|
|
 |
|
|
Welcome to our own little version of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. |
|
|
|
|
Check out our blog!
Trip Related News |
|
|
In February 2005, my friend Eric Stephens collapsed at home. By the time he reached the hospital, he was partly paralyzed and
suffering from kidney failure. Doctors were finally able to determine that Eric had an advanced glioma, a brain tumor. It is located deep in his brain, nearly dead center between the
hemispheres. Its about the size of an apricot and inoperable.
Updates on Eric's condition here.While he has managed to recover much of his mobility, the tumor is pressing on parts of his brain that
control movement, specifically his left leg and, to a lesser extent, his left arm. He has basically no movement in his left leg and weakness in his left arm and hand. This has left him wheelchair
bound except for short excursions with a walker. The tumor is also causing convulsions, muscular weakness and the other rotten side effects associated with brain cancer. As a result, he can no
longer work or get out of the house easily. From July 13 to August 3, we took Eric on a dream adventure around the Western United States, retracing most of a trip he and I had taken together in 1990 to
help a homeless friend. To accomplish this, we purchased and rebuilt an old RV and raised money to help cover the costs. We also used the trip to advocate for the National Brain Tumor Foundation. Along the way we gave interviews discussing the NBTF and
disabled rights, accepted donations to the Foundation and gave Eric a chance to visit railroad, museum and historical sites that he had been dreaming of seeing. For more information, click here. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
While we did not make our fundraising goals, we did decide to go ahead with the trip. Big thanks goes to my lovely girlfriend Wendy Holtz who
volunteered to front all the gas and food money and much of the repair money. Without her, this would not have happened. The final combined total to accomplish this trip topped $10,000.
But it was an amazing experience. Eric wants to thank everyone who helped in this. Please visit the
Contributors Page for names, including businesses that were instrumental in making this happen.We are still accepting donations for both the trip and
the NBTF. We are also still taking orders for the photo DVDs. Production work has started on
them and we hope to deliver them by early April 2007. There were several delays in getting the photos developed and scanned that pushed our goal way back.ERIC UPDATE: his doctor's are saying that the tumor has
been successfully killed, although the mass remains and is still affecting his movement. He is scheduled for 2 more rounds of chemo and then a year of follow-up. Below are select photos from the trip. More
photos and info will be posted soon. If you have any questions, please email me at tsry@aol.com.- Eugene Vicknair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conductor boarding passengers on the Durango and Silverton Railroad. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WigWam Motel at Holbrook, Arizona |
|
|
|
|
Denver Union Station at Denver, Colorado. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric and David riding the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denver NBTF Angel Walk |
|
|
|
|
