This is a story of a Hero.  A 22-year old Hero, who has been given the opportunity to show how strong a person can be, and to remind us all of the gifts that life can hold.

Erik Louis Maldonado was born on January 19, 1993.  Like any typical boy, Erik spent his school years making friends, playing sports, loving life and embracing his family.  Erik graduated from John Jay High School in San Antonio, Texas in May, 2011.  Erik was very proud of his accomplishment and understood the hard work it took him to get there.  Erik grew to become incredibly kind, faithful and a true friend.  He is one of the most respectful men you will ever meet – stands when you enter the room, gives you a big hug when you leave.  He loves of his family, his friends, his San Antonio Spurs, his Denver Broncos and gummy candy!

Throughout high school Erik found a passion for cars.  He loves to build them, paint them, fix them, and dream up ways to make them louder, faster and better.   He spends hours on his Dodge SR-T, and dreams of attending a college that could teach him more. 

After going in for tests on a swollen ankle from what seemed to be a bug bite…in the Spring of 2012, on his first day of work, his mom Kat received the worst call imaginable for a parent.  The Doctor called to deliver the news that Erik had Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that affects children typically between the ages of 5-18.  Erik turned 19 six months earlier.

His world, our world, changed that day. Since then, Erik has lost his left foot, underwent countless chemotherapy doses, a weakened heart from the chemotherapy, a full hip replacement, numerous surgeries to remove tumors from his lungs, radiation, bone scans, MRI’s, body scans, test after test, dr after dr, pill after pill…

Cancer has no mercy.

But the amazing thing, about this hero, is that he hasn’t complained once.  He hasn’t asked “why me??!,” he hasn’t lost site or hope of what could be.  He takes on every battle with an optimistic view, with the knowledge that God will take care of him, that God has a plan for him, and his faith has not wavered.

After trying all options commonly offered having no success, Erik continues the fight through experimental cancer studies to find a cure, if not for him, for someone else.

During a battle such as this one, it is hard to believe that the hero in this story is the patient.  The strong one, the root of our optimism, the one whose faith is the strongest and never questions the reasons… is Erik.  He trusts that God will take care of him through his journey, without question. He's the strong and brave one that our Lord has chosen to bring people, strangers that don't know him, to pray, to rally and to fight for him in this world.  He teaches us all to be better, to trust in God, to live like there's no other moment.  We are so proud of him.  We can only strive to be like him.

If you know Erik and his family, asking for help, beyond your prayers, has never been an option. As a family they will do whatever they have to get Erik the treatment that he needs. And now we are humbly asking for your help. As you can imagine, countless road trips to Houston, motel stays for treatment,  Dr’s bills not covered by insurance, co-payments, gas, food for the family on the road…feed the family while Kat tries to take care of her son…the list is long.

We ask if you can help beyond your prayers, to consider donating to Team Erik. Your money will be spent on helping him continue his braveness as he fights for his life.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of his cause, our cause, and may God bless you.