A month ago, Erick Murai, a 16-year-old Scotts Valley High School varsity football player, was diagnosed with leukemia.
His father, Gerrod Murai, has had to adapt quickly and learn to cope with the harsh realities of the disease, the financial costs and the impacts of cancer treatments on his son’s body.
At one point, Murai said, Erick lost 20 pounds in two weeks.
“It was scary,” Murai said. “Initially, it was mostly muscle that he lost. It was really difficult for him not to be able to do much. But he’s gained back about 16 pounds.”
Murai, a single father, also has two other sons, ages 14 and 17.
Erick was diagnosed Sept. 21.
“His wrists were sore, and he felt chilled, so we took him to get checked out,” Murai recalled. “They diagnosed him a couple days later.”
Erick has been out of school for about a month, Murai said.
“It’s up in the air when he can physically go back, because he can’t be around other kids for awhile,” Murai said.
The teenager returned home from his stay at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford on Saturday, Oct. 16. Still, he must go back the hospital two or three times a week for ongoing treatment and have 24-hour care at home.
“He’s much happier at home,” Murai said. “The hospital was great to us, but it was hard to see the other sick children.”
In the past month, Erick has undergone several chemotherapy treatments, which involve an injection of drugs into both his bloodstream and his spinal fluid, in addition to multiple blood and bone marrow samples.
Murai said the duration of the treatments is based on how quickly his body responds.
While Erick cannot participate in any sports activity for some time, the Falcons have dedicated the season to him and will wear his No. 4 on the back of their helmets the rest of the year.
The school also will donate the proceeds of its annual haunted house to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in honor of Erick.
“He seems upbeat and jokes around,” Murai said. “But I’m sure he’ll be concerned until he knows what’s going on. It’s the unknown factor that’s alarming.”
The major costs of a cancer diagnosis and treatment include charges for time in the hospital, clinic visits, medicines, tests and procedures, home health services, visits with doctors and other professionals, and treatment.
Murai said his insurance pays the major part of those costs, but the indirect and out-of-pocket costs still add up to thousands of dollars.
For now, the Murais are waiting to see at what percentage Erick’s leukemia is recurring, and hoping he’s at the lowest percentage, less than 5 percent. The family should know by next week, Murai said.
“The support has been incredible,” Murai said. “Its amazing how the whole community has come together. It’s surprising and overwhelming. It’s made all the difference.”
How to help
To support “Erick’s Battle of the Grid-Iron against Leukemia,” send contributions to Valley Churches United Missions, Erick Murai Donation Fund, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0367.
