Approximately a year ago, I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. It is in 2 upper ribs, four vertebrae, and my tailbone. My doctors gave me a one to five-year prognosis. During this time of the first year, I started a very new treatment at Oregon Health Sciences University, a great research hospital. It's not chemo or radiation. It involves getting a shot every 3 months that is highly specific and taking four pills a day to try to stop what helps the cancer grow. So far, it's been successful!!!

During the first year, I've only worked two times where I was healthy enough. One was the PAX West Show, which you can see in the photo, and one was a Pacific Marine Expo. My expenses and bills keep coming, and in that time, too, I had knee surgery, which I needed because I had so much pain. Now I'm much more mobile, but the doctors want me to be stress-free. This is very stressful since the bills keep coming and I have little work. I just turned 70 last August, and I believe coming up this next year, with the success of the treatment so far, I might be able to return to more work!!

Friends, in the meantime, I'm getting buried in debt and I can't sell enough of my personal belongings to make a bridge to cover it. My union, I'm a union carpenter, did a pass-the-hat two months ago and raised $806.00, which helped defray a few current bills. But as of recent additions and ongoing medical, gas, and travel expenses, the bills keep piling up. Since the merger of the UBC Pacific Northwest Carpenters with the South West Carpenters, COVID, and my current medical situation, my vacation pay and pension have disappeared into the general fund. I have to fight for both to be returned, but I've not the strength to do this at this time.

I feel much better since knee surgery in July, and the cancer treatment seems to be holding the continued growth at bay. I recently had a bone scan and hope to hear the results before Christmas. I'm asking for any donations possible to pay down the debt that keeps coming so I may stay close to even and have less stress from the worry of where to pull cash flow from. I'm working on gaining strength and hope to work more in 2026 on tradeshows I've worked for years. I can no longer do general carpentry, i.e., trim, cabinets, and all my other specialties, till I get much stronger, if ever.

My cancer was only discovered after seeing a specialist and having a biopsy, followed by a PET scan. It was quite the shock, needless to say. As the saying goes, every little bit helps, and I promise to pass it on as I get back on the horse again. Thank you in advance. Bob Fisher