Erica was diagnosed with potentially fatal Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma on March 28, 2013. Her journey to survive her battle with cancer was very trying but after overcoming her obstacles, Erica is very passionate about inspiring people to have the d’zire to survive any challenges that they may face in their lives. Erica’s fight to survive lymphoma had its highs and its lows, however, she didn’t give up even when at times her battle seemed like it wasn’t getting any easier. Through her unwavering faith and trust in God as well as exuding a positive attitude, she knew she could get through it all. Erica is the Founder of “Dzire2Survive”, a cancer support and advocacy movement that helps improve the quality of life of patients and their families touched by the lymphoma disease, by providing education and up to date information. Erica wants to inspire patients with peer to peer comfort to help them continue to fight and overcome their battle with blood cancers.
Erica is an ambassador with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where she volunteers as a peer to peer supporter for their First Connection program and she has also raised funding and cancer awareness alongside her team, Dzire2Survive at the LLS Light The Night Walk in Oct 2014-2019. Erica and her phenomenal team has impacted so many lives at the Light the Night Walk with LLS. Erica has been featured sharing her amazing life-changing survival story in magazines and online outlets such as the Sheen Magazine, Plus Model Magazine, HelloBeautiful, Houston Style Magazine, Healthline, Cancer Today Magazine, CURE Magazine, with a host of other special features including Lymphoma Research Foundation's "Lymphoma Awareness Campaign" videos (Erase Lymphoma, Impacting LivesYoutube).
Today, Erica continues her journey as Inspirational Speaker, Cancer Advocate, Founder of Dzire2Survive and in her growing modeling career in both runway and editorial fashion. In Erica’s spare time she loves to travel and most importantly, she loves to spend time with her family and close friends. Erica loves the Lord and through Him, she enjoys helping others affected by cancer by sharing her empowering story. Erica’s motto that she lives by and share with other survivors is, “Never give up and continue to survive with your beautiful smile… Dzire2Survive”.