While photographing on the Ohio River Bridges Project in July I met Chris Bixenman as he repaired a piece of drilling equipment. We struck up a conversation and Chris shared that he was in “the battle of my life” because he has prostate cancer. The prognosis isn’t very good but he has a strong will to defeat it and recover his health. His constant companion, Minnesota , is a source of support for him and makes his days more enjoyable as they move from repair job to repair job around the Ohio River Bridges Project.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Chris is employed by Walsh Group and is a member of Operating Engineers Local 181. He has continued to work because he needs to feel that even though he has cancer; cancer doesn’t have him. Chris has been to one of the major cancer treatment centers here in the US but they weren’t able to offer him much hope. Even with that news Chris hasn’t given up his fight. He has decided to try to get a type of treatment in Mexico that has shown good results but is not used in the US by American medical treatment facilities.
Evidently the treatment is very expensive and while Chris has some resources he still needs help paying for it. His wife has set up a fund for people who want to help him afford the treatment and he hopes to take time off in December to go to Mexico. It sounds like a long shot but he and his family are willing to take the risk in the hope that he can recover and live a comfortable life.
Anyone who wants to donate to Chris’s medical fund they can do so by sending their donation to the: Christopher Bixenman Cancer Fund, Bank of Buffalo, 2375 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville KY 42748.
I’m sure that Chris and his family will be eternally grateful to any and all those who can help.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Click on any image to open an enlarged view and slideshow.
Wow…… incredibly powerful and personal. I so admire and respect how you take the time to know people and earn their trust. Once again…well done Nick. You have moved way past the stunning photographs of this project…..
Thanks Karen I hope that in some way I’m helping him and thanks again for your kind words.
I heartily agree with Karen! Your experiences while photographing the Ohio River Bridges Project have deeply touched me as your photographs have WOWED me! This story about Chris Bixenman is so personal and well told. The photographs are marvelous!
Thank you too Ellen for the kind words about how I’m approaching this project. Comments such as yours and Karen’s are so inspirational.
I certainly could not agree more with the well spoken words of Karen and Ellen!
~Phyllis~
Thank you Phyllis that is very nice of you to say.
One of the biggest hearted, hardest working MEN that I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling my friend. He’s larger than life.
Luv ya man
Chris is a really nice guy with a strong will to beat his disease. I wish him all the best in his fight.
Nick,
After all you’ve done with this huge and interesting project it seems to me you have to gather all your writing and pictures and publish book about this great constructing event. It is like an important part of your city’s history.
Thanks Alexander I have plans to do that when it reaches completion in 2016. I started this project with the intention of leaving behind a legacy that will honor everyone involved with it.
Hello We have been trying to get in contact with Chris Bixenman we were at Angeles Hospital in Mexico and he wished us to stop to see him at that time we tried different times but was unable to do so. My wife wrote a book which is on Amazon. Com and Barnes and Noble book stores about the treatment he had and the Hospital he and we both attended if possible please forward him our email so we can talk Thank You Much