“We’ll see you next year - do it again,” I said to close the interview.
“Yes you will. Yes you will,” said Ricky Sandoval, the Lions director of security.
This was February, 2008 and the words have proven prophetic. In the twelve months since, Ricky has continued his valiant fight against pancreatic cancer, a battle he’s waged since being diagnosed in May, 2006.
“It’s still there, obviously,” said Ricky. “But like I told you in year one, I wasn’t going to be a number when they said I only had three to six months to live, so I challenged my doctor and told him if you don’t want to join this fight with me, I’ll get another doctor, because I won’t die from this cancer. I’ve beaten the odds – it’s been 33 months.”
How much has Ricky defied the odds? Put it this way, a Lions meeting room seats about 100 people. If we had filled the seats three years ago with people recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the fact is, only five to ten would still be here today, fighting to live.
Ricky has maintained his affable attitude, his great sense of humor and his genuine care for people throughout this fight. The only real change has been his appearance, most notably atop his head, where he recently lost his hair due to chemotherapy treatments.
“It’s not a fashion statement,” said Sandoval. “It is what it is but it took 32 months to happen.”
“The other day I get out of the shower, get my deodorant and I grab for a comb. I’m just used to doing it. Gael (his wife) looks at me and says, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’”
He does know how crucial the message of hope is to everyone who sees his story.
“I wouldn’t do these interviews if it wasn’t helping people,” said Sandoval. “Anybody can be on TV and do this. I didn’t want to do this for my own glory. If I can help people, that’s what it’s all been for.”
“So we’ll see you next year?” I say
Ricky responds, “Damn skippy!”
We’ll have more on Ricky Sandoval’s courageous fight against pancreatic cancer coming up this Sunday, February 22 on the Sunday Sports Update.
