Ericas Wish

Hello, my name is Ed Kott. This is likely more than you care to read, but I want you to know as much as possible about my terminally ill wife, Erica. Erica was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. She underwent numerous biopsies, a mastectomy, four months of IV chemotherapy, and two months of radiation. I met Erica when she was two months post treatment. She was a single mom at the time with no family in the area. Erica is and always has been very independent and struggles with asking for help. Her greatest fear is being a burden to anyone. Throughout her treatment, Erica continued to hold down a full time job, be a full time mother (and father), and run her household solo. She was and still is a fighter. Nothing is more important to Erica than her children.

In 2011, Erica’s cancer metastasized to her bones. This was a few short months after I married her. To date, Erica has tried every single oral chemotherapeutic agent on the market, Faslodex injections, and has now been left with no other options, other than IV chemotherapy again. Her cancer has metastasized to her sternum, both shoulders, her entire spine, pelvis, sacrum, both hips, and the list continues. Erica underwent another round of radiation to her left shoulder and thoracic vertebrae in January and February of 2018. Unfortunately, the radiation burned her esophagus, so she had to be hospitalized for a week. During that time, Erica lost 30 pounds and is finding it difficult to regain any weight. Other than being thin, you would never know that Erica is as sick as she currently is. She tries to lead a normal life without dwelling on her disease or limitations. She never, ever says “No” to anyone. No matter how poorly she feels, she has never missed any event in her children’s lives. In fact, she completed chemo for the day and then took her daughter on a college visit. She’s happily hosted birthday celebrations and holidays for her children when she’s barely able to stand.

As of February of this year, Erica had to be placed back on IV chemo, which is much harder on the body than oral. In March of this year, she had to be placed on a two drug IV chemo regimen. With this new chemo, Erica may have to undergo blood and platelet transfusions. Erica and I are doing everything we possibly can to try to prolong her life. Erica’s goal is to try to live long enough to put her youngest child through college. This is very difficult due to the mounting medical bills and the fact that she is no longer able to work. Erica’s daughter (and son) are estranged from their biological father and she has had to spend thousands of dollars on attorney and court fees to protect her children. The stress she has endured is insurmountable. And as everyone knows, stress can be deadly to a cancer patient. Despite Erica’s hardships, she still remains positive.

Erica is not the type of person to ask for help or handouts. But at this point, she has no choice. She wants to send her daughter to college and provide the best life for her daughter before she dies. Anyone that knows Erica knows that she is a great mom who always puts her children’s needs above her own. In fact, she puts everyone’s needs above her own. She is purely selfless. When I asked Erica to come up with a bucket list so that she can enjoy the short 1-2 years that she has left on this earth, her only response was that she simply wanted to send her daughter to college. With Erica’s loss of income, no further child support (her daughter turned 18), and rising medical bills, she has very little money to help her children. Erica is not concerned about enjoying the rest of her life or seeing the world. Her only wish is to help get her daughter on a path to success, which entails college.
If you find it in your heart to support Erica’s wish, please donate. Any little bit will help and would truly be appreciated. I will post updates regularly so that you are aware of how Erica is doing. Our main goal is to raise money for Erica’s daughter to attend college this fall. Any leftover money will be used to pay medical bills. It seems nowadays that everyone has a heartbreaking story to share, but I do hope that you find it in your heart to help Erica.

With utmost gratitude,

Ed Kott