Support Erica Larson's Battle with Cancer

UPDATE: A generous anonymous donor has offered a donation match to the first $5000 in donations!

Hi my name is Pete Erickson and I am calling on all the loving communities who include our dear friend Erica Larson to support her financially as she walks through the journey with cancer. Here is a little about Erica's story from her own words:

"On September 19, 2024 I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, stage 1 breast cancer. I had a small mass, about 1.2 centimeters according to my mammogram, 1.5 according to my biopsy, ultimately, 1.6 when measured after surgery. I was assigned a fabulous surgeon and had a lumpectomy on Friday, October 18.

On November 3, the Sunday before my visit to the oncologist to make plans for chemo, I woke up at 2am with pain going all the way down my left leg. I was up all night long and nothing seemed to help. I went to church that morning, and by the time I was ready to leave, I could hardly think straight because the pain was so bad. So, I went to Tria Orthopedic Urgent Care and was diagnosed with a pinched nerve, given some exercises and pain killers, and referred to Tria for physical therapy. At the same time the lower back pain became severe, I started having right flank pain that became progressively worse through the next week. So, after meeting with my oncologist to plan chemo, I went straight to another clinic for a CT scan. A call from my oncologist that evening confirmed what a Google search told me: I have Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer.

I called 911 at midnight after hearing and feeling a pop in my rib area followed by excruciating pain and a fear that I had cracked a rib. When the ER couldn't get my pain under control, I was admitted to Unity Hospital and remained there until Tuesday, November 12. Over the course of a week I had a huge blood draw, CT scan, chest x-ray, two hour MRI, rib x-rays, echocardiogram, EKG, bone biopsy, PET scan, and bone density scan.

At last count, I have cancer in my spine, multiple ribs, breast bone, left shoulder, liver, sacrum, iliac, pelvis, and sitz bone. Some of it is very small, like 6 millimeters; but the mass in my liver is over 3 centimeters, and the mass on my sacrum is quite large. That bugger on my sacrum is what has been causing all this pain and pinching my nerve. One of my nurses prayed for my cancer to go back to the devil. Ha! I'm praying for it ALL to go back to the devil. Also, if you ever thought I was wimpy, think again."

Erica continues to work with all her God-given spirit to fight this cancer, but she needs our help. In January, Erica will go on disability insurance which will only cover 65% of her current salary. Our hope with this campaign is to cover the other 35% for a year. That total is roughly $16,000. I am hopeful you are inspired by Erica's story and all the amazing support she has offered the people in her life.