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<div>Erik, you are so loved!!! With all of your courage, with all of your strength, with everything you got - YOU wholeheartedly bring to this world things no one else can! ✨️
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<div>Although it's been the hardest news to digest and navigate, it's time to tell your heroic story, bubby...
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<div>Hold onto mommy &amp; daddy, and everyone that adores you! ❤️ You are not alone, you have an army behind you supporting you!
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<div>We have always called Erik our miracle baby. Without even trying, God had a bigger plan for us right after we got engaged and blessed us with the sweetest little boy.
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<div>On 5/23/2020, the most beautiful soul entered our world, and Erik has been a headliner in our love story from the very beginning. ❤️
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<div>Since he was a baby, Erik has lived his life with fearless determination. His big bright smile and laugh are contagious, and his curious spirit is always seeking adventure.
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<div>On Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, we received the most devastating phone call that Erik has a rare cancer growing inside his upper left arm. If this rare diagnosis has proven anything, it’s that our Erik truly is one-in-a-billion!
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<div>Please donate, share, send a prayer, spread the word and join us in his fight and a hopeful road to recovery. ❤️‍
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<div>ERIK'S FIGHT AGAINST A RARE PEDIATRIC CANCER:
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<div>In April of 2023, a small painless firm lump was felt on Erik's left upper arm as his mother was caring for his mosquito bites. His mother immediately contacted their pediatrician to find out what exactly this small lump was. Days later, an ultrasound revealed a "nonspecific vascular mass". 6 weeks later, Erik underwent a procedure to remove the mass and have it biopsied. After 3 excruciatingly long weeks, they received a phone call with the most devastating news that has shooken their entire family to their core: Erik has a rare malignant soft tissue tumor called myoepithelial carcinoma (MEC).
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<div>MEC is an extraordinarily rare aggressive cancer with a high rate of recurrence and, when metastatic, a low rate of survival. 
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<div>In an instant, their lives were turned upside down.
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<div>Through the power of prayer and grace of God, the PET SCAN, CT scan, and MRI in July revealed a primary localized 1.7cm tumor. Since then, Erik has gone through 4 surgeries to remove the tumor, including 7 sedations with anesthesia, rendering his mother to take a leave of absence from her job. 
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<div>WHAT'S NEXT:
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<div>We don't know what's next. His most recent surgery removed his deltoid muscle in hopes of getting all of the micro cells. Surgical resections are the mainstay treatment plan in primary MEC. Pathology results will take about a week to receive to determine if clear or if it's a more aggressive microscopic disease. 
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<div>Every 3 months for 2 years, Erik will undergo anesthesia for MRI/ CT scans due to the aggressive nature of his cancer to carefully scan and make sure his cancer isn't anywhere else.
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<div>To give him the best chance, our family will go anywhere to be treated by a world-class team, but we are so grateful for all of his Superhero doctors at Cohen's Children's Hospital and MSK.
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<div>Cancer is the new reality that we’re now forced to wake up to every day. Because MEC is so rare, no cure and no proven treatments currently exist. Our miracle boy needs a miracle, and we are on a mission to drive the research with hopes to find a cure.
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<div>HOW YOU CAN HELP:
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<div>There's a long uncertain road ahead of us filled with an influx of medical bills, treatment, and lifestyle changes to help eradicate his cancer and make sure it doesn't return. 
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<div>The hope is that this GoFundMe page can help prepare Keith and Mariella on this journey, bring them peace and prayers and let them focus as much of their attention as they can on Erik.
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<div>Erik's “Strikeout MEC” campaign is going to also help fund rare pediatric cancer research and secure the best possible care in Erik's future. 
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<div>"The FDA approves on average 12 drugs every year to treat adult cancer, but has only approved 10 drugs to treat childhood cancer since 1978 (10 in 44 years for kids). There are new discoveries made in research labs, but sadly they are rarely if ever translated into new treatments for children. The process of turning a new scientific discovery into a new treatment is tedious, time-consuming, and rarely generates big profits. Kids wait for cures in hospital beds while potential discoveries lie dormant in scientific journals."
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<div>If you cannot provide a financial contribution, we gladly appreciate an abundance of prayers, healing positive energy, and sharing this GoFundMe page along with Erik's story. Thank you in advance for anything you are able to give to his fight. ✨️ 
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<div>Each and every person that joins us on this journey will forever be a part of our family. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and most importantly, prayers. ✨
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<div>Our dream is for Erik to become a long time survivor with equal access to cancer care.
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<div>Welcome to our family. ✨️
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<div>With love and deep appreciation,
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<div>Erik , Mariella &amp; Keith Hansen
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<div>"What is the bravest thing you've ever said? asked the boy. 'Help,' said the horse. 'Asking for help isn't giving up,' said the horse. 'It's refusing to give up.." - The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse
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