Nearly $3,000 was raised Saturday at a fundraiser benefiting an EMT from Bangor battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Medical expenses, friends say, are expected to reach the thousands.
An online fundraiser has been launched to help raise funds for a 52-year-old emergency medical technician from Bangor who is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Eric Uliana, being called by friends as an "EMS Great," has worked for several Lehigh Valley rescue squads throughout his 36-year career. He currently is employed with Nazareth Ambulance Corps and Phillipsburg EMS, but had to take a leave of absence as he battles the disease.
Uliana was diagnosed with cancer in January after experiencing what he described as "excruciating, sharp pain" in his abdomen. He then left work early on Jan. 6 while working for Phillipsburg and went to the emergency room.
Following a biopsy, Uliana learned the cancer had spread from the pancreas into his liver. Uliana underwent his first round of chemotherapy, with a second round likely depending on the results.
Friends of Uliana have launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with medical expenses, which are expected to reach into the thousands. Uliana's medical insurance will be expiring in April due to his leave of absence from work.
The fundraiser, titled, "Help Us Help an EMS Great,"has a goal to reach $20,000. By 1:30 p.m. Sunday, $975 was raised. The fundraiser also hopes to benefit Uliana's elderly mother whom Uliana has been taking care of in Bangor.
After 36 years helping others, EMT needs help of his own
"This gentleman worked three jobs to help fix the house and support his mother," posted organizer Dolph Montanye.
Montanye, 41, learned from Uliana, who was his first training officer at Easton Emergency Squad when Montanye joined EMS at age 16. Uliana later worked for Montanye when he was promoted to operations director at the now defunct Hecktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
"His treatment is going to be long and he may not be able to work for a bit ... We are hoping by your generosity we can help fund the repairs to his mother's home and offset his income so that his focus can be kicking cancer right in the (expletive)," Montanye went on to say.
Carol Viglianti, a cancer survivor and EMT who worked with Uliana at Nazareth Ambulance Corps., helped to organize a fundraiser Saturday at the former Hecktown Volunteer Ambulance building, in Lower Nazareth Township.
A high turnout of about 100 visitors raised $2,700, Viglianti said. She added it was touching to see Phillipsburg EMS workers attending in uniform, who are planning a breakfast fundraiser at 8:30 a.m. April 3 to aid Uliana.
"It was nice to see how many people love and respect this man," Viglianti said.
Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.