Help Ricky fight cancer

The year 2021 brought a new sense of hope and joy for us all. But nothing can compare to the joy that was felt by the Allen’s. This is the year that they would be welcoming a miracle from Heaven, another beautiful baby girl. Fast forward 7 months later and it was time for sweet Ellie’s arrival. Her Dad, Ricky, had began having abdominal pain and after visiting the doctor was determined to have acute cholecystitis that would need to be resolved with surgery. Nicole and Ricky made the decision to induce labor with Ellie so that Nicole would have a brief amount of time to recover, before Ricky went in for routine gallbladder surgery. Sweet Ellie was born 1 day before her original due date on 7/3/21 and was a gift from the Lord to Ricky, Nicole and Sophia. After a blissful (but exhausting) 2 weeks it was time for Ricky to have his gallbladder removed and for the Allen’s to move on with this chapter. However, this was not the case. On 7/14/21 the surgeon found a small mass, and although he was sure it was benign, he took a biopsy and did not proceed with Ricky’s gallbladder removal. The mass was sent off to pathology and Nicole and Ricky were assured that this was a minor bump in the road. Finally, on 7/29/21 after a 2-week (which felt like a 2 year wait) Nicole and Ricky had their follow up with the Surgeon. “I’m sorry, its cancer.”  The floor was pulled out from under them and the weight of a thousand questions loomed in the air. “How?” “Why?” “What are we going to do?”

              Immediately a plan was formed with several specialist to take on this beast called Cholangiocarcinoma. A very rare but aggressive cancer of the bile duct of the liver. Less than 20,000 US cases per year. Ricky would have to have Chemo starting on 9/1/21 to shrink the tumor and then surgery to remove most of his liver. The road was long and uncertain for Ricky and Nicole. 2 small children, one being less than a year and this devastating diagnosis all weighing on their shoulders. 11/24/21 was the day that Ricky went in for surgery at 5:30 am Nicole waited with Ricky’s sister, Billie, while the love of her life entered the operating room to continue his fight. After 9 hours, the surgery was complete, and Nicole was finally able to see him at 9:30 PM. The follow up brought mixed news, they got all the tumor, the margins were dead, however 1 out of 15 lymph nodes was positive for cancer. Therefore 4 more rounds of chemo would be needed. By now we are in 2022 and they are breathing a sigh of relief that this monster is finally backing down. Ricky begins chemo again, but his time is harder. His CA19 (a blood test for cancer) began to rise, and his pain increased. Concerned his oncologist ordered another CT on 2/18/22. Results were in on 2/23/22 and the CT shows at least 4 new liver lesions, but praise God, no where else. Ricky’s team of doctors are working on the best treatment plan moving forward. The surgeon is meeting with the tumor board before a decision is made. Despite his blood counts being low they are working on a plan to aggressively treat this cancer, which will require more doctors’ visits, more medications, more time away from work and more stress on the Allen family.

              Ricky is a dedicated member of his community; he is a fireman in Conover and has served his community faithfully for many years. Nicole is a Hospice Nurse who goes above and beyond for her patients daily. They both love the Lord with a fierceness, and they have given God the praise throughout this devastating time, forever faithful servants they continue to trust in His plan for their family. As a friend I feel helpless, there is a longing to help that I cannot fill by myself, that is why I am creating this GoFundMe. Our goal is to raise enough money to help with medical bills and allow Nicole to take more time off without worrying about a financial burden so that she can spend time with her family and focus on what matters most. If you cannot help financially, please pray for the Allen’s. Let us flood the gates of Heaven with praise for what God is going to do in Ricky’s life through this journey.

Isaiah 41 :10 reminds us of His promise

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.