Ruiz Succumbs to Cancer at 22
49er Track Athlete Nearly Recovered in May, 2004
October 17, 2005 WHITTIER, CA-- Sometimes life is not fair. Brandii Ruiz, a hurdler and sprinter on the 2003 Long Beach State track and field team, lost her fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on October 14 at the age of 22.
"Brandii was a consummate teammate. She was the heart of our sprints and relay team. For those that knew her they knew that there was something special about her," said Director of Track and Field Andy Sythe. "She was the person you wanted to give the baton to when you were behind. She always found that extra gear. And she did that, not only on the track, but in life, especially after being diagnosed. She will be dearly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with her family throughout these difficult days ahead."
Ruiz redshirted her freshman season in 2002 and completed a successful freshman season in 2003. After illness sidelined her during fall conditioning, she was diagnosed in
November, 2003, and doctors thought that she had defeated the disease in May, 2004. She had re-enrolled in school in Fall 2004 and was ready to resume her collegiate career, but following a family vacation and days shy of her 21st birthday, doctors re-discovered the cancer in August. Brandii recently enrolled again in Fall 2005 with the determination to complete her degree.
Ruiz, who fought the disease for the next 13 months, is survived by her father Jorge, a reserve sergeant on the Alhambra Police Department, mother, Rose, and sister, Monica.
Services will be held on Friday, October 21 at 1 p.m. at Emmaus Lutheran Church at 840 South Almansor Street in Alhambra.
Ruiz and her family spearheaded a bone marrow drive in January, 2005, as Sythe said, "she knew that the chance of finding a match was slim, however, she wanted to increase the donor database so that a positive match could be found for others, as well."
A biology major, Ruiz was a 400-meter hurdler and member of the relay team for the 49ers in 2003, following a redshirt season in 2002. Ruiz was No. 8 all-time in the 400-meter hurdle, the fastest time since 1997, and was also on top-10 lists for both the indoor and outdoor 4x400-meter relays. She was the La Serna High record holder in the 300-meter low hurdles and league holder in that event and the 100-meter high hurdles. |
