4th Annual Stachefest

Our recipient this year is Mike Fuller, a 22-year Veteran of the Ventura County Fire Department. In March 2022, he underwent a Life Scan through the department, which revealed a lump with blood flow in his testicle. He was referred to a urologist, and after monitoring the lump for a couple of months, Mike and his wife, Libby, decided it would be best to have it removed in case it was cancerous. Three weeks after welcoming their first baby, Mike underwent surgery. Thankfully, they made the right decision, as the lump turned out to be testicular cancer. Mike continued to see the urologist every six months to ensure the cancer had not spread.

In April 2024, Mike received news that there was some activity in two of his pelvic lymph nodes. In June, he met with doctors at City of Hope to determine if it was cancer and develop a treatment plan. After bloodwork, CT scans, and a biopsy, it was confirmed that the cancer had spread. Mike began a nine-week chemotherapy treatment in the first week of September, which will conclude at the end of October, around the same time Libby is due with their second baby. The Fuller family is extremely grateful for the love and support they continue to receive from the fire department.