Boy's leukemia diagnosis spurs 3-state gymnastics meet

One Yuma family is reeling from the shock of a sudden diagnosis of cancer, and is hoping local businesses will extend a hand in sponsorship of a three-state gymnastics meet that will raise funds for medical bills for the Gerber family.

Two-year-old Richie Gerber, son of Yuma elementary school teachers Richard and Sara Gerber was diagnosed three weeks ago with leukemia, a cancer of the blood or bone marrow.

His aunt, Trisha Gerber, owner of Dust Devil Athletics, has organized a meet on March 15 and 16 at Gila Ridge High School, 7150 E. 24th St., and will donate all the money raised from the event to help with medical bills for her brother's family.

"A meet is basically a group of gymnasts competing against each other for trophies for first through eighth place," Gerber said.

The events leading up to this decision to hold a meet have drastically changed the lives of the Gerber family since the sudden diagnosis of "Baby Richie."

"He had a limp in his hip and my sister-in-law and brother took him to get X-rays for it, three weeks ago," Gerber said. "We just thought maybe he had a sore hip, or perhaps it was growing pains."

Yuma Regional Medical Center immediately flew Richie and his mother to Phoenix to the children's hospital. There, doctors did a bone marrow biopsy, as well as a spinal tap and extensive chemotherapy during the week of Richie's hospitalization.

"That whole week was really intense, and we're still in shock from the sudden events," Gerber said. "Baby Richie was just so brave. Yeah, he was poked and prodded but he was still was so strong, he kept us strong, he kept us going.

"They did a spinal tap to make sure that the cancer hadn't spread to his spine and his brain. Then they shot chemotherapy through his spine and brain immediately so the cancer wouldn't spread, if it was in there.

"He was so cute and upbeat with the doctors and nurses. He'd say, 'Hi! What's your name? What's your mommie's name?' He is just so adorable and outgoing. He smiled even when he was attached to all the machines. He still had the biggest smile on his face the whole time."

Now, Trisha Gerber is hoping businesses will donate funds, which are tax deductible, in an effort to help her brother's family.

"We're going to have the meet and charge $5 admission. Our athletes involved in this three-state meet with Nevada, California and Arizona will pay a $45 entry fee, so there's a chance to raise a good profit for my nephew Richie. We have an opportunity to raise $20,000 for them.

"We have invited over 60 other gyms within the region to participate. We need to get awards and trophies. I have to get U.S gymnastic sanctioned equipment in order to hold the meet. If we could get food donated for concession stands by local business, or if someone knows someone who could give us a deal on awards and trophies or donate them, that would be great," Gerber said.

"This event is actually going to be really big because, not only for my nephew, but for Yuma as well because we are going to have world-class athletes here. Athletes that have actually competed in World events, at the Pan-Am games, we're talking elite gymnasts that actually travel the world. It will be a cool event for people to participate in and watch as well."

Because of the intensity of Richie's chemotherapy, his immune system is very low, so much so that his parents have not been able to return to work, during flu season, for fear a slight fever will result in another helicopter ride to the children's hospital.

"None of us can see them because we're all afraid of getting one of them sick. We're all around kids all the time and we don't want to take that chance of getting them sick," his aunt said.

Richie will have to do weekly chemotherapy sessions for the next six months, followed by monthly sessions for the next three years, but his prognosis is in the 85 percentile survival rate, his aunt said.

"We'll be hosting the first state competition held in Yuma for gymnastics and basically all of the proceeds for the meet will go to Richie, my brother's family, and helping them fight this battle."

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Stefani Guerrero Soucy can be reached at SSoucy@yumasun.com or 539-6857.

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IF YOU WANT TO HELP

For more information about sponsorship, contact Trisha Gerber at 314-3878 or e-mail her at Trish@dustdevilathletics.com