It takes a true hero to be a firefighter, but it takes an even greater hero to continue to be one while battling cancer. One of those heroes stands among the Iron River Fire Department.
It takes a true hero to be a firefighter, but it takes an even greater hero to continue to be one while battling cancer.
One of those heroes stands among the Iron River Fire Department. As a volunteer firefighter, Gordon Schultz has dedicated 14 years of his life to serving his community. He continues to do so as he undergoes chemotherapy for the cancer that has spread to his liver, and lower abdomen.
When asked, Schultz said he does it because he believes in the cause and wants to give back to the community that has given him so much.
In January 2016, Schultz was first diagnosed with stomach and esohpageal cancer. With several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and an operation that removed three-quarters of his esophagus and some of his stomach, a CT scan in June 2016 showed he was clear of cancerous cells.
Almost 10 months later, in March 2017, Schultz went in for another CT scan, only this time things were different.
"They diagnosed some spots," said Schultz. "I have three spots on my liver and four in my abdomen."
Regardless of this disheartening news, Schultz still does what he can to help his fellow firefighters.
"I enjoy it, and it's something that gets me out of the yard, and the house. It keeps me involved in the community," Schultz expressed.
Living across from the fire hall, he is always the first to get to the station when a call comes in. Although he can't do as much as he used to, he still drives the truck and works the water pump, lending a hand where he can.
Gordon Graves, chief of the Iron River Fire Department, said Schultz has become an inspiration to his fellow firefighters.
"They're amazed and thankful that he shows up... I think it's giving everyone else more of a willingness to commit, not that they didn't before. They watch Schultz and think 'if he can do it, so can we.' He's a good role model."
Seeing him suffer is hard, Graves continued, but it's uplifting to see him continue to vounteer regardless of the circumstances.
"He does it because he believes in what we do. At the end of the day, that's all that you can ask," he added.
On Saturday, June 10, the community came out to support Schultz in his time of need, like the many times he has done the same for them. It was the first Firefighters Fighting Cancer Fundrasier hosted by the Iron River Fire Depatment, and this year all of the proceeds were being donated to Schultz and his wife.
"It's overwhelming. It's too overwhelming. We've had so many different people help," described Schultz.
Firefighters from neighbouring detachment areas also attended, something Graves said just shows how tight knit of a community they have.
"At the end of the day, we're all one community, one big family," he said.
Volunteer firefighters across Canada face the same harships as Schultz. As a piece of advice, he suggests keeping active and giving it your all.
"You have to have a positive attitude about it."
