My lifelong best friend Eric urgently needs help. Doctors recently discovered an invasive mass in Eric’s left kidney. A biopsy confirmed it was cancer, and the kidney must be surgically removed once Eric completes 3-4 months of heavy chemotherapy.
During the biopsy, doctors had to insert a ureteral stent which Eric says is one of the most painful things he has ever experienced. For 9 straight days, every time he urinated he literally screamed from the pain and suffered so much blood loss that he has to have multiple iron infusions just to keep his strength up while waiting for surgery. His first infusion was March 20 (picture below):
Despite everything, Eric is still fighting — but the road ahead will be incredibly difficult.
Even if you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser right now could help us reach someone who can.
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A Battle That Started 30 Years Ago
Eric’s fight with cancer began far earlier than anyone should have to face it.
At just 25 years old, only two days after his second son was born, Eric was diagnosed with aggressive invasive bladder cancer — something rarely seen in someone so young.
Just six months later, he survived a devastating and usually fatal accident that broke his neck, leaving him with lifelong chronic pain and hormone deficiencies caused by the head injury. I was standing right beside him when this happened and can attest to how close he came to dying that day as well as the very long recovery.
For more than three decades, Eric has endured:
- Dozens of cancer surgeries and procedures
- Dozens of very painful treatments
- Recurring health complications
- Chronic pain from his spinal injury
All while running his construction business and doing everything possible to provide for his family.
In 2016, he endured one of the worst cases of Reiter’s Syndrome seen by UT Southwestern Medical Center as a result of a systemic infection caused by the immunotherapy treatment for another recurrence of bladder cancer. He spent a full month in the hospital and another year recovering to his new normal. The condition causes dangerously high levels of inflammation throughout the body affecting most of the large joints and the spine. The illness was particularly severe and prolonged due to the fact that he was determined to be HLA-B27 positive, a genetic condition associated with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Recently in the aftermath of the illness, Eric was also diagnosed with Forestier’s disease (DISH - Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis), a condition that causes severe spinal stiffness and chronic inflammation on top of the pain he already lives with!
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A Family Carrying More Than Their Share
Eric and I met on January 2, 1979, when I walked into his second-grade classroom after Christmas break.
We became instant best friends — and that friendship has now lasted 47 years.
I met his wife Sheryl the same day. The three of us quite literally grew up together. Here is a picture of our 2nd grade class. Eric is top row third from left, I am middle row far right, and Sheryl is in the middle of the front row.
Eric and Sheryl have now been married nearly 35 years and raised two sons, Stephen and Kyle, each of whom suffers from Type 1 diabetes and Degenerative Disc Disease which only compounds the stress on Eric to provide for his family.
I was best man at Eric and Sheryl's wedding (picture below as young carefree twenty-somethings):
Sheryl has stood beside Eric through every surgery and setback — but she also faces major health challenges herself.
She has lived with Type 1 diabetes for 40 years as well as several other immune conditions and has undergone four cervical spine fusion surgeries, leaving her disabled and unable to work for more than a decade.
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Why They Need Help Right Now
Eric’s construction business has slowed dramatically over the past few years, and every project they expected for late 2025 fell through.
Right now their financial situation is heartbreaking:
- Income: no steady income
- Health insurance: $1,800 per month for Eric alone
- Medical costs: roughly $50,000 per year for the family
With major surgery, chemotherapy, and months of recovery ahead, they simply cannot keep up with medical bills and basic living expenses.
Because of Eric’s long cancer history, they were long ago denied life insurance, leaving them with no safety net should the illness not be survivable.
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Our Goal: $50,000
Our first milestone is $15,000 to cover Eric’s insurance premiums and family living expenses.
Our full goal is $50,000 to help Eric get through costs related to iron infusions, chemotherapy, surgery, and recovery as well as standard living expenses in the absence of income. Eric is hoping he will be recovered enough to start working again by September.
Every dollar helps relieve the pressure so Eric can focus on fighting cancer instead of financial fear.
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Even Small Donations Make a Difference
Many people want to help but worry their contribution is too small.
The truth is small donations add up quickly, and any amount truly helps:
- $5
- $10
- $25
- $50
- or whatever you are able to give
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How You Can Help
Eric has already endured more pain and hardship than most people experience in a lifetime, yet he still wakes up every day determined to fight for Sheryl and their sons.
Right now, community support is their only safety net.
If you cannot donate, sharing this fundraiser may be the most powerful thing you can do.
Your share could be the one that reaches someone who is able to help.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping Eric and Sheryl face this battle with hope instead of fear.
— Chad