Former Lady Mohawk standout Erica Rickman (right) was on hand for Tuesday's game against Harrisburg. Rickman, who battled a brain tumor last winter, is shown talking with former team mate Natalie Branscum (8) prior to her at-bat in the fourth inning. (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

Tuesday afternoon's Lady Mohawk softball game at Independence Park was a time of mixed emotions for this reporter. The weather was raw and the north wind had a bite, plus the Lady Mohawks blew a late game lead and ended up getting swept by Harrisburg. But on the bright side, former Lady Mohawk Erica Rickman was on hand and in the Piggott dugout.

Rick's still looking a little thin, but told former coach Melissa Williams that she'd been able to keep her weight up. Her complexion has also improved, and continues to rebound from the treatments she underwent for a brain tumor back in the winter.

Rickman says she's doing better these days, and as she gave me a quick hug I could tell she was much stronger and steadier than in the past weeks. That's great news for her and her family, and for all the supporters who have followed the news of her illness and treatment.

No one can put a price tag on the prayers and good thoughts that went out for Erica and her family when news of her tumor became known. Easier to compute are the thousands of dollars that have been raised to help the family offset their medical and personnel expenses during this difficult time. There has also been a groundswell of support for St. Jude's Medical Center, with local residents offering help in many ways. If not for St. Jude's Erica, and hundreds of young people like her, wouldn't have a chance.

Standing there watching Erica, as she watched the Lady Mohawks through the chain link fence, I couldn't help but feel happy that she was there. Back around the first of the year I wasn't sure how long she was going to be around. At the same time it was sad to know she should be playing for William's Baptist instead of watching from the sidelines.

There's a lot of love among the Lady Mohawks for Rick, especially from coaches Nikki Speer and Melissa Williams. They've weathered this thing with Rickman and her family from the very beginning. Of course one of the biggest shows of support came from teammate Natalie Branscum. Natalie and her Mom both cut off all their hair when Erica began to lose hers from the treatments. It looks like Natalie will be sporting a stylish little 'doo by graduation, and her wig-shedding was one of the highlights of this year's prom. By the way, Rickman showed off that she's starting to slowly re-grow her hair too.

Hopefully Rick will get a good report this week, and several more in the future. If fact, my hopes are that this illness has been just an interruption in a long a fruitful life. But I can tell you that everyone around her has been affected by Erica's fight, and I think a lot of us are more appreciative as a result.

In an attempt to keep it all in perspective I'm reminded by an old saying in the sports vernacular; "as you go through life remember we're all just listed as day-to-day".