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My guest this week is Eric Erdman, the founder of the Give a Child a Voice Foundation. When Eric learned he had advanced brain cancer in July of 2016 at the age of 16, he had no idea all the ways his life would change. He faced medical procedures including both brain surgery and eye surgery, and lost hearing as well as sight in one of his eyes. Yet the fear and grueling procedures are not what Eric remembers most about the months after he was diagnosed with Anaplastic Grade III Ependymoma. He remembers the voluntary kindness friends, families, neighbors, and even strangers who helped him find his voice, to share his story and speak out. The coming together of so many different people, all with the same goal of showing support, transformed his perspective on life and inspired him to pay it forward. Today, after four brain surgeries, three rounds of radiation, a round of chemo, and complications, Eric is more excited than ever to continue to help other struggling kids find their voice through his foundation, Give a Child a Voice. While some children battle critical pediatric illness, others face challenges such as bullying and abuse in their schools and homes. In addition to the immediate harm it causes, these difficult experiences can cause long-term emotional suffering. Eric dreams that other kids who experience difficult situations receive the same kindness he received at one of the most vulnerable times of his life. He started Give a Child a Voice to engage the community and get children the help they need so positive change is possible. His dream and movement have become a reality thanks to the work being done through his foundation. I was so beyond inspired by my conversation with Eric. This young man is making the most of his time to inspire and encourage kids who’ve experienced bullying and so much more. I know you are going to be encouraged by him too, so without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Eric!
“I wouldn’t change anything because I know now what I went through to help a kid in their own shoes if they have the same problems.”
“My mom hates me saying this but to me it’s true. I have to thank cancer because by far it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I am fine with dying because the thing is, I’ve found something I love. I’m at my happiest, I have a foundation, I have an amazing family. I came to terms with it because I’m at peace with everything.”
When 16-year-old Eric Erdman learned he had advanced brain cancer in July 2016, he had no idea all the ways his life would change. He faced medical procedures, including both brain surgery and eye surgery, he lost hearing as well as sight in one of his eyes. However, the fear and grueling procedures aren’t what Eric remembers most about the months after he was diagnosed with Anaplastic Grade III Ependymoma.
He remembers the voluntary kindness of friends, families, neighbors, and even strangers showed him and how it helped him find his voice, to share his story and speak out. The coming together of so many different people, all with the same goal of showing support, transformed his perspective on life, and inspired him to pay it forward.
Today, after four brain surgeries, three rounds of radiation, and one round of chemo, as Eric battles complications, he’s more excited than ever to continue to help other struggling kids find their voice through his foundation – Give a Child a Voice.
While some children battle critical pediatric illness, others face challenges such as bullying and abuse in their schools and homes. In addition to the immediate harm it causes, these difficult experiences can cause long-term emotional suffering. Eric dreams that other kids who experience difficult situations receive the same kindness he received at one of the most vulnerable times of his life. He started his foundation, “Give a Child a Voice,” to engage the community and get children and teens the help they need, so positive change is possible. His dream and movement have become a reality, thanks to work being done through his foundation.