HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!!! Today is Eric's birthday he is 36 years old today and I am so grateful we are celebrating another birthday today! Eric was first diagnosed with his first cancer at the age of 28 years old- Chelsea was 8 years old and Austin was 5 years old.....his second cancer was finally after two years of going down hill starting in 2006 correctly diagnosed on 5/2009 where as everyone knows he had to get his bone marrow transplant. I can not tell you how grateful I am and thankful to his donor and the Lord for allowing us more time to share as a family and to be together!!

Eric is the most amazing guy you'll ever know and everyone can't help but get a big smile on their face when you think of Eric and who he is! He is the most dedicated, amazing husband and father and he has always lived life to serve others and make them laugh not to mention puts us his family first ALWAYS! He has an amazing ability to make you laugh even when you are not in the mood for laughter he brings out the funny side in everyone. He is kind and loving, has a HUGE HEART and wants to help everyone!!! That is I think one of his best qualities about him... his willingness to serve others with unconditional love! He would do anything for anyone, we were recently driving down to Costco in Bountiful and he saw a few teenagers wreck pretty bad on the road off a motor scooter wearing no helmets...without hesitation the kids said " Dad hurried and pulled our car in the middle of traffic in the road and placed the hazard lights on and jumped out to assist the teenagers, asking them if they wanted us to call their parents, ambulance,etc" Even though he really shouldn't be around many people right now and in those types of situations due to his health precautions Eric can't help himself... he is a natural and wanting to help others.

As his wife I have been married to Eric for 18 years now and we dated for 2 1/2 years I have always known he is an AMAZING MAN!! I have always been told by all of my family and many friends that I scored the jackpot when I found Eric, that we have a "Fairytale Marriage" I couldn't agree more!!! I am the luckiest woman in the world to have Eric as my eternal companion, husband but most importantly my BEST FRIEND!! The past few years with Eric;s cancer and all we have been through has been the hardest but most humbling experience of our lives. That being said I wouldn't have traded the trials because within these trials we have grown closer, closer to the Lord and grown spiritually more than I could have ever imagine. I thought my love for Eric could not ever be any stronger but I can tell you I love him more and more each day. Watching him decline and struggle and fight for his life, for every breathe he takes and climb back from deaths door was the most humbling and amazing thing I think I have ever experienced.... he is so strong, such a fighter with an appreciation for the gift of life. He fought and continues to fight for every breathe he takes and as the kids told him " Dad you are our HERO- you show us everyday what courage is about!" They are right he is our HERO and we love him sooo much! We are so grateful to his donor who saved his life and made this Birthday and many more possible for Eric- he is also a HERO! We can not wait to to meet him in person in about 1 year and 3 months and put our arms around him!

Happy Birthday Eric!!! We love you more than I think you will EVER KNOW! Thanks for all you do for us and for just being you and letting us see the true example of love and serving others! We look forward to this birthday and many more not to mention your second birthday- your bone marrow transplant date 9-9-09!!! We are so thankful to the Lord for the miracles we have and continue to experience each day for you! WE LOVE YOU!!!