In September 2008, Eric was diagnosed with an extremely rare bone condition that affects only 8-40 infants born in the US each year, Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis. Left untreated, this condition is fatal; and the only known treatment is a Bone Marrow Transplant. Eric’s family was put in touch with the University of Michigan in late September to learn about the donor and transplant process. Finding a match begins with family members and involves analyzing 10 specific cells. Chris and Stacey, Eric’s parents, were screened first, with Chris scoring an extremely promising 9-out-of-10 match. Next up for blood tests were his brave siblings; Craig, Jack, and fraternal twin Emma. Amazingly, both of his brothers, Craig and Jack, scored a 10-out-of-10 match. Craig, the oldest sibling at only 4 years of age, became his donor.
On November 5, 2008, Eric made University of Michigan medical history by becoming the first bone marrow transplant patient to be treated for Malignant Infantile Osteopetrosis at their facility.
Eric is doing very well since his bone marrow transplant at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in 2008, and we want to give back. We will be donating all future funds raised to the hospital that saved Eric's life. We hope you will join us and together we can help other kids get better.
