Welcome to our Caringbridge Website. As many of you know, Erika was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, a malignant brain cancer. We believe this is the best platform to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your outpouring of love and support as well as your words of encouragement and prayer. Please use this site as you wish to post well wishes, photos, stories, and messages to communicate with and uplift Erika during this time.
Erika has claimed Isaiah 41:10 as her verse to carry her through this fight. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
Erika’s Story:
During the early days of May, Erika began experiencing headaches as well as numbness and tingling on the left side of her face. After contacting her oncologist at West Clinic, they moved up her yearly full body MRI. A full body MRI that has been a part of her life since first being diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome at the age of 19. Li-Fraumeni, a rare genetic mutation on the p53 gene that promotes the development of rare and recurrent cancers throughout all seasons of life. A gene that we would come to know well, as it was responsible for the cancers and subsequent deaths of her grandfather, mother, and sister, as well as Erika’s ductal cell carcinoma of the breast that was found during her preemptive double mastectomy at the age of 26.
Hours after her MRI, she received the news. “You have a brain tumor”. While we have known since Erika was diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome that some iteration of this news would eventually befall our ears, it did not lessen the shock as we sat together as a family processing the news. Within a week, Erika had met with her surgeon who had devised a surgical plan to resect the tumor. On May 19th, one day before her 34th birthday, Erika underwent a total resection of the tumor with clear margins and no complications. However, as she recovered in the ICU the surgeon told her she would most likely need to stay under observation at the hospital for the next 2-3 days. As those who know Erika and her tenacity can attest, she was determined to be home the next day to spend her birthday with her two boys. 24 hours later she was headed home, met with an outpouring of love and support by her friends and neighbors exemplified in the signs and chalk written messages lining the drive to her home.
Over the next month, we proceeded in a haze, often left with more questions than answers as Erika underwent more appointments, imaging, and consultations… all while breathlessly awaiting the final report: benign or cancerous. While we had discussed all possible outcomes, nothing could prepare us for the eventual answer to our question. Glioblastoma. A malignant brain cancer, typically relegated to those in their 7th and 8th decade of life. Whatever fears may have crossed her mind in those moments she did not show, her faith and her love of the family she had created superseding the fears and heartbreak that most of us would fall victim to, despondent to news no one is ever ready to receive. Throughout this process, her resilience has continued to be a reflection of the woman she is and the faith that guides her. All of which led her to MD Anderson where she is currently undergoing treatment to fight a cancer that has never been met with an opponent as determined and indomitable as Erika Holland. She is stronger than cancer. She is Erika Strong.
The power of prayer has continued to surround our family. Erika’s MRI today remained stable with no new changes. She will return to MD Anderson in May for her next 8 week surveillance MRI.
Thank you to everyone who continues to lift our girl up in prayer! 🙏
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. Isaiah 41:10
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