A young Branson man is in a battle for his life, and his family is asking for your prayers.
Ryker Havens is ten years old and is suffering from a brain tumor, diagnosed in July of 2023.
"Ryker was first airlifted to Children's Hospital in St Louis, where he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given two to three months," explained his grandmother, Teresa Havens. "We would not accept that. Because his diagnosis was stage four, St Jude's in Memphis took him in. Chance (Ryker's dad) and Ryker lived at St. Jude's while he was being treated with radiation and chemotherapy. When Ryker got to come home, we went to Springfield for blood work every week, then back to Memphis once a month. They gave us hope."
Ryker's most recent visit to Memphis brought some disturbing news.
Said Teresa, "They said there was nothing more they could do for him—to take him home and make him comfortable."
For now, Chance Havens, with help from his parents, is doing just that. Chance, a well-known entertainer, put his career on hold to care for his son last year. Prior to that, Chance had performed as one half of The Blues Brothers at Branson's Legends in Concert and had traveled with music icon Joe Cocker, among many other musical ventures. Chance is Ryker's full-time caregiver.
Ryker, a student at Cedar Ridge, attends classes via Zoom. He loves his school and his teachers. Ryker enjoys movies, going to the library, drawing and painting, and playing word games and checkers with his grandfather, Elton, who has retired and spends as much time as possible helping Chance and Ryker. Grandmother Teresa, who is still employed in Louisiana, travels to Branson at least twice a month.
Josh Clark, a popular radio personality, best known for his morning show "The Upside with Josh and Them" on Legends 106.3, is a close friend to both Chance and Ryker.
Said Clark, "Chance refers to me as Ryker's godfather, and that's a title I will willingly take. He's a tough little guy with a great spirit. He handles everything so well. He's always up to something, and he has a great spirit. He's a good kid, and Chance is a really good dad."
Ryker also loves his church, Friendly Baptist Church, and his pastor Monty Dunn, and Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Lorraine.
"Ryker likes to get to church 30 minutes early so he can hug everyone, starting with the pastor, then going on stage to hug everyone. That's when he sees Dr. Dale Smith and his wife and goes to them and hugs them," said Teresa, adding, "Ryker went up last Sunday for Pastor Monty to pray for him and his healing."
Ryker's family is strong in their faith and are pressing into that faith, believing for Ryker's healing.
"We are not giving up. We know he's healed and we are thanking God for his healing. God is a healing physician," said Teresa. "We are standing on the Rock. God has his armor of protection around Ryker."
Even though they are trusting God for Ryker's healing, his family and friends are heartbroken, as they see the situation with his health unfold.
"It's always tough when a child is stricken with cancer," said Josh Clark. "Kind of like a punch in the gut. This is where friends and community come into play."
Ryker's family is asking the community to join them in praying, and thanking God for Ryker's complete healing.
Said Teresa, "We just need for prayer warriors to believe he's already healed—for him to grow old. What a testimony he'll have to give!"
In addition to prayer, community members can help fulfill two simple wishes that Ryker has—to visit the Tiger Sanctuary and the Hollywood Wax Museum, possibly more than once, allowing him time to take it all in. Anyone who has contacts with either establishment or would like to bless Ryker and his family with tickets to fulfill these desires can contact KD at the Branson Globe or Josh Clark at Legends 106.3, who will pass the good news along to Ryker's family.
For now, Ryker and his family are trusting God and taking things one day at a time.
"Ryker keeps chugging along," said Clark. "I believe he will do that until they find a cure for him!"
Lifting up prayers for Ryker and his family and friends🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻