Walking Dead alum Erik Jensen has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, his family has revealed.
The TV star ‘miraculously survived’ a brain aneurysm a year and a half ago, and has now been diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer.
Walking Dead alum Erik Jensen diagnosed with stage 4 cancer
Erik’s heartbreaking diagnosis was made public by his family via a GoFundMe page, organized by his wife, Jessica Blank.
The post read: “As many of you know, Erik is a deeply devoted father to 13-year-old Sadie, who’s the light of his life; an incredible husband to Jessica, his partner in art and life for the last 23 years; and a profoundly hardworking, generous artist who has spent decades committed to creating work in service of healing, justice, and making the world a better place.
They then went on to call the actor and writer “one of the most hardworking, loving, truthful and devoted people we know.”
“He needs to help his daughter grow up. He needs to stick around for the beautiful community he and Jess have built. And he has a lot more art to make in the world,” the post continued.
His family then explained that the 53-year-old’s cancer had metastasized to his liver, however, “doctors have a shot at shrinking the tumors enough to do two very major surgeries and get them all out.
“He is incredibly resilient and strong; Erik is a survivor. We know he can make it through this, come out the other side, and continue to make great work and support his community for years to come.”
Further down, the family revealed that “their medical costs have skyrocketed,” and they are at risk of losing their health insurance due to the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
At the end of the GoFundMe post, they told fans that stage 4 cancer was “not a death sentence.
“One further note: Stage IV is not a death sentence, Erik is determined to make it through this, and he’s working incredibly hard to stay positive and fight for the shot that his doctors know he has.”
The post has been shared by many of Jensen’s Walking Dead co-stars, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan and chief content officer, Scott M. Gimple.
Eric appeared in season 5 of the hit AMC show, starring as Dr Steven Edwards.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Gimple penned: “One of TWD’s own could use a little help. Erik Jensen, who played Dr Steven Edwards in S5, was just diagnosed with cancer, and it’s a time of great uncertainty for him and his family. If you want to send something his way.”
The family has a target to raise $300,000 via the page. At the time of writing, they have raised $93,000.
Fans also took to the star’s Instagram to share their words of support, as one penned: “Cancers got nothing on you!! Prayers going out to you and your family for a quick recovery.”
“Wishing you the best Erik! You will beat this!!!” exclaimed another.
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