Harv Martin diagnosed with cancer
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April 16, 2013 |
 A
Bonners Ferry man who watched with tears as his
community turned out in honor of his son, killed
in Afghanistan August 7, 2012, had planned to
spend time this week meeting with the soldiers
his son served with in the
1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade
Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, due to arrive
tomorrow.
While long in the planning, his time with the
late Ethan Martin's comrades in arms will be cut
short.
Last Friday, Harv Martin, a 1982 graduate of
Sandpoint High School and log yard leader at the
Idaho Forest Group Mill in Moyie Springs, where
he's worked since 1998, was diagnosed with stage
four leukemia on Friday, though he didn't get
word until later
He begins treatment at Kootenai Medical Center,
Coeur d'Alene, on Thursday, and undergoes the
first of many expected rounds of chemotherapy on
Friday.
"We went to a contractor's meeting together in
Coeur d'Alene last Tuesday," said Christi
Finley, whose husband, Bud, is waging his own
fight with leukemia. "He had been planning to
take a couple of days off to spend time with
Ethan's friends this week, then he was hit with
this. He has his first chemo on Friday, and he
told me he plans to be at work Monday."
Last Saturday, Harv was one of more than 60
people to attend a ceremony in Post Falls during
which Chuck Buck, CEO of Buck Knives, presented
special commemorative knives to area soldiers
who'd been awarded the Purple Heart. Harv was
there to accept one on behalf of his son, killed
August 7, 2012, in Afghanistan.
He learned of the diagnosis on Monday.
No specific plans have yet been made, no funds
established, but Finley is spearheading the
attempt to rally the community around a man
who's given much, both to his community and his
country.
"Anything I can do, anyone who can help, I want
to rally," she said. "This man absolutely
deserves our support, and right now, every
little bit will help; gas money to get him and
his family to treatments, help to offset all the
expenses that come with such an illness. On the
way back from the contractor's meeting, he told
me he of Ethan's friends coming to see him and
share memories, but that he couldn't really
afford to take time off."
Those who would like to help her can make
donations to the Martin family or share ideas by
calling her at (208) 610-4025, or emailing
cfinley@idfg.com.
If you have trouble reaching her, please be
patient. She's often away with her husband, who
is undergoing treatment for cancer in Spokane. |
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