One Year Later: Eric McLean's Widow Picks Up The Pieces

Nearly one year after Port Washington resident Eric McLean passed way from his battle with cancer, his widow is advocating for bone marrow donations in his memory, according to the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter.

The anniversary of McLean’s death is Friday. His 10-year battle against cancer drew national attention after his tearful goodbye video on YouTube received more than 1 million views.

But now, his widow, Cari McLean is picking up the pieces.

“I would hope people would look at it and say there is a man who honestly wants to make a difference in this world, a man who gave it his all,” McLean told the Herald Times-Reporter. “He loved his family, friends, everybody who supported him. He wanted to see more people aware of the impact you can have on someone’s life by donating marrow or blood. The fact he made such an impact on so many people comforts me a lot.”

A struggle caught on video

Eric has been video blogging his battle with cancer for about three years, a series that he catalogued on his YouTube page. The videos include a total of 41 confessions, speeches, updates about his treatments and a chronicling of his "bucket list."

Part of that bucket list landed him "The Ultimate Miller Park Experience," as he called it in his series. McLean can be seen speaking to Ryan Braun, touring Miller Park locker rooms and throwing the opening pitch. Other items on his bucket list included a ride in a hot air balloon, a trip to Las Vegas, driving a Dodge Viper and skydiving.

His first confessional post is dated June 24, 2009. In it, Eric mentions he's gotten some bad news, and talks about several options for treatments.

"Today's been a bad day," McLean said in that post. "I didn't really get any good news from anyone — any doctors that I talked to in the last few days ... and, I'm not doing too good. I'm trying to stay positive through all this."

• Read more about McLean’s life on Port Washington Patch.