McBride student testifies before State Senate on new bill

Eric Tice, 13, a McBride Middle School student who lives in Sumpter Township, is going to Lansing twice this month, once to testify on a Senate Bill.
On March 15, he was before the State Senate Judiciary Committee to tell them what Senate Bill 458 would mean to him and other children in amending the state Adoption Code.
Currently in the adoption law there are roadblocks to the parent’s new spouse adopting the child, even if the natural parent has abandoned the child.
Eric read a letter he had written that started out, “I just want to call someone Dad. My biological father is not a part of my life and hasn’t been in years. My mom met and married a really great guy, who I now think of as my Dad…”
The impassioned letter is signed Eric Tice (soon-to-be Eric Osaer).
His mother Renee Osaer said they have finally found a way for her husband Junior Osaer to adopt Eric, but her son wanted to work to change the law to help other children.
Eric has eosinophilic esophagitis, a very complex disease that attacks the digestive system and blood. It depletes the body of iron and essential nutrients necessary for proper development and physical growth.
The symptoms associated with this disease are painful cramping, bleeding, vomiting, and polyps.
He also was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, asthma, inoperable tumors on his back, having a hole in his heart, and connective tissue disorder. He relies on a feeding tube for his nutrition.
Eric’s second trip to Lansing will be on March 24 to speak at Michigan Rare Disease Day at the State Capitol’s Glass Floor Rotunda. The day is sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Eric and his mother are on the agenda to speak at 11:35 a.m. She represents Guided Steps Charity, a group the family organized to help others with childhood illnesses.
Eric is the only speaker who has a rare disease. Other speakers are mothers of those with rare diseases, organization leaders, and State Senators.
Eric also has been designated the Team Hero of Team Eric which will take part in a 300-mile, three-day bike charity ride that ends July 31 in Dewitt, MI.
Eric was featured in a front-page story in the Independent on Oct. 1 which told about his tree house put up by the Make A Wish Foundation.