sitting there freaking out!! What in the world is wrong??? Both dentists came back and showed me their concern...There seems to be some kind of mass in his right sinus cavity...The left one looks normal...They said they had never seen anything quite like this...Well, of course, I am freaking out...The oncologist told us when Davin was diagnosed with the Brain Tumor that Davin's chances of getting other types of cancer are very great...because of his history of alreay having leukemia and the brain tumor...PLEASE PRAY FOR DAVIN!! PLEASE PRAY THAT THIS IS NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT!! PLEASE PRAY THAT MAYBE IT IS JUST A "GLITCH" IN THE X-RAY!! I don't know how much more we can handle!! Our lives revolve daily around cancer and it makes me sick to my stomach even thinking about it...We have got to find a cure for this awful beast that affects SO MANY...actually TOO MANY people...Please pray for us...I will update as soon as I know something. God Bless!! The Rucker Family~~Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey UPDATE: 9-03-03 Greetings!! Everything has been going good in the Rucker household...Davin and Tuesdey enjoyed last weekend with their Grandma and Papa in Oklahoma City, while Mommy and Daddy enjoyed the first OU football game of the season!! GO SOONERS!! If you didn't know by now, we are HUGE OU Sooners football fans...We love this time of year!! I guess we will close for now...I will write more later on...Please continue to pray for Davin and all of our other friends that are battling this terrible monster!! God Bless!! The Rucker Family UPDATE: 8-23-03 Hello, Everyone!! We have GREAT news here in the Rucker household!! Davin had his three month MRI last Thursday...The results came back and he has NO RECURRENT TUMOR!! We are all so excited!! Davin will remain on his daily chemo plan (5 consecutive days every 21 days) and if his MRI's stay clear we will talk about ending chemo in January 2004...PLEASE KEEP PRAYING...IT IS DEFINITELY WORKING!! We truly believe the power of prayer can make miracles happen!! God Bless!! The Rucker Family UPDATE: 7-26-03 Hello, Everyone!! I bet everyone thought that we fell off the side of the earth!! Sorry it took so long to update...we've had a lot of issues going on in our family...Please keep all of us in your prayers!! Davin and Tuesdey went to spend a week at Grandma and Papa's house in Oklahoma City...they got back last week...Boy, it sure was quiet around our house!! They had a WONDERFUL time!! We have been weening Davin off of his dilantin (anti-convulsant) and this week would have been his last week taking it...He hasn't had a seizure since November 2002, so we thought we'd give it a shot...BAD NEWS...Davin had a seizure this past Tuesday...Of course I freaked out, thinking the stupid tumor was coming back with a vengence...I called his oncologist and they think he just needs to be on the dialantin full time, since he has had these "spells" since 1994...since he's not having weakness, nausea, or headache, they told me not to worry too much...I AM A WORRY WORT!!! So, Davin is back on the original dose of Dilantin that he was taking... Davin has his next MRI on August 14th, so please keep him in your prayers...This "PMS" (Pre-MRI Syndrome) is killing me!! I much rather have the other "PMS"...LOL... Not too much else going on...just trying to keep cool in this VERY HOT TEXAS HEAT!! God Bless!!b The Rucker Family UPDATE: 6-25-03 AHOY MATES!! The Rucker Family is full of fish phrases, so we thought we'd greet you with pirate talk!! We just got back from our deep-sea fishing trip in Florida...WE HAD A BLAST!! Davin was scared of being outside on the boat, but he did enjoy keeping the Captain company inside while watching cartoons...We ended up catching 42 fish--Red Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack...and these were BIG FISH!! It's not too easy bringing almost 300 pounds of fish home on a drive from Florida to Texas...But, it was well worth it!! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CAPTAIN RODNEY AND GAIL SMITH OF FOR MAKING THIS TRIP POSSIBLE...WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH...WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME AND YOU ALL ARE THE GREATEST!! GOD BLESS BOTH OF YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION YOU HAVE STARTED!! THANK YOU TO CAPTAIN LEVEREL AND MATE BRAD OF "FAMILY TRADITION" FOR TAKING US OUT ON YOUR BOAT...CAPTAIN LEVERAL IS AWESOME AT FINDING THE FISH AND HIS MATE BRAD WAS AWESOME AT HELPING WITH EVERYTHING TO HELP TO MAKE OUR TRIP OUTSTANDING!! THANK YOU TO "PAPA JOE" AT "LOLLYE ON THE BEACH" MOTEL FOR DONATING THE USE OF OUR ROOMS WHILE WE WERE IN PANAMA CITY BEACH... b As soon as we get our pictures developed, we will post them on the web page... This trip really meant alot to our family...We were able to "get away" from our everyday lives here in Texas...running back and forth to the doctor, wondering if Davin is going to feel good from day to day...etc, etc...Watching the sun rise off of the ocean, feeling the ocean waves splashing against our bodies, watching Davin and Tuesdey play in the beautiful white sand, watching the dolphins swim by the boat, feeding fish to the pelican when he landed on our boat, hearing the waves splash against the beach...all of these precious moments really made us step back and RELAX...we were able to really enjoy God's gifts that he has given to all of us...It was such an awesome experience!! We do know this~Whenever we have a bad day, we will cherish these memories and will be able to think about them and re-live them in our minds and turn our day into a good one!! Until next time...May God be with all of you...and Make the most out of every single day that you have here on Earth... God Bless!! The Rucker Family UPDATE: 5-10-03 We have very happy news to report from the Rucker Household!! Davin had his three month follow-up MRI on Monday, May 5, 2003...The doctor walked in and said "I have GREAT news"!! The tumor is shrinking!! He said the tumor looks smaller, there is less fluid around the cavity, and the blood vessels aren't as enlarged. PRAISE GOD!! Our prayers are definitely being answered!! Please keep the prayers coming, as we truly believe the power of prayer can make miracles happen!! Davin will continue with the daily chemotherapy plan and we will all continue to fighT this beast!! This was the best Mother's Day present I could ever receive!! God Bless!! The Rucker Family~~Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & TuesdAy ADDED: 4-26-03 Davin's mailing address: Davin Rucker 1802 Pleasant Valley Drive Suite #100-175 Garland, TX 75040 Birthdate: 1/12/92 As of April 15, 2003: It was such a beautiful day here in Garland...Davin had a doctor's appointment this morning and everything looks good right now...His blood counts were all good, so he can continue on with Chemotherapy... This afternoon, Davin went on an Easter Egg hunt with his class from school...and boy, was he excited!! He had a GREAT time!! There's not too much more news from the Rucker household, so I guess I'll close for now... ...and remember to CELEBRATE!! God Bless!! The Rucker Family~~Rushell, Shauna, Davin, & Tuesdey His History: Our little warrior, Davin, was born on January 12, 1992. He was born prematurely at 35 weeks after an induced labor due to pre-eclampsia. Although he only weighed 3 pounds 15 ounces at birth, he quickly gained weight and began living a normal, healthy life. In February 1994, Davin’s stomach became bloated and very hard to the touch. We took him to the doctor and after numerous tests he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Davin went through a two and a half year treatment protocol consisting of various chemotherapies. He was making great strides with his illness until May 1996 when he had a relapse in his central nervous system. He then started a new treatment protocol consisting of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to his brain and spinal cord. He successfully finished treatment in March 1998 and he has been in remission ever since. PRAISE GOD!! Although he finished his Leukemia treatments and his blood counts remain stable, the treatments have taken a toll on Davin. The radiation therapy he received at such an early age has caused many delays, both mental and physical. He is currently on a pre-school/kindergarten learning level, although he is eleven years old. He has also developed seizures. The doctors also believe that the radiation was the cause of his newest battle. Davin’s most recent battle was his diagnosis of a mixed malignant glioma brain tumor on November 1, 2002. Davin wasn’t feeling good the week of Halloween and after a visit to the doctor we were told that it was just a virus; Tylenol and plenty of fluids should do the trick, so they say. On Halloween night, he began to have weakness on his right side and increased seizure activity, so we took him to the Emergency Room. We knew that this wasn’t “just a virus”. A CAT scan and MRI were done and the hospital staff informed us that he had a huge mass on the left-frontal area of his brain. What a HUGE blow for someone who has already been through enough in his short life!! Everything seemed to move by so quickly the days after the diagnosis. Brain surgery was performed on November 5, 2002, and the neurosurgeon was able to remove 90 to 95% of the tumor. We were told that it was a very aggressive malignant glioma and Davin was given a 5% survival rate between 8 to 12 months. How devastating!! Davin started daily radiation in combination with daily chemotherapy (temozolomide-100 mg per day) on December 3, 2002. On December 5th, he started having weakness again on his right side. Another MRI was performed and it was found that the tumor was already growing back in two different places. We were then given the option to call in hospice and make him comfortable or increase the radiation area to cover more of his brain and possibly suffer more side effects. We choose to keep fighting!! After a four week “rest” following the initial daily treatment plan that was finished on January 17, 2003, Davin started a protocol consisting of five consecutive days of Temozolomide (250 mg per day) every 21 days. We will continue to fight this beast!! Davin LOVES getting mail. It really puts a smile on his face!! Address for Davin's Assistance Fund: Oklahoma Employees Credit Union Davin Rucker Assistance Fund ACCOUNT #4161100 PO Box 24027 Oklahoma City, OK 73124