For the last 10 months, many in Effingham County have held the Moore family a little closer every day.

Now, as 16-year-old Robbie Moore reaches a critical state, the community is holding them tighter, doing all they can to bring the family a merry Christmas.

“We’re wanting that Christmas miracle,” said Robbie’s mother, Melody Moore.

Robbie Moore went away for a Future Business Leaders of America conference in mid-January when he began having symptoms.

His vision was blurring and he suddenly became dizzy and nauseous. The family was forever changed Jan. 24 when doctors rushed Robbie to the hospital, and a week later the sophomore at Effingham County High School was diagnosed with a grade four astrocytoma, called a glioblastoma muliforme.

“It’s a brain tumor; it’s in the brain stem,” said Melody Moore, repeating her son’s diagnosis fluidly, confident and matter-of-fact. “It’s in the pontine area of the brain stem. So it’s an inoperable tumor.”

Since then, many in the community have been treasuring their moments with Robbie, fundraising, bringing Robbie’s favorite things to him, and praying.

“I feel like he’s doing really good,” Melody said of the last few days.

Keep fighting, keep praying

After learning about Robbie’s brain tumor, the family decided to participate in a seven-week clinical trial at Duke University, where Robbie underwent 31 radiation treatments.

Ten days after their return in April, Robbie started getting sick and they went back to Duke, where they decided to increase his steroid treatments. At the end of May, they went back to Duke for Robbie’s one-month follow up MRI, where it was determined that the chemo was not effective and he was withdrawn from the trial.

The doctors at Duke put Robbie on a 20-week regimen of six different chemotherapy medicines applied intravenously in a port in his chest. He had two stable MRIs, but Melody said they notice some symptoms returning in October. Moore had slurred speech and blurry vision.

A Nov. 19 MRI showed progression in the tumor. Since then, he’s been taking oral chemo, staying at home with nurses stopping by to check his vital signs and refill medications.

“Robbie’s a fighter,” she said. “He doesn’t want to give up.”

From beginning to end, Melody Moore recapitulated the story of her son’s battle with cancer in less than four minutes. Her unwavering optimism and determination to see the glass half full jump off the pages of Robbie’s Caring Bridge page. Almost every update or entry begins with “A great day today.”

“Like I said, there’s no cure for this type. There’s no cure for brain tumors,” she said. “So we’re just going to keep fighting and keep praying.”

Before

The family lived in Alaska and Florida until Tom retired from the Air Force, and they moved to Melody’s hometown, Rincon. They even joined Melody’s childhood church, Rincon United Methodist.

Tom works at Robert’s Diesel and Robbie’s brother, Josh, 22, works at EFACEC. Melody worked in the food service department of the school system before Robbie got sick.

Before Robbie’s vision started blurring in January, he was an avid go-cart racer. They went to Oglethorpe Speedway every chance they could to watch the races, and Robbie spent many a weekend at Pineora Kartway, dusting the track.

As a freshman at ECHS, Robbie found he enjoyed his technology classes the most, his FBLA advisor Karen Waltz recalled, and he decided to join the club and served as the club’s vice president his sophomore year.

Waltz and Melody Moore recall how meticulous and organized Robbie had been about his work. His go-cart tools stayed in excellent conditions, and his tools were always where the belonged.

“That was his passion. He loved racing go-carts,” said Melody.

Waltz remembered his constant updating and ordering of the club’s spread sheet for member participation, and he designed flyers for all of their events.

“Anytime we were doing something, he was always the first one here,” Waltz said, “waiting, calling me on my cell phone, asking where I was.”

Matchbox and Hot Wheels race cars line the walls of Robbie’s room. A Carl Edwards bedding set graces his adjustable bed, a Lions Club donation. Now, Robbie’s brother Josh races and takes care of Robbie’s go-cart.

Robbie is now paralyzed on one side, and steroids have caused rapid weight gain.

“There’s been much laughter and many tears,” Melody said.

Blessings

Melody says that this experience has made her “feel very blessed.” She calls Robbie her sidekick, citing how much time they’ve spent together through his treatments.

In February, the Make a Wish Foundation sent the family to Florida for Robbie to meet his idol, NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.

And family friends traveled to New Jersey to pick up a big surprise from TLC’s “Cake Boss”: a go-cart themed cake just for Robbie, with Carl Edwards’ number on the side of the cart.

The first weekend in March, Pineora Kartway had a huge turnout for a racing day to benefit the Moores. Several groups have done fundraisers for the family, and the schools have hosted Jeans Days to raise money also.

“I have to say this is a great community to live in,” Melody said. “They’ve really reached out to us. Between the community, our church, our family and friends, people you don’t even know have reached out to us.

“He’s been so busy with events and people coming over from the community, it’s wonderful, and I think it keeps his mind off things that are to come.”

Singers have been in and out of the house, singing carols for Robbie, and one group held a concert in the Moore’s frontyard.

“He loves to sing Christmas songs,” said Melody. “He’ll even join in on some of the Christmas songs when he knows the words.”

Hope For Savannah has been supportive and helped the family know they aren’t alone.

Friends have been making crafts and cookies with Robbie, and Santa Claus stopped by Saturday morning. And FBLA officers and Waltz made gingerbread houses with Robbie as well.

“He used to make a lot of jokes before everything,” said Hannah Boyd, FBLA officer and Robbie’s classmate, “and he still does.

When we went over there, he cracked some jokes and got us all laughing.”

He was able to accept his FBLA awards at their end of the year banquet in the spring, which Waltz said was a morale booster for the chapter. Students at ECHS have been making hundreds of Christmas cards for the family as well, even students who’ve never met Robbie.

“It’s incredible,” Melody said of the support.

Legacy

“We’re truly blessed,” Melody said. “We’re doing OK. We’re taking every day one day at a time and treasuring every minute we have.”

Robbie laughed and smiled as he talked about his Thanksgiving dinner, saying he ate macaroni, turkey, dressing and pumpkin rolls.

Melody said: “I hope one day, I’ll pay everything forward because I know how important everybody’s support has been for me in helping us get through this. One day I’m going to be able to help, hopefully not only one, but many people out.

“You don’t know how strong you are until you’re put in a position like this, or what you can get through. I think my faith is what gets me through many times, gets me through the rough spots, and to have so many people praying for us.”