Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike “Lucky” Pruitt.
Hi Mike “Lucky”, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
On May 26, 2021, my then 5-year-old Rylan “Beans” Pruitt was diagnosed with Medullamyoblastoma, an exceedingly rare form of pediatric brain cancer. (Only 51 known cases) Rylan fought at ST Jude’s in Memphis Tn, for 10 months, but ultimately cancer took him, and I held him in my arms as he took his last breaths on March 10, 2022.
When Rylan died, as a father, I was unsure how to grieve. The financial aspect also left us devastated. We were over a million dollars in debt from treatment, and could not afford to bury him. Luckily for us, a local funeral home stepped in and assisted us with that.
The day that Rylan died, I made him a promise that I would spend the rest of my life giving back and fighting for a cure.
Combining Rylan’s love for motorcycles, The Rylan Strong Network was formed three months to the day he died, along with my brothers and sisters from the Servant Souls RC, with three main goals.
1. Assist families that have lost their children to cancer with funeral expenses.
2. Provided financial relief for those still fighting.
3. Enact changes in legislation regarding pediatric treatment within the State of Texas regarding insurance and cancer research.
To date, and in only 3 short years, the RSN has donated over 30 thousand dollars to families in need. Provided over a dozen events for families in celebrations of life or end-of-treatment celebrations, and now, we have our sights set on the Rylan “Beans” Pruitt Act, which should be on the House floor in Texas in the upcoming 2027 legislative session.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has is been easy? No. Has is been a labor of love, yes. Every time I interact with a family that has lost a child, I relive the day I lost my own. I, and these families, live in a world where hope is the most valuable currency there is, and oftentimes, we run short.
There are times we have attended funerals for kids I felt I knew as well as my own, and I was just as broken at that time as I was on March 10, 2022. I know we are making a difference, but to do so, it means I must live in a world I desperately want to run away from.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have spent the majority of my life as a Paramedic. I’ve served as a Paramedic for the last 20 years. I retired from working on an ambulance in 2022, almost 6 months to the day Rylan died, after watching a family of four be consumed by fire in a motor vehicle accident.
I am now the Director of Education for an education company that produces educational materials for firefighters and EMS personnel.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I tell people all the time, especially in the political arena, that this is not a republican or democrat issue. Pediatric cancer is a issue that could affect every single person. Until drastic changes are made, pediatric cancer will continue to be the leading cause of death by disease in children. It’s also important to note that less than 4 percent of federal funding is spent on pediatric cancer research.
We must be unified in our voice to make a change. The longer we ignore the problem, the bigger it becomes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rylanstrongnetwork.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RylanStrongNetwork/
- Other: TikTok – @RylanStrongNetwork
