Editha House

Ricky Lopez Room

Ricky Gary Lopez was lovingly welcomed into the Lopez Family on November 4, 1990. As he grew, the family became very close and created many lasting memories. His mother, Christina, cherishes a special memory of Ricky, age 5, climbing into bed with her one morning. Opening her eyes, she saw Ricky lying on his side, staring at her. Very sweetly he said, "I love you more than you have ever been loved before." She held him tightly and whispered, "I love you more than my own life."

"Cubby," Ricky's Dad, remembers how much Ricky loved playing with his GI Joe soldiers. He keeps a Polaroid snapshot of Ricky with his soldiers in his garage, and amazingly, now and then, finds a piece of a GI Joe in and around the house. He considers them gifts from his angel boy who once said, "Playing with my Dad is one of my favorite things to do." Amanda, Ricky's older sister, fondly remembers how he used to make tents in his room, and set traps outside to "capture" his Dad, even when it got him in trouble.

Tragically, in January 1997, Ricky was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare, cancerous tumor of the connective tissues that afflicts mainly children and although he battled courageously, Ricky was taken to heaven on February 28, 1998.

In the fall of 2011, Christina accepted a position as Director of Operations and Community Relations at Editha House. CEO, Mary Gauwitz, happily surprised attendees - especially Christina -- at Editha House's Grand Opening on December 2, 2011, when she announced that room #302 would be dedicated in Ricky's honor. Recently, a guest who had stayed in Ricky's Room for nearly two months asked about the name "Ricky Lopez" on the door. Deeply touched by Ricky's story, the guest donated a beautiful angel to be left in Ricky's Room for others to enjoy, and to keep Ricky's memory alive.

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