Thomas and Lisa try to live their lives to the fullest. Being with family, making new friends, and travel have always been at the top of their list. Some of their favorite moments have been with their eight beautiful grandbabies, soon to be nine.

In 2018, Thomas was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. At the time, he was enjoying work and making new friends. Lisa was traveling full-time for work. His prognosis was weeks not months. Lisa took a leave of absence from work. This bout with cancer was hard…radiation, chemo, weight loss, and loss of work. In 2019, they thought the cancer was gone. Both returned to work; and their youngest daughter and her four children moved in with them. They had a busy home.

In the summer of 2021, Thomas began feeling “off” and knew immediately something was wrong. He was then diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. After struggling with fatigue and intense neuropathy, they made the decision in August of 2024 to move back from Roseville, California, to the place that always felt like home, Sonoma County, California. Lisa took a leave of absence from October 2024 through April 2025 and then left her employment full-time at the end of April. Thomas makes every effort to work, yet he continues to suffer with fatigue and other side effects of the cancer and his treatment.

They recently opened Local…ish, a small refillery and gift shop just outside of Guerneville, California, teaching others about earth friendly products, hosting nearly 50 local artisans, and providing retail space for small Sonoma County wineries, some which have never been in a store. After a recent scan, the doctor shared that Thomas’ prognosis is grim. He has two possible options for treatment. He will begin chemo infusions on November 25, and the doctor has made a referral for a trial at UCSF.

This request for support will make things a little easier on Thomas and Lisa as he continues his treatment and Lisa continues to support him. The funds raised will assist with rent, utilities, medical copays, and travel expenses for appointments.

Because Thomas and Lisa have learned a lot during this period of time, Thomas would like to give back. If there is an opportunity for him to share his story with those who have cancer, their caretakers, or any other group that might find this important to their community, please contact him at thomasbotzler at yahoo dot com for more information.

Thank you for considering supporting Thomas and Lisa during this difficult time.