Transition to Hospice Care

The past 20 months have been quite a journey. Not a journey any of us wanted to be on, but one we’ve tackled together. 

Each day, we’ve faced the cards we were dealt and played our hands as only our family could. And most importantly, as only Eric could! 

With J always at his side, Eric has faced his Glioblastoma diagnosis head-on. And with a force that many never expected. 

Eric has surpassed many odds throughout this journey. However, this disease is mean and unfair, and continues to fight back against everything Eric has thrown at it. Eric has suffered a great deal of physical decline over the last couple of months and is spending more time resting and very little time talking.

Bravely and with a great deal of peace and resolve, Eric and Johnanna have chosen to stop Eric’s treatment and transfer him into hospice care. This decision has not come easily, but at its core, it puts Eric’s needs, comfort, and care at the forefront. And as Eric has said, he’s “ready to close the book on this chapter.”

As a family, we are focused on providing Eric with all the comfort and care he needs to get the rest that his body so desperately demands. 

This transition of care is difficult to share, and we recognize that many of you may wish to see or spend time with Eric; however, due to Eric and J’s extenuating circumstances, in-person visits are likely no longer an option. Instead, we ask you to consider other options to help you connect with Eric and honor your unique relationship.

• Share a memory, a picture, or any funny story that can help to brighten Eric’s day on his NewlyWords site.
• If you’d like to record a video message for Eric to listen to, you can send messages directly to Johnanna ([email protected]) or post them on the NewlyWords site. We ask that these be messages of encouragement, love, stories, or memories but not messages of condolences.
• Consider donating to help Eric and Johnanna shoulder the financial burden that hospice and increased home care have brought.
• Send a card or note of love and support to their home: 1605 Knight Street, Helena, MT 59601

For those scheduled to visit their home, we kindly request that if you or your family members have any symptoms of cold, flu, RSV, etc., please delay your visit or consider another way to honor and love on Eric. Johanna’s parents also live with Eric and J, and too many visitors can be disruptive. 

If you choose to send Eric or Johnanna an email or text, please know that they are reading them but may be unable to respond.

As Eric’s disease progresses, we recognize needs will change. For those local to Helena, be on the lookout for a meal train and volunteer sign-up in the next week or two. These will help fill the gaps in hospice care and ease the burden of meal prep. J and Eric have family helping to cover meals in the meantime.

Thank you for your love and support of Eric and Johnanna and our family. You have lifted us up in our darkest times and celebrated our smallest wins. We will never be able to thank you enough! 

And for a bit of humor…this is our current family theme song: https://youtu.be/cE4lpSFNFUE