A young boy named Ricky is turning heads and touching hearts as he shares his resilient battle with GVHD, or chronic graft-versus-host disease. Since infancy, he has faced rare diseases, life-threatening complications, and years of painful treatments, but through it all, Ricky’s strength and spirit have continued to shine.
When he was just 8 months old, Ricky was diagnosed with Juvenile Xanthogranuloma (JXG). This disease required four years of chemotherapy, and at age five, a near-drowning accident led to him being placed in a medically induced coma for one month. When Ricky was 10 years old, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) - a devastating blow that ushered in a new wave of aggressive treatments. Ricky then endured CAR-T cell therapy, full-body radiation twice daily for three days, and a bone marrow transplant from his father - a procedure that saved his life, but at a cost. The transplant led to chronic graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD.
GVHD is a rare and debilitating disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the host’s tissues. Now, Ricky is wheelchair-bound and suffers from severe joint damage, chronic pain, muscle atrophy and persistent inflammation. Ricky’s case is complex and considered among the most challenging at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Despite the best efforts of his healthcare team, the doctors aren’t sure why Ricky’s condition continues to deteriorate - and they no longer have a clear path forward.
Ricky’s family connected with Forgotten Formula PMA, a community of doctors and clinics focused on addressing the root causes of chronic illnesses. Founder Michael Blake personally took on Ricky’s case and connected his family with Dr. Kent Holtorf and Dr. Mortenson to create a personalized treatment with IV mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy at the core. MSC therapy leverages the regenerative properties of stem cells to repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and restore immune balance. Ricky’s doctors believe this therapy could reverse the effects of GVHD, reduce his pain, and potentially restore his mobility.
Ricky’s personalized treatment also includes adjunct treatment such as exosome therapy for promoting cellular repair and healing; peptide therapy for tissue regeneration and immune function; hyperbaric oxygen therapy, plasmapharesis for filtering inflammatory cells out of the blood; physical therapy; and specialized nutritional support.
While all of this is promising, the financial aspect of it all is a major blow for Ricky’s family. The estimated cost for the full course of treatment, including all therapies and ongoing care, is $150,000. Ricky’s family is reaching out to our community of friends, family, and supporters to help raise $150,000 so Ricky can begin this potentially life-changing treatment as soon as possible. Every contribution—large or small—will go directly toward Ricky’s care.
Donors from around the country have already stepped up to help provide treatment for Ricky, a vibrant, kind young boy who only wants to walk again and live without pain. Ricky’s story is a reminder of what’s possible when people come together in support of something bigger than themselves.
Learn more and donate now by visiting http://spot.fund/1ztdmwqsq or by scanning the QR code below.
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Contact Person: Richard Alcedo
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Country: United States
Website: http://spot.fund/1ztdmwqsq
