Outpouring of support for Paxton Fisher as he battles cancer

The community of Columbia Falls has stepped up to support senior Paxton Fisher who was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of February. Fisher is a Columbia Falls High School soccer captain.

Fisher was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a particularly aggressive form of cancer, on Feb. 2 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, according posts on social media.

Fisher went through a 48-hour course of chemotherapy Feb. 4.

“Paxton Fisher is just one of these humans that people are drawn to. He exudes kindness,issues helpful council for those in need, and has in inner strength that seems bottomless in its quantity. I fully believe that this young man has the character, faith, strength, and indomitable spirit to fight this beast,” coach O’Brien Byrd said. “God will overcome. We count on our community for continued prayer

and constant love.”

Fisher’s parents are Nikki and Joe Fisher.

“We have not been able to see everyone but we deeply appreciate the love, the emotional support, and especially the many prayers you have offered up to the Lord on Paxton’s behalf. Keep them coming,” his parents said in a letter to the Hungry Horse News.

Fisher’s Facebook page has been flooded with prayers, photos and videos to encourage the young man and his family.

Dawson Pelletier, Chance Adams and Timothy Eash posted a photo on Fisher’s page encouraging others to grow a mustache for him using the hashtag “#growthestacheforpaxton”

Josh Forke, Columbia Falls High School band teacher, posted on Facebook that the band is selling “Play for Paxton” T-shirts. The shirts are $20 and all proceeds go to the Fisher family. They’ll be for sale at the home basketball game against Whitefish Thursday night. A bucket will also be passed by basketball players for donations to the Fisher family. Fisher is a member of four different bands at the school.

Fisher is “one of the strongest young men I know,” Forke said.

Whitefish High School also raised about $1,500 for the Fisher family at a recent basketball game.

Joe Fisher posted a thank-you on social media last week.

“I just have to say how amazingly blessed we all are by the support! This community, family and friends, far and near has shown so much love it is really breath taking!!! We could never convey how much it has helped us to know that we have people backing us up that care how we are doing!” Joe Fisher wrote.

“And everything from the amazing prayers, the notes and letters, the food, the people stopping by, hanging out in the waiting room just so we know you are here, the pictures of Paxton, the signs and posters, to the amazing amount of financial support and people going above and beyond,” Joe continued in his post.

In only three days, the community reached a fundraising goal of $10,000 through a GiveForward page called “Pray For Paxton.” As of Monday, the community had raised more than $12,000 for the family.

“A life verse for Paxton comes from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Chaper 31, verse 6: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’ This is what Paxton wrote as a senior in soccer as his advice to his classmates. In this particularly hard time in dealing with cancer, he and his family are finding these words to be especially appropriate wisdom for them. They are very grateful for the medical care at KRMC, but ultimately they say, they are in the hands of a good God who will not leave us,” Joe Fisher wrote to the Hungry Horse News. After this first round of chemo, the Fishers are hopeful that Paxton can come home for a time to recover.