Heading to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, can mean someone you love is facing a serious medical condition. Everything stops—work, school, routines—and life suddenly flips upside down. Hundreds of thoughts race through your mind, and you start to consider the possible scenarios of what the future may hold. New challenges arise each hour, and uncertainty looms around every corner. What’s the diagnosis? Will the procedure be successful? How long will we be here? You hope and pray for the best as you prepare to battle the storm.
After you’ve somehow managed to pull through the first few days, it quickly becomes apparent that you’re not going home for a while. The hotel room you’ve been staying in looks like a tornado passed through—fast food wrappers piling up, clothes scattered, and stress written on every surface. You think to yourself, How can I continue to live like this? The storm is far from over, and you need help.
Cy’s Place is the answer.
Ree and Randy Erickson know firsthand what it’s like to be swept up in the whirlwind that is going to the Mayo Clinic. Their son, Silas, battled cancer and eventually passed away at the age of three. Randy and Ree made it their mission to help people going through similar situations, so they moved from Williston, ND, to Rochester, MN, and opened the basement of their house as a place for people to stay. They called it Cy’s Place, in honor of their son, Silas. They’ve hosted many families over the years, giving people the comfort of home while navigating the biggest challenges of their lives. But, they have a dream to do even more.
The Ericksons want to expand Cy’s Place from the basement of their home to a duplex housing development. The plan is to build three duplexes in the first phase (six apartments) and eventually grow to 13 total duplexes (26 apartments). The impact of this development would be tremendous for families who have someone undergoing long-term treatment.
In the video below, Ree and Randy tell their story and share the vision for Cy’s Place. Parents of Mayo Clinic patients share their thoughts on what it meant to stay with the Ericksons and what the expansion of Cy’s Place would mean to future families.
Expanding Cy’s Place will provide a vital resource for families who desperately need stability and support. Visit cysplace.org to learn more, and please consider donating—whether it’s through services or financially—to help make this project happen. With your help, Cy’s Place can be a lifeline for families in crisis. Together, we can offer more than a place to stay—we can offer hope.
