Some sad news was received when our brother Richard let us know he had developed Stage 3 lung cancer a number of weeks ago. He was having trouble breathing and went to the hospital and they discovered a 4cm mass in the middle of his chest. He is currently undergoing radiation therapy and chemotherapy on a daily and weekly basis.
Richard is a fighter. He has beaten and overcome everything he’s ever been hit with and we fully expect him to overcome this as does Richard himself. He had one day he called “Disappearance Day” … a day he spent fully expecting this thing to disappear. This is his great attitude at work and he is up to the challenge and taking this on …. but he is up against it.
This is where the rest of us come in as we ask for prayers for our brother because we believe that prayer, especially prayer for a cause by many, is a real powerful thing and between all of our prayers and Richard’s own amazing attitude as he takes this on we feel Richard will win this one and come out on top. Thank you so much for your help and if you would like to leave Richard a message, please click on the comment balloon at the top of this message or the reply link under the message and scroll down to the form. All comments are moderated before they appear on the site.
Richard this is just a bump in the road of life stay positive. You have endured much and you will endure this. Sheila and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. May our God hep you to be strong.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers, Richard. God is good and He is with us in every step of our journey. You will beat this!
get well Richard my pray go to you ,and, your family from joey check phoenix az born march 7 1971 god bless you your family
Hi again Richard!
Greetings from the Youngblood family in Alabama 🙂 getting ready for Thanksgiving here, we have kinda gotten excited about the possibility (are you ready for this?) SNOW flurries. LOL doesn’t happen much here. We send our love and prayers to and for you. Praying you are doing good and keeping on the up side. Have a great rest of the weekend. All our love,
Youngblood family 🙂
Hi Richard …
I took the real estate course with you when you were living on Long Island and we were both taking on new career directions and selling homes in Massapequa, LI, NY. That was a lot of years ago. But I still remember your sunny smile after oh so many many years now. Keep the faith and smile on … it is always darkest before the dawn but often our best times follow our worst. So hang in there and keep smiling … you can beat this.
I had mercury poisoning a few years back — life threatening… it was in so much of my body … even my bone marrow … but I beat it and am alive today. On the days when I didn’t feel optimistic … I just made sure I was eating healthy, exercising, meditating, listening to uplifting music, listening to stand up comedy from the 50s and 60s and old time comedy radio shows, whatever I thought would help. There are days when mustering up faith is hard … but I found on those days I just “DOUBTED my inner voice of DOUBT” … that was a lot easier. Eventually my faith would return. — whenever it comes up … just DOUBT the DOUBT!
ALSO … when I was at my sickest I started praying only …
… GRATITUDE PRAYERs … which were pretty much a laundry list of everything I should be thankful for in spite of what I was going through. A crisis puts our attention on the negative … to get better we have to focus on the positive. I started the prayers when I was at my worst and felt I was ‘complaining’ too much in my prayers and that I didn’t want to sound like a ‘nag’ even though I was in constant pain and worried about whether i would live or die.
I couldn’t think of anything to be thankful for the first time I prayed the gratitude ONLY prayer … so I just thanked God for all the bad things that had not happened to me…
A plane didn’t accidentally crash into the bedroom when I was sleeping the night before and kill me (hey it’s happened to people)… my car wasn’t stolen at gunpoint during the day… and on and on … (silly- maybe- but I guess I was so focused on what was wrong that I couldn’t list what was right at the beginning). After a day or two of those prayers everything changed … it didn’t feel silly anymore … and I started seeing everything that was still good about my life in spite of the crisis I was going through.
I thanked GOD for all the things we usually take for granted. I would thank him for whatever was still healthy … that I could still see, hear, smell, walk… family … pets … The joy of listening to birds chirping outside my window … whatever I could think of that was good. I didn’t stop till I listed 25 things every night.
Do what you can health wise and focus on anything positive and healthy you can and leave the rest in Gods hands.
I spent a lot of time playing the acoustic guitar while going through detoxing my mercury … it’s very soothing. Spent time with animals … outside … horses birds squirrels. Find what works for you. Old hobbies you used to love that you stopped doing over the years … things you always wanted to try but never got around to it.
What did you enjoy when you were 5, 6, 7 years old and sick in bed … try doing those things again … that can be healing also. Get in touch with the you of your childhood that tends to get lost as we travel down the road of life …
I will keep you and the family in my prayers…
Joanne J.
My husband was diagnosed with stage 3B cancer last October. He had radiation and chemo. His 4.5 mass shrunk to 2! He is now on a maintenance drug called Tarceva. I wish you all the best, every day is a blessing.
Open your heart, and feel the angelic love, and presence of Archangel Raphael. In your minds eye see his emerald green light all around you. Breathe in the healing light Raphael flows your way.
Hi Richard, I just downloaded Billy’s benefit album. Thank you – you all did such a wonderful job on it – so appreciate that you shared it with all of the fans! Continuing to pray for you and your family hoping for a complete recovery! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Hang in there Rich you’re a Cowsill and given what I have seen the family go thru in the past and still come out on top you will too. You will be in my nightly prayer for a healing recovery. Hang tuff! D.Patrick
Richard, I hope this message finds you well. I only know of you from the film but you stood out to me for your resiliance and wonderful attitude. Please stay strong and fight. As a hematoligist, I know and have seen what a struggle cancer patients go through with chemo and trying to keep a positive attitude. I pray for your recovery. Coincidentally, I had the great pleasure of meeting Susan and her hubby Russ at a cancer benefit in NOLA a couple of months ago. She’s an angel and am sure it runs in your family. Keep your chin up and I will monitor this website for good news on your recovery.
Take care of yourself. You have touched so many people with your talent – let our collective energy heal you. In my thoughts – Terry
Dear Richard,
Keeping a steady stream of prayer and light coming your way. Stay strong!
Hugs,
Caroline
Dear Richard,
I have recently been looking back on the Cowsills music & reminiscing. Today, I visited The Cowsills facebook page & read about the news of your illness. I am so sorry that you are having to go thru this ordeal, but am hopeful that you will come out of this a winner. My husband & I will be keeping you in our prayers. May God bless you & your siblings as you bravely face this battle with cancer. Love & peace, Frances Starman
Hi Richard! I am praying for you and for you to have the strength to fight this……take care and much love to you and your wonderful family.
Dear Richard, Sending you strength and prayer. You are tough and able to take this on. I love that your family asked us all for prayer. You’ve got it! Be well and stay positive. Hugs, Sabrina Rood
GIVE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE TO JESUS. ASK HIM TO WALK WITH YOU THRU EACH DAY. ALSO, PRAY TO ST. RITA SHE IS THE SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE.