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Eric Simons hospital bills for cancer treatments

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Hi, my name is Sara Simons, wife of Eric Simons. I’m creating this Go Fund Me account to help us pay for Eric’s medical bills. We have been devastated with Eric’s recent diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer. We are an active family and enjoy hiking in the woods in Colorado. We are both school teachers, so we are able to go on hikes frequently with our children in the summer. This past summer, Eric was building strength by adding weight to his back pack. The day after a hike at Red Rocks Canyon in June, Eric thought he over did it as he first started to suffer back pain. At that time, Eric, who was 45 years old, was diagnosed with a sports injury. When the school year started for Eric, who teaches middle and high school art at a non-traditional school, his back pain made it increasingly difficult to get around and work with his students. As the weeks passed, my once athletic and energetic husband was suffering and a shell of his former self. It broke my heart each time I heard him cry out from pain. Eric continued to seek treatments for his back pain thinking it was a sports injury even as the pain steadily grew worse. The week before Thanksgiving, Eric stayed home to rest and try to use the time to recover with the Thanksgiving break in the hopes that he would be back to his old self after the vacation. Things did not go according to plan as his pain became so severe, he wasn’t sleeping and could barely get around the house. The Monday after break he made it to his chiropractor’s office and collapsed in their lobby. He called me to take him to the emergency room. After a day in Penrose Hospital’s ER a CT scan revealed a tumor and lesions on his spine. The tumor was pinching nerves at the base of his spine. He was released the next day after many cancer screening tests and an appointment was made to come back the following week to hear the results. The oncologist explained that they need to know what type of cancer he has before a treatment plan is decided. A week after that trip to the emergency room we were sitting with an oncologist hearing the diagnosis; stage 4, metastatic prostate cancer. They didn’t want to operate on the tumors unless necessary. We were sent home with prescriptions to start his cancer treatments. After I brought Eric home, I headed out to the pharmacy to get his medicine. He called me while I was in the drive through line telling me he had to call 911. He said he felt like his whole lower half was on fire. So, only a week later, we were back at the emergency room. The tumor in his lower spine was causing cauda equina syndrome which needed emergency surgery to prevent permanent paralysis. The next day, the neurosurgeons successfully removed the tumor at the base of his spine. A few days after the surgery, Eric was transferred to a physical therapy center for ten days to regain strength and function. We were so blessed during that time as family, friends, and caring parishioners of our church came together to encircle us in loving support. Our church set up a Meal Train for us, which was a tremendous blessing to me, as I had to rearrange furniture and get the house ready for Eric’s return home with his adaptive equipment. And I needed the help as I was and am reeling with the shock and devastation of the love of my life of the last 20 years battling a life-threatening disease- cancer. We are now at his next phase of healing and recovery. He has been home for a month and cleared to go back to work with his handicapped equipment. We are at our teacher’s health insurance’s limit of out of pocket expenses which is $8200 and due to loss of income, we were asking for the other $2000. Please help us with this stressful financial situation so Eric can recover without the financial worry constantly burdening his recovery. Any little bit you can give will be greatly appreciated to help us pay for Eric’s medical bills.
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Donations 

  • Mago Lauritzen
    • $200
    • 11 mos
  • Denise Waskosky
    • $100
    • 1 yr
  • Anonymous
    • $100
    • 1 yr
  • Anonymous
    • $150
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $475
    • 2 yrs
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Organizer

Sara Simons
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO

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