Ethan Erickson
Ethan, lost his relentless fight with Burkitt Lymphoma/Leukemia on October 13, 2019; he was only twelve. Throughout his 18-month fight, Ethan never complained, rarely ever cried, and was determined to do what he had to do to get better. During his illness, he never asked, “Why me?” Ethan never lost his faith in God, his strength, or his courage. Ethan’s hope never diminished, and he knew God was with him, providing peace and comfort in each new battle.
Ethan entered remission and relapsed three times. Each battle became more difficult. His bone marrow was affected, so we prepared for a Bone Marrow Transplant. One week prior to the transplant, blood work showed that the Burkitt Leukemia had returned, which meant the transplant would be postponed. He then entered more vigorous rounds of chemotherapy.
We all relied on God’s strength and the many prayers being lifted to get us through each new day.
Ethan had the light of Christ in his heart, always showing kindness and wanting to help those around him. He was a people pleaser and enjoyed making others happy. Ethan was the greatest gift to us and to all those who knew him. He is and forever will be our courageous hero. Over the last year and a half, Ethan endured many harsh chemo treatments, which required him to be hospitalized for many days and sometimes weeks. Our family witnessed the many ways Ethan embraced his new normal with peace, positivity, and perseverance. He never quit fighting and even in the last days he was determined to do anything possible to live the life he had before cancer. Even in the darkest of hours, there was hope, and Ethan never stopped believing that God was with him each step of the way. We are so proud of him and in the ways he touched and inspired others around him. Truly living in the moment and finding joy in each day was so important to him.
Ethan never let go of his wooden cross, which he held in his hand until his last moments. We found comfort in the amazing, continued strength, peace, and comfort we felt from the extensive prayers said by our “Team Ethan” prayer warriors. Each day we felt stronger from the Lord’s light shining in all of those around us. In the darkest days, God is there in every moment, in every random act of kindness, in the hope and joy of the day, in the hearts of caregivers, and he provides patience and relieves our fears and worries. Ethan was at peace while on Earth, but is now experiencing the ultimate eternal peace and joy he deserves. To honor Ethan’s battle, it is our desire to bring peace, hope, and courage to others facing life changing circumstances.
– Aaron and Heather Erickson
