Story written by Gina Hudson
My name is Gina Hudson and I’m a retired firefighter from Miramar Fire Rescue in Miramar, Florida, working from 1998-2019. My husband, Ritchie Hudson, retired in 2023 as a Captain from the Town of Davie Fire Rescue in Davie, Florida. Ritchie has battled leukemia twice, the second time being six months before his retirement. Acute Myeloid Leukemia is an occupational cancer of firefighters recognized by the American Cancer Society. I retired the first time Ritchie had leukemia because I didn’t know how much time I had left with him, and I wanted to spend every minute possible with my husband.
(Photo of Ritchie and Gina on a fire they worked on together)
Later in 2023, Ritchie underwent a bone marrow transplant with our daughter, Holly, as the donor. Now he is in remission, but it’s been a long hard journey.
What is Leukemia? The official definition of Leukemia is a malignant progressive disease in which bone marrow or other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes.
What is Leukemia to me? As a captain in the fire service, Ritchie selflessly dedicated his life to the dutiful helping of others. A man who followed the rules, and did what was right. It's a husband of 23 years, a father to a beautiful 19 year old daughter; he is a son, a brother, my best friend and soulmate, a man who is fighting for his own life, after so many years of fighting for others.
For five months during this second bout of Leukemia in 2022 we have spent an average of six hours a day in the hospital. Sometimes longer, nearly every day of the week. There have been seven rounds of chemotherapy, ten days each time. Dozens of prescription medications, as well as bandages, and other medical products and procedures to combat the many side-effects of chemo, be it a cut or a bloody nose, diarrhea or constipation. Eighty blood and platelet transfusions. Eleven bone marrow biopsies. Three trips to Tampa for consults and an unexpected hospital stay for infection. Countless lab tests, and too many doctor appointments to count.
Sounds terrible, right? I can’t even begin to relay all the side-effects and complications from all the above treatments. Not only for him, but for me, the caretaker, as well. Stress and anxiety plagued me 24/7 and have wreaked havoc on every system in my body. What I would do for one night of solid sleep.
Leukemia patients have platelets issues, which can quickly lead to stroke or aneurysms. It’s difficult to sleep with the anxiety-level that accompanies touching my spouse multiple times a night, without waking him, just to make sure he is still warm and breathing. Sometimes I wonder if cancer is harder on the patient or the caretaker. I am a wife, mom, patient advocate, watchman, chauffeur, wound-care specialist, housekeeper, culinary specialist, accountant, college tuition payer, and all around doer of everything. If that didn’t make for a full plate, did I mention the few hours of the day that might be left over are consumed with insurance fights, over bills that were denied, that clearly shouldn’t have been. I will never understand insurance. When fighting for your life, the last thing you should have to do is deal with insurance to get bills paid. It is cruel and completely unnecessary.
I’m not complaining. I swear. I would endure this hell forever if it means I get to keep him here with me. An outsider might think a caretaker would be pissed, spiteful and jealous. Don’t get me wrong, I have my moments, but overall, I am grateful. Grateful for God! God has most definitely placed His hand upon Ritchie and me, and blessed us with several miracles. I have no doubt that God will continue to bless and protect us.
I am grateful for Ritchie. The fight this man has in him is unlike anything I have ever seen . Ask him who he fights for…it’s not himself, it’s for me. He isn’t ready to leave me!! Twenty-eight years together is not nearly enough time.
I am grateful for our daughter, Holly, who was his bone marrow donor. She is a true hero! Ritchie had his bone marrow transplant on February 21st, 2023; 28 days in the hospital with experiences I won’t share because they aren’t for the faint of heart but we all made it to the other side. Ritchie had his official retirement in the hospital, eight days after transplant. I arranged for the ceremony to be brought to him. He served for 30 years and deserved to hear that last call from dispatch.
(Photo of daughter Holly Hudson, her father's bone marrow donor)
Please let our story soak in. I have given you the condensed version. I spared you the small details. I spared you how many times I have cried, how many times I have screamed at the top of my lungs, how many times I have lashed out at others for asking me how we were. I share this story because we need to do better!
As a firefighter myself, how many times did I not wear a mask when using the “kitty litter” on motor vehicle collision scenes, and how many times I stood next to the truck’s exhaust while the engines were running. How many times I didn’t hook up the plymovent. How many times I didn’t wash my hair, or even take a shower after a car fire because, “I didn’t get too sweaty” or because it was 3 am and I was just too tired. Admittedly insane, how I never washed my gear because it was “cool” to have dirty gear. It proved that I was in there, fighting the beast, and dirt was my badge of honor.
These days I am terrified every time I have an odd cough, or a random pain. In my head, everything is cancer until proven otherwise. Every time I go to a wellness check, I literally convince myself that this is the appointment where I will find out I have cancer too. For me, it’s when, not if I get cancer. I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have done better.
WE NEED TO DO BETTER. We need to use the tools and resources given to us to minimize our risks and exposures. Cancer is the #1 cause of line-of-duty death, as well as countless deaths to retirees.
I hate that Ritchie has become the cliché; cancer, right in time for retirement. When this is done, God willing, we will continue to fight. Fight so that all firefighters and all cancers are covered by the state, not just a select few. It’s hard to stand back and see firefighters not treated the same in Florida. I’m happy that there are firefighters who don’t have to stress about bills and having their time covered, but it hurts to watch others force themselves to go to work right after chemo or radiation, because they feel they need to, so that they don’t burn through all their time banks.
No firefighter should have to make that choice. We need to lobby to get more added to the cancer presumptive bill. Twenty-one cancers was a good start, but we can’t stop until all cancers are covered. We can do better…..we have to do better!
As I update you, it is May 2025. Ritchie is currently cancer free. Every time he has a blood draw, we anxiously wait to get the results, praying that they are still clear. The doctors say that the farther we get from transplant, the less likely it will come back. We quietly keep our guard up because we were told something similar the first time he beat leukemia. For now, we live to the fullest every day. We have put a lot of miles in while traveling with no signs of slowing down. We try to live every moment as normal as possible but that “what if it comes back” shadow is always looming in the background of every cough, fever, feeling-tired-day, and cuts that don't stop bleeding immediately.
((Photo of retired firefighters Ritchie and Gina Hudson on a camping trip in 2025, post-remission)
Ritchie now joins me to fight for cancer coverage here in Florida. It is a never-ending battle in politics. It shouldn’t be. Every cancer should be covered in every state. We will keep pushing forward. I ask our brothers and sisters, too, as well. We made sacrifices to help complete strangers. Please take care of us when we need it!
Gina Hudson, retired firefighter
DO YOU HAVE A FIREFIGHTER RELATED CANCER STORY?
Please contact Suzette Standring (suzette@firefightersvscancer.org) if you, as a firefighter or family member, have a story to share.
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