Dear friends, We, Eric's friends, are reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea to support our friend as he faces the challenge of a very high-risk, aggressive, stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the financial burden that it brings. We all know Eric, a caring and giving individual whose acts of kindness have left a mark on each of us. He and his wife, Stephanie have enriched our lives in countless ways. Let's come together to support them as they have us over the years. (click "read more" below) Eric and Stephanie's generosity knows no limits. Together, they have devoted countless hours to support youth sporting programs, marching band, Boy Scouts, community theater, educational and veteran initiatives, plus so much more. There's hardly a task too big or small to ask Eric for help with. He's always ready with a smile to lend a helping hand, fix, move, or repair anything. Over the years, he has generously captured cherished photos of our children and families, pouring his heart into every image to create lasting memories for all of us. Stephanie's relentless dedication to helping others and their children has forged lifelong friendships out of chance encounters (a stranger in need of help is a friend in her eyes), proving her caring nature knows no bounds. Today, this extraordinary family faces an unimaginable challenge. Eric's stage 4b cancer diagnosis has inflicted an enormous financial burden. Initially told that palliative care was the only option for his aggressive and very high-risk case (Gleason 10 and metastatic to other organs/tissues), they refused to accept defeat and pursued more aggressive treatment. This required frequent travel from North Carolina to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN - the only center to offer Eric curative intent. Despite Eric's positivity in pursuing the various treatments, their savings have been drained, leaving them with immense stress over the medical expenses on the journey ahead. Since Eric's diagnosis, they have incurred more than $50,000 in medical expenses and anticipate that expenses will be an additional $50,000 or more in the next 12 months. Their expenses have included $15,000 for deductibles and co-insurance, $20,000+ for denied claims on tests, treatments, and scans (with more denials undoubtedly to come), $10,000 for specialized genetic and organoid testing to gain deeper insight into Eric's unique mutations, and $8,000 in travel expenses. Additionally, Eric will return to Mayo Clinic for the next 4-7 weeks to undergo radiation therapy, increasing travel and lodging expenses. Alarming statistics reveal that more than 60% of cancer patients facing financial strain will delay or forgo treatment during their journey, while more than 73% experience extreme stress over their ability to cover current and future expenses. We don't want Eric and Stephanie to face this situation. Your compassionate assistance can alleviate their financial strain and allow them to focus on healing, hope, and creating memories with loved ones. Finding and holding onto hope becomes imperative in the face of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Eric has dreams of a couple of trips he wants to make. These trips hold deep significance for him: taking Owen to an NFL game, a nature trip with Andrew, and renewing his wedding vows with Stephanie after 25 years. Let's not let medical expenses take away the hope and joy he gets from looking forward to those trips. In times like these, a community's strength lies in its collective love and support. Please, let us extend that love to Eric, Stephanie, Andrew, and Owen. Your contribution will make a significant impact on their journey ahead. Please donate, if you can, and share this campaign with friends, family, and anyone who has experienced the kindness and support of Eric and Stephanie. Let's be the force that carries them through this challenge, reminding them that they are not alone in their journey. Thank you for your compassion and generosity. With love and hope, Friends of the Hall's P.S. A note from Eric and Stephanie: We want to express our gratitude to all of you. With reluctance, we have taken the advice of others to allow a LFEBridge to be set up. This is difficult for us, as we have always tried to be self-sufficient. But a stage 4 cancer diagnosis has definitely impacted us financially. We understand that many of us have limited financial resources, and we want to emphasize that we want this to be a CHOICE you make freely without any guilt or pressure. If you cannot contribute, we completely understand, and we do not want you to give it a second thought. Your encouragement, prayers, and support will continue to mean the world to us. We have significantly benefited from the incredible power of compassion, empathy, and understanding you all have given us freely over the last year, and we consider it to be EXTREMELY VALUABLE. If you are able to donate, your support will enable us to pursue the treatment that offers the most hope and "curative intent." It will help alleviate the financial burden that weighs heavily on us and allow us to focus on what matters most— my health, well-being, and the ability to make memories with friends and family. Your kindness, support, and generosity will give me the strength and means to THRIVE on this journey. I look forward to continuing to share my journey with you. Sincerely grateful to all of you, Eric and Stephanie
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