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Independence, MO —
When the Missouri Mavericks line up to face Rio Grande Valley tonight at the Independence Events Center, Jeff Christian won’t be on the ice.
“He’ll be with us in spirit,” Mavericks coach Scott Hillman said Monday afternoon, “but he’ll be where he should be – with his family down in Memphis, Tenn.”
Because Jeff and his wife, Dorie, have wanted to keep their family’s recent medical issues with their 8-year-old daughter, Ryan, private, I’ve done my best to adhere to their wishes, while allowing Mavericks fans to know that the team’s scoring leader and inspiration is only away when he has to be at his daughter’s side.
You see, two weeks ago, the Christian’s found out that Ryan had cancer of the adrenal gland.
“It started as harmless as his 8-year-old daughter coming home with a headache,” team president and general manager Brent Thiessen said, “and the next thing Jeff knew was that he was going to the hospital to attend to his unresponsive daughter.
“After days and days without finding the cause of the seizures due to hypertension Ryan was experiencing, they finally diagnosed the problem as Pediatric Adrenalcortical Carcinoma – a form of cancer that affects one in a million. Ryan was prepped for surgery and the tumor on her gland removed. The new scans and tests showed that the cancer was still present in Ryan’s blood and therefore chemo will be needed.”
Ryan was able to return home following the surgery, but further tests showed blood clots in her lungs.
Because the family was considering a move to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, this new discovery led to Dorie and Ryan taking a nine-hour trip in an ambulance to the facility known worldwide as one of the premier cancer centers for children.
Christian played in Saturday’s 4-2 overtime win over Wichita at the Independence Events Center and left immediately after the game to join Dorie and Ryan in Memphis.
“No parent should ever have to hear, ‘Your child has cancer,’ ” Thiessen said. “Jeff and Dorie Christian now have. To everyone’s surprise, Jeff has found the strength to play in Mavericks home games so as to help his teammates and aid the Mavericks playoff run.
“Jeff and Dorie will have a long summer ahead and we want to show them that we are committed to helping Ryan beat this terrible disease and show the Christian family why so many people love calling Missouri home.”
Christian drove to Wichita two weeks ago to be with his team, after he found out that Ryan was resting well at Children’s Mercy Hospital. He had a goal and two assists in one of the many must-win games the Mavericks have played the past month.
“What an inspiration,” teammate Jeff MacDermid said. “Even when Jeff’s not with the team, he’s an inspiration.”
While Christian has provided Mavericks fans with countless thrills this season, he now has to concentrate on what is important – and that is the welfare of his daughter.
“It’s been so tough, but we’re getting through it,” Christian said, before leaving for Tennessee. “The fans have been great. One grandma brought Dorie and me a big bag full of coloring books and stickers and reading material – the type of things a grandma would think of. She knows that Ryan is going to be spending a lot of time in bed, and now, she’s going to have something to keep her busy.
“I wish I could thank everyone individually, but right now, I have to be with Ryan and Dorie.”
The Mavericks understand, and I know the fans will understand, too.
“I heard one of the boys say the other day, ‘Three games in three days, a road trip to Dallas – big deal. We can win ’em all for Jeff,’ ” Hillman said. “Jeff will text me during games, finding out what’s going on with the team. We’re his family, but now, he has to be with his real family.”
Because of the great costs the family has had to deal with, the Mavericks are now asking for your help. And if I know Mavericks fans, I’m betting the response will be overwhelming.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful community to call home,” Thiessen said. “It has been a great year for us with all of your support and right now we are asking for a little more of it. We want to raise awareness of Ryan’s battle in hopes of generating some funds to help them with their newly found expenses.
“Many of you have asked what you can do to help and therefore we wanted to communicate with you that we will be initiating a fundraiser in Ryan Christian’s name for the last game of the season.”
The Mavericks will wear special jerseys that bear Christian’s No. 72 in pre-game warmups in the home finale and they will be auctioned off following the game.
There will also be a fund set up in the Christian family name and all proceeds will go directly to the aid their medical expenses. Many CHL and NHL teams are sending items for the auction and I’m hoping the Royals and Chiefs will get involved, too.
I know my buddies at Tim’s Pizza are thinking of ways they can help with the auction and will likely host a big pizza party that will feature many of the Mavericks players.
If you would like to donate an item to the auction, contact the Mavericks at 816-252-PUCK (7825) or drop me an e-mail at bill.althaus@examiner.net, and I will get the information to the right person.
The Mavericks are battling for a playoff spot, and are the talk of Eastern Jackson County. Ryan Christian is battling for her life, and with the guidance of the staff at St. Jude’s and the love of her family and friends, she will claim the biggest victory of all.
When the Missouri Mavericks line up to face Rio Grande Valley tonight at the Independence Events Center, Jeff Christian won’t be on the ice.
“He’ll be with us in spirit,” Mavericks coach Scott Hillman said Monday afternoon, “but he’ll be where he should be – with his family down in Memphis, Tenn.”
Because Jeff and his wife, Dorie, have wanted to keep their family’s recent medical issues with their 8-year-old daughter, Ryan, private, I’ve done my best to adhere to their wishes, while allowing Mavericks fans to know that the team’s scoring leader and inspiration is only away when he has to be at his daughter’s side.
You see, two weeks ago, the Christian’s found out that Ryan had cancer of the adrenal gland.
“It started as harmless as his 8-year-old daughter coming home with a headache,” team president and general manager Brent Thiessen said, “and the next thing Jeff knew was that he was going to the hospital to attend to his unresponsive daughter.
“After days and days without finding the cause of the seizures due to hypertension Ryan was experiencing, they finally diagnosed the problem as Pediatric Adrenalcortical Carcinoma – a form of cancer that affects one in a million. Ryan was prepped for surgery and the tumor on her gland removed. The new scans and tests showed that the cancer was still present in Ryan’s blood and therefore chemo will be needed.”
Ryan was able to return home following the surgery, but further tests showed blood clots in her lungs.
Because the family was considering a move to St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, this new discovery led to Dorie and Ryan taking a nine-hour trip in an ambulance to the facility known worldwide as one of the premier cancer centers for children.
Christian played in Saturday’s 4-2 overtime win over Wichita at the Independence Events Center and left immediately after the game to join Dorie and Ryan in Memphis.
“No parent should ever have to hear, ‘Your child has cancer,’ ” Thiessen said. “Jeff and Dorie Christian now have. To everyone’s surprise, Jeff has found the strength to play in Mavericks home games so as to help his teammates and aid the Mavericks playoff run.
“Jeff and Dorie will have a long summer ahead and we want to show them that we are committed to helping Ryan beat this terrible disease and show the Christian family why so many people love calling Missouri home.”
Christian drove to Wichita two weeks ago to be with his team, after he found out that Ryan was resting well at Children’s Mercy Hospital. He had a goal and two assists in one of the many must-win games the Mavericks have played the past month.
“What an inspiration,” teammate Jeff MacDermid said. “Even when Jeff’s not with the team, he’s an inspiration.”
While Christian has provided Mavericks fans with countless thrills this season, he now has to concentrate on what is important – and that is the welfare of his daughter.
“It’s been so tough, but we’re getting through it,” Christian said, before leaving for Tennessee. “The fans have been great. One grandma brought Dorie and me a big bag full of coloring books and stickers and reading material – the type of things a grandma would think of. She knows that Ryan is going to be spending a lot of time in bed, and now, she’s going to have something to keep her busy.
“I wish I could thank everyone individually, but right now, I have to be with Ryan and Dorie.”
The Mavericks understand, and I know the fans will understand, too.
“I heard one of the boys say the other day, ‘Three games in three days, a road trip to Dallas – big deal. We can win ’em all for Jeff,’ ” Hillman said. “Jeff will text me during games, finding out what’s going on with the team. We’re his family, but now, he has to be with his real family.”
Because of the great costs the family has had to deal with, the Mavericks are now asking for your help. And if I know Mavericks fans, I’m betting the response will be overwhelming.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful community to call home,” Thiessen said. “It has been a great year for us with all of your support and right now we are asking for a little more of it. We want to raise awareness of Ryan’s battle in hopes of generating some funds to help them with their newly found expenses.
“Many of you have asked what you can do to help and therefore we wanted to communicate with you that we will be initiating a fundraiser in Ryan Christian’s name for the last game of the season.”
The Mavericks will wear special jerseys that bear Christian’s No. 72 in pre-game warmups in the home finale and they will be auctioned off following the game.
There will also be a fund set up in the Christian family name and all proceeds will go directly to the aid their medical expenses. Many CHL and NHL teams are sending items for the auction and I’m hoping the Royals and Chiefs will get involved, too.
I know my buddies at Tim’s Pizza are thinking of ways they can help with the auction and will likely host a big pizza party that will feature many of the Mavericks players.
If you would like to donate an item to the auction, contact the Mavericks at 816-252-PUCK (7825) or drop me an e-mail at bill.althaus@examiner.net, and I will get the information to the right person.
The Mavericks are battling for a playoff spot, and are the talk of Eastern Jackson County. Ryan Christian is battling for her life, and with the guidance of the staff at St. Jude’s and the love of her family and friends, she will claim the biggest victory of all.
