<div>In September 2021, what Eric thought was a torn muscle turned out to be a tumor on his femur. A partial hip replacement and biopsy revealed metastatic renal cell carcinoma: kidney cancer that had already spread. Since then, Eric has faced surgeries, radiation, hospitalizations, medication changes, and more setbacks than anyone should have to endure, yet he continues to meet each chapter with resilience, humor, and remarkable grace.
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<div>Over the past year, Eric’s health has been described as “stable”, which in the cancer world is good news. But stable hasn’t meant easy. A severe lung infection left lasting damage, with ongoing breathing challenges, vocal strain, and fatigue that have made it difficult for him to dance, teach, and fully engage in the creative work he loves. Despite that, he continued to show up for his community, even helping bring productions like <em>Wonka</em> to life before stepping back to focus on his health.
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<div>In late 2025, new complications emerged. What initially appeared to be swelling from travel was discovered to be a new, large site of renal cancer near his hip. Further scans revealed not one but three aggressive tumors in his leg, requiring an entirely new treatment plan with new medications and new side effects. Around the same time, doctors identified a massive “pseudo-tumor” in his leg, likely caused by his hip replacement failing and shedding metal particles into surrounding tissue. This resulted in severe pain, infection, and the possibility of another major surgery comparable to the one that required eight days in the hospital and months of relearning how to walk.
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<div>The start of 2026 brought even more challenges. New cancer medications have caused significant side effects including eye swelling, debilitating headaches, anemia, extreme cold sensitivity, and profound exhaustion. In February, Eric was hospitalized for a week with breathing complications, ground-glass opacities and a nodule in his lungs, low oxygen levels, high blood pressure, internal bleeding, and severe swelling. He underwent brain MRIs, a bronchoscopy, removal of the pseudo-tumor, repeated injections, and days without food or water during procedure prep. There were complications, hospital transfers, and moments that were frightening and physically overwhelming. Through it all, he continues breathing treatments multiple times a day and is fighting to regain strength.
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<div>This has been a long and grueling road for both Eric and Chris: physically, emotionally, and financially.
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<div>Eric has had to step back from many professional projects and social engagements to conserve energy and focus on treatment. He describes himself as “not scared, but very tired.” Even so, he continues to find light where he can, in the success of Chris’s theatrical projects, in visits with family, and in small but powerful moments of connection that remind him who he is beyond this disease.
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<div>The treatments remain complex and expensive. Between ongoing cancer therapies, hospital stays, scans, surgeries, medications, respiratory treatments, and mounting out-of-pocket insurance costs, the financial strain continues to grow.
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<div>We are once again asking for your support to help ease this burden so Eric can focus on healing rather than bills. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure he has access to the care, treatments, and recovery resources he needs during this next phase of his fight.
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<div>If you are able, please consider donating or sharing this page. Your love, prayers, messages, and generosity have carried Eric through some of his darkest days. Thank you for continuing to stand beside him.
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<div>He is still here. He is still fighting. And he is deeply grateful for this community.
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<div>Feel free to visit Eric's <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ericmichaud" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CaringBridge site</a> for more up-to-date info on the story so far, and follow for future updates.
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Eric’s Continued Fight Against Renal Cell Carcinoma

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Eric’s Continued Fight Against Renal Cell Carcinoma

Still $85,355 to go. Help us build momentum.