Help Eric Hamilton Fight Cancer

Eric is a devoted husband, father, and friend. He and his wife Jasmine have been together for 18 years and have two wonderful children, Byron (11) and Julianne (8). A loving father, Eric is the kind of man who can be found making pancakes with Julianne on Saturday mornings or going camping with his family. He is an excellent cook, a good friend, and a kind, positive person who brightens the lives of everyone around him.

In June 2022, Eric’s life—and his family’s life—was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at just 41 years old. Eric had no risk factors for the disease. He was young, active, and had no other health problems. It was a devastating shock. After surgery and chemotherapy, Eric was declared cancer-free, and for a time, his family allowed themselves to hope they had left cancer behind for good.

Unfortunately, in December 2023, the cancer returned. This was crushing news for Eric and his family, because it meant he was now a stage 4 cancer patient, with much lower odds of long-term survival. Fortunately, the recurrence was small- one small lesion in his liver and three lymph nodes.

In February 2024, Eric underwent a major surgery, which involved removal of half of his liver and the affected lymph nodes. The intent of the surgery was “curative,” but in the 2.5 months that Eric waited for surgery, the cancer spread to additional lymph nodes in his abdomen. Following this, Eric was put on palliative chemotherapy indefinitely.

Eric has responded exceptionally well to treatment, but the side effects impact his quality of life and chemotherapy alone cannot cure his cancer. Eventually, the cancer will become resistant to the current therapy, and his options will be limited.

Eric’s long-term survival depends on accessing the most advanced treatments available, which could include surgical procedures, radiation, and innovative clinical trials. Unfortunately, many tests and treatments are not covered by public health care in Alberta. As medical costs pile up, Eric and Jasmine are doing everything they can to keep the financial burden from overwhelming their family, but the reality is that the costs of pursuing life-saving treatments are substantial.

This fundraiser is here to support Eric in accessing the life-saving treatments he needs. Eric’s goal is to be there for his children as they grow up, to celebrate life’s milestones with Jasmine and to watch his family thrive. But to do so, he needs the help of his community. Eric is considering multiple test and treatment options, which could include the following out-of-pocket expenses:

This is a fight Eric and his family cannot take on alone. The costs are substantial, and while Eric and Jasmine are working hard, they need your support to make sure Eric has every opportunity to fight for his life and his future.

No one should have to choose between life-saving treatment and financial strain. With your help, Eric can access the vital treatments he needs. Your donation, no matter how small, will make a world of difference in his fight against cancer and give his family the hope they need to face this difficult journey.

In Eric’s words:

I am not normally one to ask for money, or to burden other people with my problems. At heart, I’m an old-school man who prefers to solve problems on his own - for better or for worse. But the truth is, my health problems are bigger than any one person. I have a complex disease and I’m outside the limitations of what Alberta’s public health system can offer me. For the sake of my continued survival, I have to ask my family and friends for financial support with the mounting costs of finding and carrying out a curative treatment for my disease.

Life can be hard when you become an early-onset (under 50) cancer patient. My employer has thankfully permitted me to work from home full-time, which helps me to manage the side effects of chemotherapy, including debilitating nausea and fatigue. However, I have had to set career advancements aside due to my illness. This problem is emblematic of the challenges that come with facing cancer at this stage of life.

This has been a difficult time for me and my family, but I have not had to do it alone. Jasmine is truly my best friend: the most devoted, loyal wife I could ask for and the most capable and diligent care partner there could be. I have had to carry out some difficult conversations with my children, but all things considered they are doing a magnificent job of adapting to the reality of having a dad with cancer. They are doing well in school and enjoying life. They encourage me when I am down and give me a reason to keep fighting.

I am absolutely certain that there are treatments out there that can help me regain my health and a high quality of life for the long term. Hope is the life blood for any cancer patient. What a relief it would be to become a ‘normal’ person again, off treatments and able to look forward to a long life ahead of me!

My friends and family have already been immensely supportive to this point. But I realize not everyone is aware of the specifics of my situation and the fact that fighting cancer is expensive. If you feel like you can spare an amount to contribute to my cause, please do so. I will be eternally grateful.

Eric, Jasmine, and their children are determined to keep fighting, but they need you. Please donate, share this page, and help spread the word. Together, we can make sure that Eric has the best chance to fight for his life and be there for his children for years to come.

Thank you for your generosity, your kindness, and your belief in Eric’s strength to keep fighting.

With gratitude,

Patti

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If you would like to organize a fundraising event or get involved in other ways, please contact Patti Glenn, the organizer of this page. Sharing this page with your network is also an invaluable way to help spread the word.