Matthew Erickson, 1, of Huntley, gives fellow Spartan basketball team members high-fives after his adoption by the Elgin Community College mens basketball team on Saturday. Holding Matthew is Vytas Jaras of Lake in the Hills, Justin Fields of Chicago is left, and Brandon Tyson of Joliet is on the right. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to adopt Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn program.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Thirteen-month-old Matthew Donald Erickson of Huntley has two siblings already, but gained 14 new big brothers when he was “adopted” by the Elgin Community College men’s basketball team on Saturday morning.
Matthew, whose parents are Ben and Sue Erickson, was diagnosed at birth with a rare form of brain cancer. Ben Erickson teaches and coaches at South Elgin High School.
The “adoption” took place through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, which matches kids with brain tumors with supportive high school and college teams.
Matthew had several surgeries last year, and chemotherapy until August. He will get his next scan on Feb. 11. If the scan is clean, he will be cleared for three months until his next scan. Otherwise, he will resume chemotherapy immediately.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comAlan Walker of Elgin holds Matthew Erickson, 1, of Huntley as he and fellow members of the Spartans mens basketball team at Elgin Community College meet Matthew before his "adoption" ceremony by the team on Saturday, January 26. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to "adopt" Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn" program.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comElgin Community College Spartans assistant coach, Scott Cork, holds Matthew Erickson, 1, of Huntley during the mens basketball team's ceremonial adoption of Matthew on Saturday, January 26. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to "adopt" Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn" program. "I could do this all day," Cork said of holding Matthew.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comKenneth Hughes of Chicago and members of the Spartans mens basketball team at Elgin Community College listen as hear Matthew's story told by his mother, Sue, at his "adoption" ceremony on Saturday, January 26. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to "adopt" Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn" program.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comElgin Community College Spartans assistant coach, Scott Cork, holds back tears as he shows the t-shirt made especially for Matthew Erickson, 1, of Huntley to welcome him to the mens basketball team during his ceremonial "adoption" on Saturday, January 26. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comSue Erickson of Huntley introduces her son, Matthew, 1, to the mens basketball team of Elgin Community College before his "adoption" ceremony by the team on Saturday, January 26. Matthew is the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, and is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to "adopt" Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn" program.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comMatthew Erickson, 1, of Huntley is introduced to members of the Spartans mens basketball team at Elgin Community College before his "adoption" ceremony on Saturday, January 26. Matthew, the son of South Elgin assistant baseball coach Ben Erickson, is fighting brain cancer. The team was able to "adopt" Matthew through the Friends of Jaclyn" program.