Erik Lives

The "Suite" Life 

5-year-old Erik from Muncie, Indiana is in treatment at the Proton Therapy Center for a rare form of ocular cancer. 

Erik and his mom and dad, Bruce and Aurora, arrived at the Ronald McDonald House on December 28, 2020, mere weeks after the discovery of his cancer. 

"We thought he just had a sty. We didn't fathom it could be something that would require months of treatment, far from home," Bruce explains.

Erik is a champ through his treatments and likes to play with the toys he got from the House for Christmas. The extra space of the Gala of Hope Foundation Family Suite means Erik has the space to rest and play safely in his room in between trips to the Proton Therapy Center for treatment. 

The family keeps their sense of humor through their trials, and thank the House and staff for accommodating their every need so that they can focus on Erik. 

"We call him Popeye, because he loves spinach and when his eye was inflamed and enlarged from the cancer, he had a similar appearance," Bruce jokes. "Plus, he's really strong." 

The family will return to Muncie for Erik's final treatments and look forward to his remission beginning mid-February.

For more information, contact Jeff Brock, Executive Director at 937-239-5482 or visit www.galaofhope.net