Meet the Poulsens

In 2012 life was normal for lifelong BYU fan Jason Poulsen. His Cougars finished a respectable 8-5 season that included a win over San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl to wrap the year up. Meanwhile, up north, in-state rival Utah was struggling to find their way in their new conference and missed being bowl eligible for the first time in 11 years. Despite not winning the Holy War for the third year in a row at that point, everything was as it should be, and then 2013 came changing everything.

In January of the new year, after the euphoria of bowl season was over Poulsen found out his then 12 year old daughter Ashtyn had a rare form of Leukemia that would put the rest of her childhood on hold. Her life soon revolved around doctor appointments and chemo. Eventually the cancer was put in remission and she was able to receive a bone marrow transplant from her older brother that kept her healthy until the fall of 2016. Once again the hospital and treatments became Ashtyn’s norm and once again her cancer eventually went into remission- this time Poulsen was able to be her bone marrow donor. Unfortunately this time Ashtyn’s remission would be short lived. On Valentine’s Day of 2018 the Poulsen’s were informed Ashtyn’s cancer was back, and furthermore, Primary Children’s Hospital was out of options for treating her. One of her doctors thankfully was aware of an investigational treatment that Ashtyn was qualified for, but it would send her and her mother up to Seattle for the foreseeable future.

Meet the Ericksons

For Jody Erickson and her husband, Dave, Utah football has always been a way of life. It’s how they spend quality time with their family, it’s what they live, breathe, and eat in their day to day lives, but in 2007 the Utes became so much more to them when Dave was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer that has no cure. Suddenly, Utah football became an escape from an inescapable reality. For 11 years after the diagnosis Dave’s cancer was controlled, but this year the cancer started to get aggressive. As a result of weekly treatments Dave has not been able to work making finances at the Erickson household tighter than normal while he fights to get better.

“Utah football has been a huge part of our lives,” Jody said. “We have season tickets and it has been a time we get to bond with our kids. Dave is in a lot of pain sometimes and this is something he looks forward to- he goes and kind of forgets everything else.”

Blue and Red Collide

Anyone who has lived in Utah for a significant amount of time knows 99% of the time you can count on your neighbor for help if you need it. That one percent of the time can get a little dicey when Rivalry Week is in full swing. Red and blue simply do not mix in Utah- especially leading up to Utah and BYU playing each other.

With Thanksgiving on the horizon and a heart full of gratitude for all of the love and well wishes his daughter had received from fans on both sides of the rivalry Poulsen decided to do something a little out of the ordinary for Rivalry Week. After witnessing the power football has had in Ashtyn’s healing process both in bringing fans together, and with BYU’s football team paying Ashtyn a visit in her hospital room when they were in Seattle to take on Washington, Poulsen decided he was going to gift a deserving Ute fan the opportunity to watch Utah in their first Pac-12 Championship Game appearance- ironically enough against Washington.

“Part of why I even thought of doing this was just because I’ve been so grateful to people for their concern for [Ashtyn],” Poulsen said. “Their positive energy if they aren’t a religious type, to prayers- it’s quite overwhelming to see people’s concern for strangers. Over the weekend I just thought I needed to pay it forward a little bit and show there is good in the world still.”

With his mind set, Poulsen got on Twitter the Sunday before Thanksgiving and simply asked if anyone was aware of a Ute fan that’s had a tough time the past year and didn’t have the means to go to the championship game. Naturally, coming up on the big rivalry game there were many people who didn’t think Poulsen was serious, but many others trusted the intention and nominated people they thought were deserving. Dave and Jody Erickson happened to be one of those nominations.

“When someone told me about this gentleman, and what he’s been going through I felt a connection because he’s been battling a blood cancer and hasn’t been able to work,” Poulsen said. “Finances are tight and he’s a big Ute fan. I know exactly what it feels like to deal with the realities of the finances of cancer treatment. If him going for a couple of days with his wife and maybe other family members now can give them a little bit of a distraction from real life for a couple of days I think it’s completely awesome.”

After receiving the surprise news they had been selected and being put in touch with Poulsen Jody says she was in shock. This was the last thing she was expecting to happen to her and her husband. Especially during Rivalry Week and from a die-hard BYU fan.

“The thing that made me the most impressed about [Jason] is that he was like ‘I just wanted to do something kind because of the Rivalry and it’s not about that. We’re all people and can show kindness- it’s bigger than the football game,’” Jody said. “It was huge. It meant a lot on a lot of different levels in the kindness he showed and generosity. Not just him but everyone who donated. There were BYU fans who donated, a lot of Utah fans that donated. Just that they would do that. It makes me realize how many good people there are in the world.”

With their flights, room and board all planned out Jody says she and Dave are looking forward to getting away and continuing to do what they love to do through the fall- cheer on their Utes to victory, which has the potential to make a milestone in their relationship even sweeter.

“We have some great friends who are going to go with us,” Jody said. “We’re taking a red eye there to Sacramento, spending the day there just soaking up the game. We are so excited. Ironically it is Dave and I’s 28th anniversary on the 30th- the day of the game. It’s like a bonus celebration.”

As for Poulsen- he flew up to Seattle to see his daughter and celebrate her 18th birthday (the day after the Rivalry Game) while cheering on their beloved Cougars together. Ashtyn has responded unbelievably well to her treatments and the hope is to have her back in Utah just in time for Christmas. Poulsen says he has learned so much from his daughter and her unwavering strength, courage, and faith in humanity to do the right thing even as she has been fighting her disease. Ashtyn still has a ways to go in her recovery, but has big plans for her life moving forward including traveling around the world paying it forward to those in need while going to her dream university, BYU. Ashtyn has been Poulsen’s biggest inspiration to do better and be better and he hopes anyone reading her story is equally as inspired to look past people’s religion, race, political stance, or even the college team they cheer for to spread some kindness during a time we could all use it most.

“When you have those thoughts or ideas that come into your head to want to help people, or if you are inspired by people’s actions that is something that is telling you to act,” Poulsen said. “That comes from within everybody. I don’t know how to describe it- when you have people lift you and help you and then you have that thought you want to help others that is something you need to act on. Those little things start to add up for people and overall I think it improves society in general.”

A Far-Reaching Impact

Gratitude doesn’t even begin to describe how Jody and Dave Erickson are feeling leading up to their big trip. Being able to take a break from cancer, even if it’s just for a few days cannot be put into accurate words. The kindness bestowed to them by Poulsen, and by extention his daughter is something they hope to eventually pass forward to someone else deserving.

“It’s just been a little blessing in our lives and for Dave especially. For him to realize how good people are and to feel loved,” Jody said. “I don’t know how to express that but just to feel people’s goodness- that there are so many good people in the world today. One day we are going to pay all of this back. Hopefully next year we are in a position to pay it forward.”

The response to Poulsen’s Tweet was so big that he was not only able to help the Erickson’s enjoy the Ute’s first championship game, but he was also able to send a BYU fan and his daughter to Disneyland this week to make some precious memories as she lives out the last few months of her very young life. A week prior to Thanksgiving he was informed his daughter’s brain cancer had returned and there was nothing more doctors could do for her. Proof that what can start as a small idea, can have large returns, and a very positive impact for people around you- even perfect strangers.