Dear Mark,
As a child life specialist at the Dwaine and Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital of Savannah, it’s my pleasure and honor to assist one special family in sharing the story of their 4 year old Reagan, affectionately known as Ray-Ray, a young child and her family navigating the complex path of a pediatric cancer diagnosis.
In their close-knit community of Ellabell, Ray-Ray embodies joy and imagination, captivating everyone around her with her laughter and warmth. That has all been overshadowed by a devastating diagnosis of Wilms tumor, a type of kidney cancer, thrusting her family into a challenging battle for her health and well-being.
I first met Ray-Ray when she was admitted to the pediatric ICU at Memorial due to severe health complications. They were anxiously awaiting a diagnosis and a comprehensive treatment plan.
Ray-Ray is the center of her family’s world, and during her initial treatment, her mom explained that her instinct to take Ray-Ray to the hospital stemmed from a combination of increasing health issues, concerning symptoms, and noticeable changes in her physical appearance. Ray-Ray had been retaining fluids, losing her appetite, and lacking the energy for her daily activities, all while a tumor grew in her stomach. The medical team suspected renal issues, and her treatment plan, which includes chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple hospital admissions, began immediately.
Ray-Ray was understandably frightened by the hospital's demands. She faced several challenges, including IV placements, multiple blood draws, radiology scans, and numerous new experiences that left her frequently asking everyone who entered the room, "What are you going to do?" The medical team learned to use her curiosity to guide her through each step of her care routine, helping her become more comfortable with her treatment.
The emotional and financial toll weighs heavily on her large, extended family. Her loving parents, Amber and Brandon, along with her 3 siblings are navigating the complexities of weekly medical visits, frequent hospital stays, and the overall disruption to their lives. Every appointment comes with costs that strain their finances and complicate their daily living.
The family works to create moments of joy amid the struggle like lively pool days with colorful foam soap to cherished family movie nights featuring Disney classics.
They work to ensure Ray-Ray feels loved and supported throughout this difficult journey.
Donations raised will help ease the financial pressures of travel, medical expenses, and daily necessities, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: Ray-Ray's path to recovery, her happiness during these trying times, and her holiday season is memorable. Before all this, the family loved to travel and spend quality time together. They would greatly appreciate a weekend getaway to provide some much-needed respite and relaxation away from the hospital environment, ideally with enough space for everyone.
For the holidays, Ray-Ray would love a Chariot power wheel and a Barbie bike with training wheels as well as playdough, painting supplies and visits to the local Ellabell arcade. She also loves McDonald's. Brother Jaxon would like a fishing pole, a tackle box, and a bike. Carleigh and Zayleigh are hoping for a Stanley Cup and a pullover jacket in women's medium size. Mom and Dad would also appreciate a Stanley Cup—one in pink and one in orange. These items would be perfect for long hospital trips and admissions.
The family likes shopping at Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Publix and occasionally dining out at Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, and Jalapeños. The family is thankful for any support they receive and truly appreciates the help in making Ray-Ray's experiences as joyful as possible.
We all look forward to that beautiful moment in February when Ray-Ray rings the bell, signaling the end of her treatment and the beginning of brighter days. Thank you for your compassion, your kindness will make a difference for this extraordinary little girl and her loving family.
Sincerely, Kristen King Child Life Specialist
Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children’s Hospital
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