Where His Girls Were

“If Eric has been anything, he’s been a good father,” his wife says.

Eric started reading stories to Geodee’s stomach as soon as they learned she was pregnant. As each daughter grew, Eric kept them close – a fun dad, full of games and laughter. The night before his final deployment, worried that Erica and Kailey would miss their story time, Eric recorded video of himself reading. Knowing he wouldn’t be home for the holidays, he included The Night Before Christmas, setting the stage with a lighted fireplace despite the fact that it was August.

Shortly after he came home, he was diagnosed with cancer.

The disease has taken a toll on the girls. Erica, 11, who attends Churchland Academy Elementary, came home from school crying after kids teased her because her father had cancer. The more she cried, the more they teased. As for Kailey, once, when Geodee told her to behave for her father, the 6-year-old replied that Eric was no longer her dad — that he was just a “Cancer Dad” who wouldn’t play with her anymore, and whose whispers could barely be understood.

Despite fading strength, Eric tried to stay involved with his children. He set up a small obstacle course in the front yard for Kailey to run around and went “jogging” with Erica in his wheelchair. But the girls were scared he might die when they were alone with him.

As Eric took to the bed for longer stretches, they slowly, unintentionally distanced themselves from him. He tried to act like it didn’t bother him, but his wife knew better. Eric always asked where his girls were.