Over the lines

An account has been set-up at Piggott State Bank for donations to help defray the medical costs for former Lady Mohawk standout Erica Rickman. Rickman, a 2007 graduate of PHS, was diagnosed with a brain tumor between Thanksgiving and Christmas and is currently undergoing treatment at St. Jude's in Memphis. For those interested in making a donation an account in Erica's name has been set up at Piggott State Bank, and more details are available in a related column on page 11.

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Erica, who was a star athlete for the Lady Mohawks in softball, volleyball and basketball, graduated this past spring and accepted a scholarship to play softball for William's Baptist. Always a hard worker, she excelled at every sport she played and garnered countless post-season honors as a member of the Tribe. She's also a good kid, always polite and respectful to others. It's the perfect example of bad things happening to good people.

According to friends and family, Erica's problems first cropped up in late November when she began to experience mild seizures. A trip to the doctor started the domino effect and within a week she was in Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Doctors there told her that there was a tumor between her brain and skull, on top of her head, and that it was in-operable.

In the weeks since it was determined that the tumor was malignant, and Rickman was transferred to St. Jude's in Memphis for treatment. That treatment, in the form of radiation therapy, began last Wednesday.

Saturday night over 250 people gathered at the Family Life Center in Piggott for a pep rally for "Rick", as family and friends were joined by dozens of former opponents and teammates in wishing her well.

Currently Rickman is staying in the Ronald McDonald house at St. Jude's as she continues to battle the illness, but doctors say she will be allowed to come home on weekends if she feels up to it.

Two of her former PHS coaches, Nikki Speer and Melissa Williams, have been spearheading a fundraising effort for Rickman in an effort to help offset the family's medical bills. They report that an account has been set-up at Piggott State Bank in Erica's name and that any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.

Those of us who cover high school sports often overlook the frailty of the human body, except as it pertains to injuries during competition. We often forget that these young people, though they appear somewhat invincible, can be as fragile as a newborn.

I'd like to be able to tell you that everything is going to work out okay for Rickman, but if I did I'd be a liar, only time will tell.

I've always heard that a strong individual, with a good work ethic, has the best chance of beating any debilitating disease. If that's the case, you won't find a harder worker than Erica Rickman. If I were a betting man I'd have to put my money on "Rick".

I'm also betting that this community will get behind the Rickman family and help them out in this time of need.

If you are interested in helping you can make a donation directly to the account at Piggott State Bank or you can contact Nikki Speer or Melissa Williams at Piggott High School.