Help Stephen Hansen in His Fight Against Illnesses

**Help Stephen Hansen in His Fight Against Illness**

My dear friend Stephen has always been a larger-than-life character who could engage a room with his stories, questionable jokes, and hearty laugh. For over 30+ years, he's been a fixture in the restaurant and wine business in Austin, Texas, bringing people together over great food, fine wine, unforgettable tales, and where there was always room for a solid margarita and some queso. Stephen is the kind of person who thrives on getting a rise out of people, especially when it comes to politics, most know he got that rise out of me many times. He is also an avid storyteller of old Austin and a huge history buff. Whether he's recounting adventures from Castle Hill, talking about Hudson's, sailing on Lake Travis, or sharing his memories of photographing Stevie Ray Vaughan, his passion for the past shines through in every story he tells, giving life to moments most of us have never seen but can vividly imagine through his words. Known for being crass but funny, his humor always finds a way to make you laugh even when you’re having the worst day, and behind that sharp wit is a heart as big as the ocean.

But this past year has been a tough one for him. After being laid off, Stephen was recently hospitalized and diagnosed with Hepatitis. This illness has taken a significant toll on him. He's lost a considerable amount of weight, far more than the b.s. 50 pounds he's mentioned to me, and he can barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time before requiring rest. His eyesight is also deteriorating, adding another layer of difficulty to his already challenging situation.

As many of us have witnessed, Stephen is also a dedicated father to this light of his life, his 11-year-old daughter, whom he is eager to get back to caring for as soon as his health improves. Unfortunately, his illness has made it impossible for him to find work that he can manage while so sick, the bills are beginning to pile up, and savings are dwindling all while the bank is knocking at his door. The added financial stress certainly doesn't help his recovery, and it will be some time before Stephen is healthy enough to work again. At this point, there is a lot to navigate.

Stephen has spent his life serving others—whether through his work in the restaurant industry, on the street with a wine bag over his shoulder, or in a dark cubicle, in the very back office, under one single lamp, fighting for every case of wine to keep his sales team and our customers in stock, now is the time for us to help him.

I'm raising funds to help Stephen with his medical bills, upcoming treatments, and living expenses as he navigates this difficult time. Stephen's spirit remains as strong as ever, but his body needs our support to heal and regain strength. Any contribution, no matter how small, will go directly towards giving Stephen the help he needs to fight this illness, keep a roof over his head, and get back to being the incredible dad, friend, and insane storyteller we all know and love.

Thank you for taking the time to read Stephen's story. If you can't donate, please consider sharing this page and sending good thoughts and positive vibes from whatever God you pray to. Let's come together to support this insane individual and goddam Austin treasure because we all know, he would do it for us.

By the way, did you ever hear the one about the......

Soncy Chin