Harv Martin diagnosed with cancer
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.