Hi, my name is Melissa(Missy) and I’m starting this fundraiser for my husband, Eric, and our family as Eric fights the hardest battle of his life.

On December 21st, Eric was admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital with a bowel blockage that required emergency surgery. During that surgery, doctors discovered a tumor, and we were told the words no family is ever prepared to hear: stage IV colon cancer. A spot on his liver was biopsied and confirmed to be the same cancer.

In a matter of hours, our world shifted.

As part of that initial surgery, Eric underwent a bowel resection and received a stoma and colostomy bag. There is hope that, once the cancer is reduced enough, the colostomy can be reversed. For now, it is part of our new normal.

Instead of being home for the holidays, Eric spent Christmas in a hospital bed recovering and undergoing test after test. On New Year’s Eve, he had a port placed in preparation for chemotherapy.

Everything happened so fast. We went from planning holiday celebrations to learning medical terminology, meeting oncology teams, and trying to absorb what stage IV really means.

After he was finally able to come home, we hoped things would begin to improve. Unfortunately, soon after, a GI bleed was discovered, and Eric had to be admitted back into Abbott Northwestern. During this second hospitalization, he required several blood transfusions and more testing. Eventually, doctors found an ulcer in his colon and were able to stop the bleeding.

Everything happened so fast. It was overwhelming, frightening, and incredibly stressful as we tried to process and learn so much in such a short amount of time. Emotionally processing all of this has definitely been a roller coaster.

On January 14th, Eric began chemotherapy. His treatments are a three-day process every other week. Day one consists of a 6–7 hour session at the cancer center in River Falls. He then comes home with a portable pump that delivers continuous chemotherapy for the next two days.

So far, his treatments have been tolerable, though he has experienced several side effects. Despite everything, Eric continues to face this journey with incredible strength and determination.

In early March, Eric will undergo CT and MRI scans to assess how the treatment is working. Once the results are in, his doctors will determine the next phase of his care. This could include continued traditional chemotherapy, oral chemotherapy, targeted radiation, and discussions about how and when to address the tumor on his liver. We will know more after these scans and consultations about what the road ahead looks like. We will continue to update this page as we learn more and move forward with Eric’s treatment plan.

It is likely that Eric will be unable to work for up to a year due to ongoing treatments and the surgeries that may be necessary. Because of his diagnosis and treatment, Eric is unable to travel which is a major part of his job. He is currently on short-term disability, which only replaces a portion of his income. At the same time, the medical costs and everyday expenses that come with cancer treatment and time off of work continue to add up.

We are doing everything we can to stay afloat, but the financial strain is becoming overwhelming. This fundraiser will help relieve some of the financial stress so we can focus on what matters most—Eric’s health and healing.

Any donation, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference for us. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page. Your prayers, kind words, and support mean more than we can ever express.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing beside us during one of the most difficult experiences of our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Missy & Eric