Firefighter Trevor Herderhorst Memorial Fund
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Trevor Herderhorst, 40, spent his lifetime helping others and we’re hopeful you may consider helping his family now. Trevor passed away after a long, courageous battle with cancer in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 25 at his home in Highland, IL.
Trevor has been in the fire service since starting his firefighting career with the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department in 2005. Trevor began his full-time career as a contract firefighter in 2009. In February 2018, Trevor achieved his dream job with the Champaign Fire Department where he was assigned to the Operations Division as a firefighter and could usually be found riding the backstep of Engine 152 on the City’s south side. Trevor is a proud member of the Muddy River chapter of the Fraternal Order Of Leatherheads Society (F.O.O.L.S) and Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260.
In December of 2014, Trevor was diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma. After completing 6 weeks of chemo and radiation in early 2015, an esophagectomy was performed in April of that year to remove his esophagus and the tumor attached. Two years later a routine scan revealed cancer growth in a lymph node in the neck. Another surgery was performed to remove the lymph nodes in his neck as well as his thyroid. Trevor then started chemo and radiation in May 2017. In January of 2019, a routine scan detected several spots on Trevor’s lungs. A lung biopsy confirmed active tumor growth in his lungs and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Trevor started a chemo pump in February 2019. He continued chemo until October of that year for his back surgery in November 2019. Routine scans showed no growth until the summer of 2020. Another lung biopsy was performed to confirm, and Trevor started on a chemo trial in August 2020. This regimen of chemo was every 3 weeks until January of this year after growth continued to show on routine scans. As a last resort, another trial was attempted with an immunotherapy drug and a study drug. It was after starting this study Trevor had multiple hospital stays and his health declined rapidly. After lots of care and deliberation with providers and family, Trevor’s care was transferred to Hospice in April of 2021.
Trevor has been married to wife Tiffany for nearly 12 years and they have two wonderful children, Chase (9) and Olivia (8). The Herderhorst family resides in Highland, IL, a community just outside of St. Louis, MO. Trevor has always loved the game of baseball and has always enjoyed assisting in coaching his son Chases’ baseball team. The Herderhorst family enjoys watching Cardinal baseball games together and spending time outdoors camping and fishing.
As you may imagine, this has been a difficult road to travel for Trevor and his family. There have been many ups and downs and challenges and opportunities. The financial impact has been tremendous, and the family’s financial future is unknown at this point. The Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260 and the Muddy River FOOLS Chapter has organized this GoFundMe page and fundraiser to financially support the Herderhorst Family as they remember and honor Trevor. The proceeds will be directed to the family to cover end-of-life expenses and the remainder will be directed to Chase & Olivia’s College Funds as Trevor’s one wish was to ensure his family would be taken care of and his kids’ college would be handled.
Trevor has been in the fire service since starting his firefighting career with the Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department in 2005. Trevor began his full-time career as a contract firefighter in 2009. In February 2018, Trevor achieved his dream job with the Champaign Fire Department where he was assigned to the Operations Division as a firefighter and could usually be found riding the backstep of Engine 152 on the City’s south side. Trevor is a proud member of the Muddy River chapter of the Fraternal Order Of Leatherheads Society (F.O.O.L.S) and Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260.
In December of 2014, Trevor was diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma. After completing 6 weeks of chemo and radiation in early 2015, an esophagectomy was performed in April of that year to remove his esophagus and the tumor attached. Two years later a routine scan revealed cancer growth in a lymph node in the neck. Another surgery was performed to remove the lymph nodes in his neck as well as his thyroid. Trevor then started chemo and radiation in May 2017. In January of 2019, a routine scan detected several spots on Trevor’s lungs. A lung biopsy confirmed active tumor growth in his lungs and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Trevor started a chemo pump in February 2019. He continued chemo until October of that year for his back surgery in November 2019. Routine scans showed no growth until the summer of 2020. Another lung biopsy was performed to confirm, and Trevor started on a chemo trial in August 2020. This regimen of chemo was every 3 weeks until January of this year after growth continued to show on routine scans. As a last resort, another trial was attempted with an immunotherapy drug and a study drug. It was after starting this study Trevor had multiple hospital stays and his health declined rapidly. After lots of care and deliberation with providers and family, Trevor’s care was transferred to Hospice in April of 2021.
Trevor has been married to wife Tiffany for nearly 12 years and they have two wonderful children, Chase (9) and Olivia (8). The Herderhorst family resides in Highland, IL, a community just outside of St. Louis, MO. Trevor has always loved the game of baseball and has always enjoyed assisting in coaching his son Chases’ baseball team. The Herderhorst family enjoys watching Cardinal baseball games together and spending time outdoors camping and fishing.
As you may imagine, this has been a difficult road to travel for Trevor and his family. There have been many ups and downs and challenges and opportunities. The financial impact has been tremendous, and the family’s financial future is unknown at this point. The Champaign Firefighters IAFF Local 1260 and the Muddy River FOOLS Chapter has organized this GoFundMe page and fundraiser to financially support the Herderhorst Family as they remember and honor Trevor. The proceeds will be directed to the family to cover end-of-life expenses and the remainder will be directed to Chase & Olivia’s College Funds as Trevor’s one wish was to ensure his family would be taken care of and his kids’ college would be handled.
Fundraising team (2)
Jason Rector
Organizer
Champaign, IL
Tiffany Herderhorst
Beneficiary
JP Childers
Team member
