“Lucas Rodney Ticola, lovingly known as Mighty Robot Tiger Lucas, was born July 23, 2018, and from the very beginning, there was a special light about him that people naturally gravitated toward. Lucas never met a stranger. He was funny, affectionate, confident, creative, adventurous, particular, and incredibly thoughtful, with a contagious laugh and larger-than-life personality. He loved swimming, climbing, building LEGOs, dinosaurs, stuffies, Yoshi, and especially playing Nintendo Switch with his family. Some of his favorites were spaghetti and meatballs, Chick-fil-A, lollipops, his pets, his cousins, and road trips to see family. Most of all, Lucas loved his people fiercely. Saying “I love you” and blowing kisses were his specialties, and being together was always what mattered most.

At six years old, Lucas was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an aggressive and currently incurable childhood brain cancer. Two days later, while recovering from his biopsy, Lucas proudly declared his superhero name “Robot Tiger Lucas,” and Mighty Robot Tiger Lucas was born. For the next 16 months, he faced the unimaginable with extraordinary courage while remaining funny, feisty, loving, determined, and very much in charge. On December 16, 2025, at just seven years old, Lucas laid down his sword after 485 days of fighting DIPG. His beautiful light continues to shine through everyone who knew and loved him, and his family is committed to carrying that light forward—sharing his story, raising awareness, funding research, and fighting for a future where children diagnosed with DIPG have what Lucas deserved: a cure.”