FEATURE
RALLYING BEHIND
RUDDY Two-year-old Alabaster resident fights leukemia battle When Elizabeth Hope took her son, Ruddy, to the doctor in November 2019, she thought he was suffering from a cold. The seemingly routine doctor’s visit led to the realization several months later that Ruddy was actually suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. With September being Childhood Cancer Awareness month, the Hope family wants to share their story and Ruddy’s journey fighting childhood cancer with others. “I always thought childhood cancer was so rare, but I am quickly learning it is not as rare as I thought,” Elizabeth said. “It is not as rare as anyone not directly affected by this thinks it is. I want people to understand how underfunded research is. Only four percent of funds go to childhood cancer research. Forty-three kids are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States. Maybe if more people are made aware of this, we can change these numbers and find a cure. No parent should have to watch their child suffer and fight for their life the way we do.” Ruddy, now two years old, spends his days at Children’s of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham. A typical day for him begins around 7 a.m. where he eats breakfast and watches cartoons. “By mid-morning we try to ‘walk the halls,’ as we call it,” Elizabeth said. “Literally just get out of the room and walk in the halls to get some energy out and play. We eat lunch and he goes down for a nap. Usually when he wakes up he will have a snack, and we will paint or color or play songs. We will have dinner and usually watch a movie
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