Today being the National Day of Giving, we come together to celebrate the gift of generosity and contribution. For CRITICALSTART, the day takes on special significance this year as we rally to support a member of our own family. Derek Bateman, a member of the CRITICALSTART SOC team, recently suffered the devastating loss of his wife, Ricki, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018, following her battle with glioblastoma.
The Bateman family began this battle in April 2017 when Ricki, the mother of five, was rushed to the hospital for a severe migraine. That’s when doctors discovered a growth in her brain. Compounding the challenging circumstances was the fact that Ricki was pregnant – and the growth caused a seizure that forced an emergency C-section. Derek and Ricki’s son Tynan Bateman was born two months premature at 28 weeks. Immediately thereafter, on Friday, April 7th, Ricki had surgery to try and remove the tumor and then underwent chemo, radiation, three surgeries, and a series of experimental treatments. Unfortunately, in spite of the aggressive treatments, the tumor remained.
Ricki is survived by her husband Derek, former U.S. Army Corporal, three daughters, and two sons. This family – which is part of our family – needs our support as they navigate their way through this new stage of life without Ricki. This is why we’re turning to you, our friends.
CRITICALSTART has set up a GoFundMe to help the Bateman family cover their expenses during this difficult time. Please go to https://www.gofundme.com/bateman-family-expenses and give what you can. Any amount is helpful. And thank you to those who have already contributed – we appreciate it beyond words!
