Ricky’s journey has been one of relentless challenges, defined by courage and perseverance. At just 8 months old, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Xanthogranuloma (JXG), leading to four years of chemotherapy treatment. At the age of five, he experienced a near-drowning incident that resulted in a medically induced coma lasting an entire month. When he turned 10, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), which required CAR-T cell treatment, full-body radiation administered twice a day for three consecutive days, and a bone marrow transplant donated by his father.
Although the transplant was life-saving, it led to Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD), a serious and potentially fatal condition in which his immune system turns against his own body. Ricky now relies on a wheelchair and endures intense pain, joint deterioration, muscle wasting, and widespread inflammation. His medical situation is so intricate that he is regarded as one of the most difficult cases at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Physicians remain puzzled, unable to explain his worsening condition or identify a clear path forward, leaving his parents feeling helpless and without answers.
Ricky’s parents looked for solutions outside of his existing healthcare providers and connected with Forgotten Formula PMA, an organization dedicated to addressing the underlying causes of illness. Its founder, Michael Blake, personally took an interest in Ricky’s case, stepping in where the team at Children’s Hospital had reached a dead end. Under Blake’s support, Ricky was introduced first to Dr. Holtorf, and later to Dr. Mortenson at the Holtorf Medical Group—a former air medic recognized for handling the most difficult medical situations. With both skill and empathy, Dr. Mortenson took the lead in developing a thorough and customized treatment approach for Ricky, offering him the greatest hope for recovery and a brighter future.
Medical experts believe that intravenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy presents Ricky with the most promising opportunity for recovery. MSCs have demonstrated significant potential to decrease inflammation, regenerate injured tissue, and rebalance the immune system—potentially reversing the effects of GVHD. Unfortunately, insurance has declined to cover the treatment, as it has not yet received FDA approval for chronic GVHD.
We’re asking for your support—friends, family, and community—to help us raise $150,000 and give Ricky the chance to heal.
Ricky is a fighter, a dreamer, and an inspiration. He longs to walk again, play outside, and live free from pain—and your support can help make that dream a reality.
Every donation helps bring Ricky closer to recovery. If you can’t give, please share his story with your network and on social media to help us reach more people.
Thank you for being part of Ricky’s journey. Your support means everything to him and his family.
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