Travis Keister, “Keister” to his friends and co-workers and Uncle Crabby to his favorite little nephews, is 48 years old and was recently given the devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), an aggressive and fast-growing cancer.

For those who know Travis, you know he is the backbone of his family and a man of many titles. He is a hard worker, a loyal friend, a brother, a son, an uncle, a great-uncle, a fisherman, a hunter, and above all, a giver. He is the kind of man who would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He has always been someone people can lean on, someone who shows up without question, and someone who gives endlessly to the people he loves. The list of lives he has touched could go on and on. Never in a million years did we think “cancer warrior” would be one of the many titles Travis would carry, but here we are.

Travis is one of the most selfless, strong, and caring people we know. He puts his family, friends, and work before himself, and he has always been a dedicated and valued employee who truly loves his job. Even as his health began to decline, he kept pushing through worsening symptoms and pain so he could continue showing up every day.

After not feeling well for months and enduring a hospital stay that brought no clear answers, Travis’s condition continued to worsen. It became obvious to his family and co-workers that he was very sick, and on March 9th, he finally went in seeking answers. That visit revealed an 8 x 8-inch tumor on his kidney, and he was immediately sent to Madison for a biopsy. Just days later, on March 13th, Travis received the diagnosis.

Then on March 14th, Travis passed out, experienced partial vision loss, and was rushed back to the hospital. He is now at UW Hospital in Madison, where he will receive treatment and begin chemotherapy immediately.

What we know now is that Travis has a long and difficult road ahead of him. He will be unable to work for an extended period of time and will face ongoing hospital visits, chemotherapy treatments, mounting medical bills, travel expenses, lost wages, and the everyday financial burdens that come with a diagnosis like this.

Right now, our goal is to rally around Travis and support him the same way he has always supported so many others. We want to help ease the financial burden so he can focus all of his energy and strength on healing, fighting, and beating this cancer.

Any donation, no matter the amount, will mean so much to Travis and our family. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing his story and keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. Every share, prayer, donation, and act of kindness means more than words can express.

Thank you for supporting a man who has spent his life supporting everyone around him. We are deeply grateful for your love, generosity, and support during this incredibly difficult time.

#fuckcancer #cancersucks