Eric’s Pals Cope With Sadness Friends He Left Behind Create ‘Eric Trees’ To Help Youngster’s Family

He was a hugger and a joker.

He was the first to befriend the new kid in school; the boy who always noticed, and complimented, a friend’s new outfit or new haircut.

When he fell and broke his arm he was more concerned about consoling the distraught girl who accidentally pushed him down.

“He put his good arm around her and patted her on the back and said, ‘It’s OK,”’ said Kathy Kuntz, the boy’s school principal. “That’s the kind of kid he was.”

Eric “Woody” Smith died on Sunday, finally giving up the good fight against a tumor that had taken hold of his brain with the persistence of a bulldog.

He was 11 years old. A fourth-grader.

Now, the children Eric left behind at Hayden Lake Elementary School - the ones he loved to played cops and robbers with or toss the football to - are trying to cope with their classmate’s death.

And they’re trying to do it in a positive way.

“Eric Trees” now hang in each classroom. Quarters nestle into the center of one tree’s blue, pink and yellow crepe-paper flowers. Nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars make up the leaves of others.

Students, their parents and the school staff donated the money. They are trying to help Eric’s family - now engulfed not only in grief, but in funeral and medical bills that will remain a cruel reminder of Eric’s death for years to come.

But in helping Eric’s family, the children are also helping themselves.

It is a project that has given the students an outlet to cope with the fear, sadness and anger that has accompanied their classmate’s death.

“It gives them something to focus on,” Kuntz said. “It helps that they have something tangible to work toward.”

“I think it’s made a lot of kids feel good, like they’re helping Eric,” said Cathy Stanford, the resource room teacher who worked with Eric.

Eric was first diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 3 years old. Surgery and radiation treatment seemed to kill it but, “We always knew there was a chance it could come back,” said Kari Smith, Eric’s mother.

For eight years it didn’t.

Like most kids, Eric spent those years collecting toy cars and playing with his friends. His dad, Tim Smith, took him fishing and camping, teaching the boy a love for the outdoors.

His mom, dad and sister Sydney meant everything to Eric. And he loved school.

“Do you need a hug today?” he asked teachers and students alike.

“He played with me when I had no one to play with,” Jera Prusek, 10, said softy Tuesday of the boy who sought her out when she first came to Hayden Lake Elementary School last year. “He was the first friend I had.”

Because of his earlier illness, Eric had to struggle to keep up with the other students.

“He worked twice as hard for every little gain,” said Shirley Grimmett, his aide for two years. But he never let it get him down, she said. “He just got fun out of life.”

“Not every child you teach touches you,” Stanford said breaking into tears. “But he was one of those who did.”

Then, Eric got sick. He had headaches and eventually couldn’t keep his food down. In February the family realized the tumor had come back.

Later that month a surgeon tried to remove as much of it as he could. But the tumor was too deep and the family could only hope for a little more time with the boy.

“Three weeks later it had grown to the same size it was before they cut any out,” Kari Smith said.

Eric’s classmates were told last week that the boy was dying. They started making Eric Trees. They talked about how maybe a miracle could save him. They sent him cards, poems and letters.

Eric spent his last days at home with his family.

“It’s OK not to fight any more. You can go see grandpa,” Eric’s parents said, soothing him.

“We wanted him to go because it was time,” Kari Smith said.

The students were told the news on Monday. They will meet later this week to come up with an idea for a permanent memorial to the boy.

“It’s still a shock but they are handling it very very well,” Kuntz said. “Probably better than most of the adults.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DONATIONS Those wishing to help the family of Eric Smith can make a donation to the account in his name at any U.S. Bank branch.