Copyright Live 5 News WCSC
SALINA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - A Kansas family is making the most of each day by creating special adventures for their 4-year-old son as he faces a terminal cancer diagnosis. Despite living with Stage 4 liver cancer, Ezra Talkington is a ball of energy. His family’s focus is on living life to the fullest after learning the 4-year-old’s diagnosis was terminal last October. They opted to end treatment in September. “Every family, he’s got to stop and talk to. He’s just like, ‘Hey, me Ezra, me Ezra, me Ezra,’” said Frank Rodriguez, the boy’s stepfather. Ezra’s mother, Breann Pruett, remembers receiving her son’s diagnosis, news that was hard to accept. “The moment we got the phone call, I turned around in the car and looked at him and was like, ‘This kid does not have internal bleeding. There’s no way. He’s perfectly fine,’” Pruett said. “We were having the best day of our lives, and next thing you know, we are on our way to Kansas City with devastating news.” Now, Ezra’s family is opting not to dwell on what they can’t control. Between doctors visits, they are checking off adventures and raising awareness for childhood cancer. “Instead of boo-hooing every day, we were like, ‘All right, let’s get his name out there and his story,’” Rodriguez said. Since then, they’ve done exactly that Ezra has participated in memorial motorcycle rides, been a Selina firefighter for a day and even met Taylor Swift. “She [Swift] walked into the room and sat down next to Ezra, and [he] dead punched her in the middle of her chest. She was like, ‘Oh no, it’s OK, but I will tell you he’s got a strong arm,” Pruett said. Along the way, the family has been sharing Ezra’s story. Their next goal is to get him involved with NFL Crucial Catch, a joint effort between the NFL and the American Cancer Society that “promotes prevention and early detection of cancer.” Ezra loves football, particularly the Dallas Cowboys. His family says they’re thankful to the Salina community that’s been instrumental in helping him get new experiences. The 4-year-old has an appointment Friday at which, his parents say, they’ll get a better idea of where his health stands. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ezra and his family amid his cancer fight.
