About Rucker.

His story is one of awe-inspiring positivity.

Rucker’s fight began in March of 2018 at the age of 3 when he began began limping after a flight home from a trip to see his cousin in Charleston. Prior to that day, Rucker had been a happy and active child, with no history of any major health issues. An X-ray followed by an MRI showed a small spot on his left fibula, which the doctors believed was a benign bone cyst. A needle biopsy conducted the next week appeared to be negative for malignancy, although the pathologist noted some findings of inflammation and giant cells (which were also benign). At that point, Rucker was no longer limping or complaining of pain in his leg. However, due to the lesion's potential to cause a fracture in his bone, the orthopedic surgeon recommended that the mass be surgically removed. 

While waiting for the outpatient surgery to be scheduled, Rucker proceeded to live his life normally, celebrating his 4th birthday, taking swim lessons, riding his bike, and going on a beach trip with his family. 

It wasn’t until late June that the severity of Rucker’s ailment was discovered, after he tripped in the driveway and injured his other leg. ER imaging showed a broken femur above the right knee . . . and another lesion, similar to the one seen in his left leg a few months prior.  

This is when the doctors realized there was a bigger problem. Full body x-rays were ordered to determine whether other lesions could be seen in his bones. Although the x-rays did not reveal any other bone lesions, the interpreting radiologist notified the attending ER physician that there appeared to be a large mass in Rucker's belly. 

A CT scan of Rucker’s abdomen was immediately ordered and it showed a large tumor on Rucker’s left kidney, which the doctors believed to be the primary source of the disease. They also found some nodules in his lungs and at least one additional lesion near his shoulder bone, meaning that it was already Stage IV. Rucker was immediately admitted to the oncology wing of Children’s of Alabama (Floor 8QB) and the next day went in for surgery to have open biopsy of the kidney tumor and to get a central line placed in his chest for the inevitable chemo treatments that were to come.

After several weeks of misdiagnosis, genetic testing finally confirmed the diagnosis of SEF. Rucker’s doctors prepared him and his family for a long, tough treatment plan consisting of multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. For the next 29 months, Rucker fought cancer with the bravery and resilience of a superhero, and the spirit, trust and innocence of a child.

Despite the hardships he faced throughout his battle, Rucker always remained positive, trusting that his doctors and parents were doing everything they could to help him get better. As the tenderhearted rule-follower that he was, he was always cooperative with the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, and rarely complained even when he felt his worst. After countless surgeries, scans, chemo treatments, radiation procedures, pricks, pokes and tears, he always ended up smiling with two thumbs up, saying “that was easy peasy.”

Rucker and his parents never stopped searching for the next best treatment to cure him. They traveled the country, from Children’s Hospital of Alabama to Stanford University, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Hospital. No matter where he went, Rucker lit up the lives of the doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other families he met along the way. He loved to joke with the doctors and nurses and he was always up for entertaining.

Rucker truly was a kind and innocent soul. He was also funny and slightly mischievous, but very sweet, cautious, gentle, and loving. He had the most infectious giggle. Outside of hospital and clinic visits, Rucker was most comfortable being home with his brother, cousins and friends, where he loved to dress up in costumes, sing and dance to Michael Jackson, and put on impromptu guitar and drum performances. He had the most endearing way of turning life’s lemons into lemonade, like when he first got his wee-walker and used it as a prop in his Michael Jackson dance routine. Or when he had to lose his hair (for the second time due to chemo) and he decided to make a mohawk out of it for his preschool Christmas program.

Rucker was an empathetic and caring friend to so many and he had a way of making everyone smile. He fought an incredibly difficult battle against cancer with a spirit that amazed the entire community around him. He took whatever challenges he had to face head on with a courage that was awe-inspiring.