As a longtime nurse, Ronnie Christy spent decades bending down to comfort the frail and the sick.
Now, at just 55 years of age, the Ponte Vedra Beach healthcare worker is the one looking up from a hospital bed.
In late February, the Brooks Rehabilitation staffer began to worry about several nagging maladies that refused to subside.
He began having difficulty swallowing, a symptom exacerbated by numbness on the right side of his face. Soon, it became impossible to eat or drink.
On April 8, he was admitted to the hospital, where doctors ordered a series of scans and imaging tests.
Soon, a physician delivered news that tore through his wife and children like a Category-5 hurricane.
The scans revealed a tumor in his brain as well as additional tumors in his liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. After being admitted for further evaluation, an endoscopy confirmed the presence of a large tumor in his esophagus — the cancer’s primary site.
In an instant, the comforting Christy family routines had ended. Ronnie, who had previously undergone surgery for kidney cancer just three years ago, now faces an even greater battle.
The cancer is terminal, but the family is moving forward with a treatment plan that includes chemotherapy and radiation, aimed at managing symptoms and prolonging his quality of life.
“If you know my dad, you know he is the hardest-working, kindest, most generous, and selfless person you’ll ever meet,” his daughter Layla wrote. “He always has a smile on his face and can make anyone laugh—even in the darkest moments. “
Ronnie’s wife, Barbara Christy, is a special education teacher in Duval County.
The pair have three kids. Their eldest children graduated from Ponte Vedra High School, and their youngest is currently in seventh grade at Landrum Middle School.
Their son, Lance, is serving in the U.S. Navy as an aviation mechanic and is currently deployed.
Barbara has remained by Ronnie’s side since his diagnosis, attending medical appointments and managing the paralyzing ordeal brought on by his illness.
Her ability to work is now limited, as she uses what little time off she has left to care for her husband during treatment.
The future is no longer assured, and the Christy’s are facing a grave financial burden, from medical expenses and hospital stays to transportation and daily living costs.
“We want to ensure that my mom can be by his side without worrying about missing work, and that our family can focus on spending as much meaningful time with him as possible,” Layla wrote.
In an effort to help ease these pressures and allow the Christys to focus on their time together, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign.
Those closest to him have shared that his ability to remain positive—even in the face of enormous difficulty—is a reflection of the way he has always lived: with strength, humility, and grace.
