By Rebecca Chaisson
Managing Editor
“When a child gets cancer, is there a reason?”
That’s the question Elaina Navarre of Iota found herself asking after her 10-year-old son, Ryker, was diagnosed with something far more serious than a ganglion cyst.
Synovial sarcoma, Ryker’s doctor said, is a rare, aggressive soft tissue cancer that would require immediate surgery.
For Elaina, the verdict came with a lot of unanswered questions–and guilt.
“Why him? Why not me? “What is the purpose?”
For over a year, Ryker was told that the painful, growing lump in his wrist was easily treatable. He wore a brace and pushed through the pain to keep playing the sports that he loved–baseball, football and basketball– until it became impossible to enjoy them.
Three weeks following Ryker’s December 17, 2025, surgery, everything changed.
“It was cancer,” Elaina said. “From that point on, life moved so fast–appointments, specialists, scans, and then the decision was made that the specialist wanted Ryker to receive treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, which was so far away. Life became very overwhelming.
In February, surgeons in Memphis performed a second surgery to remove what was left of the tumor, but they couldn’t achieve clear margins without risking the function of Ryker’s hand.
“Removing more would have caused long-term complications,” Elaina continued to explain, “so the plan shifted to radiation. Scans also showed two tiny nodules on Ryker’s lungs. For now, doctors are monitoring them closely, but our focus was the hand.”
While it is sometimes difficult to stay focused with so many unknowns, Elaina said her family’s faith was - and still is–unshakable.
“It was all so overwhelming,” Elaina said, “but God walks with us through the valley.”
In early March, Ryker began 36 rounds of radiation at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“We hit I-55 every Friday to make it home for two short days, then return to Memphis for the week every Monday,” Elaina said. “For those few sweet days, he wasn’t a patient. He was just a 10-year-old boy doing what he loves–riding his go-kart, fishing, eating crawfish and celebrating birthdays. Through it all, Ryker has remained exactly who he is at his core. He is a kid who loves life.”
Elaina said her family has learned that joy isn’t ignoring reality; “It’s refusing to let cancer take every moment,” she said.
While cancer is known for taking, Ryker’s community has responded by giving.
“Back home, the support poured in,” Elaina said. “Ryker’s Eagles baseball team made sure he felt their love every single game. They celebrated him, honored him and carried him with them on the field, reminding him that he is always a part of their team. That kind of support gave strength on the hardest days and gave us something to look forward to from miles away.”
Elaina said friends also organized a fundraiser for her family back home to show their support during their time of need.
“The benefit took our breath away,” she continued. “The love and support that held us together left us speechless. We cannot ever put into words how blessed we are to have such amazing people who love us and love Ryker.”
In Memphis, support looked different, but just as powerful.
Ryker was gifted basketball tickets to see the Grizzlies and Nuggets play; J Crew through a Spring Soiree in the middle of St. Jude; and there was laughter in unexpected places.
“St. Jude has a way of making something that is so heavy feel a little lighter,” noted Elaina.
Ryker even attended school at St. Jude, made new friends and even had another young patient pray over him with simple, powerful words: “You are going to be healed. God will never leave you.”
“We believe that too,” Elaina said. “Some days feel heavy. But God has been in every step, every mile, every hard goodbye when we leave our kids at home. He is carrying us through.”
In April, Ryker celebrated his biggest win so far.
“Ryker rang the bell,” his mom announced. “He completed his final radiation treatment surrounded by his family and friends, all together in the place that has become our world over the past few months. To have all of us together made it even more special. To travel that far to stand by us? That kind of love, we will never take for granted.”
Elaina said hearing the sound of that St. Jude bell gave them all permission to pause and celebrate.
“What a huge milestone for our boy,” Elaina said. “It felt perfect. It felt full. It felt like hope.”
Elaina said she cannot thank St. Jude enough for giving her family that hope so that the hard days never win.
“St. Jude will forever hold a piece of our hearts,” she said. “This place, the people, and the families we’ve met here have changed us in ways we can’t even begin to explain.”
Meanwhile, a mother’s fear has slowly been replaced with something more powerful: pride.
“We are so proud of you, Ryker. Your strength, your courage, and your spirit have carried all of us.”
Ryker is scheduled to return to St. Jude’s in a couple of weeks for new scans, but today, the Navarre family is at home, celebrating Mother’s Day together in a house full of hope.