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.
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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.