Support Erik's Fight Against Grade 4 Astrocytoma

Hi, my name is Kristen and I'd like to tell you a little bit about my husband.

Erik was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma grade 3, a form of brain cancer in October 2020. He had a full resection (removal of the tumor) followed by chemotherapy and radiation. It was a hard fight. He had to learn how to talk and walk normally again, he lost some eyesight, still has side effects but he managed to make it 45 months with clear scans.

Unfortunately on June 27th, 2024 during a routine MRI, a growth was found. Within days he started having effects from swelling and the tumor. After talking with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota it was decided to do another surgery to attempt to remove the tumor.

Today, July 12th, 2024, we received the devastating news that it is a grade 4 astrocytoma. Erik's tumor is listed as Astrocytoma IDH-mutant CNS WHO grade 4 clinically recurrent.

Erik's a fighter and I believe we can beat this, but we all know the saying, "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." That being said, his doctor told us that if there are things that he wants to do, places he wants to see, or anything else that he fancies doing he should do it now.

We were barely back on our feet after medical insurance deductibles for the last almost 4 years and there is still debt to be paid. I'm creating this fundraiser as a way to put his mind at ease. I want whatever time he has left on this Earth to be time that he can spend focusing on family and fun and all the good things in life, not medical bills and debt. He is a hard worker, a fighter, and above all else a devoted father and husband to some of the most amazing kids and myself. I simply want to see him happy and focused on his care and life.

Getting to Mayo Clinic is expensive with hotels, gas, and food. Plus the new medical expenses starting including IV antibiotics for a minimum 4 weeks which is not 100% covered.

If enough is raised - traveling: I know he wants to drive the Nurburgring. He's a huge motorhead and it's always been a dream of his. He also wants to show the kids where we were engaged and he'd love to watch the sunset in California again.

We've got GREAT friends and family in our corner, we wouldn't have gotten through the last time without them, but in reality we don't want to have to rely solely on them so I'm reaching out worldwide.

This fundraiser will not only give him peace of mind that he can be seen by the best doctors and have the best chance of surviving, but it may, if enough is raised give him the opportunity to truly live.

We thank you for reading this and sharing if you see it as appropriate. We love all the people who have been there for us and can't thank you enough. And it's ok if you don't feel the desire to share or donate, but would you please at least keep him in your mind and send positive thoughts our way. Positivity goes a long way in these cases.