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Falquez family thanks donors and supporters

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Ronnie started in 4H when he was 8 years old and that was in 1984. He was in the Gila Hoppers with Tim McCoy as the leader. He showed rabbits, you know one of “those bunny people”.

He entered his rabbits and many exhibit hall entries throughout his 4H years and still has entries in the hall now.

After his active 4H years he has been helping hand out ribbons and awards in the livestock show.

Ronnie looks forward to the Gila County Fair so that he can see his friends here and see all of the animals.

Ronnie is the man he is today in part, because of each of you who take the time to talk to him and have contact with him one way or the other. He is part of this community.

Two years ago at this fair, he complained of a swollen area on the side of his neck. We decided to leave right then and take him to urgent care in Mesa to check it out. It was one of those things that had happened overnight and we were quite concerned.

We later learned that it was a rare form of leukemia. He has endured two regimes of treatment, one with a stem cell transplant (his brother Eugene was the donor). Thus far both have failed and as a kicker, he has picked up a P53 cell mutation that promotes the growth of cancer cells.

He is now in this third treatment program that is going to try to correct the P53 process. Nothing will be known about the results until around Thanksgiving.

He will start round two of the current three part treatment program on next Tuesday. 

Ronnie is still positive and feeling well. He still believes there will be a miracle and will beat the dragon in his body.

Tanja Weaver was touched by Ronnie’s story and circumstances; she wanted to do something for him. Tanja commissioned the construction of a cross made from horseshoes and horseshoe nails; it is quite remarkable. She decided that she would sell raffle tickets and draw a winner during the livestock auction at the Gila County Fair.

The sale of the raffle tickets far exceeded Tanja’s expectations and it just shows the generosity of the local community. The time came for the drawing of the winning raffle ticket and Casey Toler had the winning ticket. Casey asked that the cross be auctioned. There was a lively bidding between several persons. Carol DalMolin won the bid and she asked that the cross be auctioned once more. Again the bidding began and this time Udon and Kim McSpadden were the winners. Once again, the McSpadden’s asked that the cross be auctioned. The bidding started up and this time Casey Toler was the winning bidder. As this was the conclusion of the bidding, Casey gave the cross to Ronnie.

The cross now is in Ronnie’s room and he takes it with him for his stay in Phoenix while taking his chemo treatments.

We want to thank everyone who bought a raffle ticket, participated in the auctions or offered a kind word or prayer. Special thanks to Tanja because she was moved to action and to Casey for the gift of the cross.