Fundraiser for Erick Engeseth

My name is Bernadette Ramirez Harbert.  I am creating this GoFundMe page to help out the “love of my life”.  Erick has always believed in helping others and I’ve realized he can have a difficult time asking for help when it comes to himself.

Like some others, Erick is going down a road he never imagined!  As he calls it, “The Big C”!  Pancreatic cancer which has metastasized to his liver! 

We found out he had cancer after he got an extreme case of jaundice and excruciating stomach pains that resulted in loosing a lot weight!

He started by paying “out of pocket” to Emergicare!  He had several lab test done.   Eventually, they sent him to the emergency room where they admitted him immediately!  

The hospital began by putting a temporary stint in his pancreases to release some of the bile to decrease the jaundice.  Shortly after, he got a blood clot in his leg.  Unfortunately, the clot had broken off into his lungs and caused a pulmonary embolism!  He spent several days under observation and was given blood thinners.  

Eventually he was able to get a liver biopsy to determine type and stage of the cancer. 

At this time, we don’t know the exact treatments as we have been going through the system of getting a primary doctor who is referring us to an oncologist. 

Now to tell you a little bit about Erick.  He offers his many talents in construction work.  He enjoys helping people realize their dream homes!  He also helps construction workers that are self employed. He helps find jobs for them.  He has always believed in hard work.   Once he gets the chance, he is fun loving and will play hard!

Erick has lived his life always thinking and giving to others.  He has such a big heart! He is  unaware that he is loved by many people!  He has helped people in need of things like handyman work, to remodeling their house,  or to help fix their car.  I have also witnessed him help people who are down on their luck.  He has friends that so are so loyal to him as he is to them!  The bond between him and his friends are unbreakable!

 But in the opposite direction!  I’ve learned that although he is a very caring individual,  he is a very strong and wise man! He knows exactly who is!   He has a very strong bond to his family, his friends, and to his beliefs!  At times he can be a force to be reckoned with! 

In his lifetime, he rarely went to the doctor.  It was difficult for him to find affordable insurance.  Besides he was always a very healthy person!

Erick has three wonderful kids, Erick 19, Hannah 17, and Aiden 14!    I have heard them refer to their Dad as Superman!  They say he has been injured on different jobs and still kept working! His kids fully believe he will make it through this challenge!
 
He also treats my daughter Christina as one of his own!  He has helped me support her challenges in life that has helped her to grow stronger in her life.  I am so thankful to have him in my life!

At this time, we don’t know exactly what his treatment will be as we don’t know the type or stage he is at.  We do know in any case the road will be long and hard.  

What we do know about his fight with this cancer is that he will need additional surgery, radiation, chemo, nutritional needs and medications. We are also looking into alternative approaches to help fight the cancer. Also if need be, we will be looking into clinical trails.

He has a positive outlook and he is so determined to fight this villain! 
 
At this time he has no insurance but we are looking into any type insurance available!  In any case this battle is going to be costly!

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

We will keep you updated on his journey!

Here is an update of Ericks journey at this time! We are appreciative of the support and concern of everyone!Update, we did find out that he has stage 4 pancreatic adenocarcinoma carcinoma.

He has been referred to a study/ clinical aspect of treatment. The positive side is that he will get the newest and greatest treatment available! We have done our own research and we have seen cutting-edge options available. We hope to have more information available after the first of November. At this time, he is in a extreme amount of pain. He is suppose to be using high level doses of pain management medication. I wish he would be more diligent in the prescribed use.

He is pushing forward to work and live his normal life! He is using much lower doses of the prescribed medication! We are praying that the next steps of treatment will help relieve some of the pain!
Thank all of you for your concern and generosity!

After his next appointment,we hope to have more treatment information!