Community Rallies for 30-Year Firefighter Facing Rare Diagnosis
The Rock Creek Rural Fire Station is hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser to help cover medical expenses for Taylor Hunsaker, a firefighter and dispatcher facing treatment for ocular melanoma, a rare form of eye cancer. The effort reflects the tight-knit bonds within the fire service and the community’s willingness to support one of their own during a medical crisis.
Hunsaker, a Kimberly native with more than 30 years of service as a firefighter and more than 24 years as a dispatcher, received his diagnosis in late June after traveling to Murray, Utah for a specialist evaluation. The diagnosis came after a referral to a Pocatello eye specialist. His first surgery is scheduled for July 31, with doctors estimating a 96 percent success rate for the procedure.
The financial burden, however, extends beyond the surgery itself. A necessary PET scan costs $16,000, and eye cancer is not covered under Idaho’s workers’ compensation system under current law dating to 2015. This gap in coverage leaves Hunsaker and his family facing substantial out-of-pocket costs during treatment and recovery.
Firefighters Take Action
Fire Captain Stacey Thomas assigned the pancake breakfast task to station operator Chris Johnson, setting in motion a community response that has exceeded expectations. Johnson noted that Hunsaker’s character made the fundraiser necessary: “Taylor would have never asked for a handout. He asked for thoughts and prayers.”
Rock Creek Firefighters Local 6362 announced the pancake breakfast on Facebook, where the post was shared 190 times within 24 hours—a sign of the deep connection between the fire service and the surrounding communities. The announcement sparked immediate donations: 22 raffle baskets, three firearms, and a Blackstone grill have been pledged to support the event.
Kimberly, Hunsaker’s hometown, has contributed coffee, cutlery, and pancake-making materials sufficient for 600 people, demonstrating how the fundraiser has mobilized local resources and goodwill.
Broader Community Support
The pancake breakfast is not the only fundraising effort underway. Kyndal Baker, a mobile IV nurse with Velaris Med Spa, is hosting an IV therapy fundraiser in July, with a portion of sales designated for Hunsaker’s medical fund. Additionally, Aubrey Booth and Melanie Lunney, organizers of Kimberly Good Neighbors Days, are hosting a donation bowl and additional raffle baskets to support the cause.
Ocular melanoma remains a rare diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 5,200 cases are recorded annually in the United States. The rarity of the condition, combined with the high cost of specialized treatment and diagnostic procedures like PET scans, underscores why community support becomes critical for affected families.
Hunsaker’s case also highlights a gap in Idaho’s workers’ compensation framework. Because eye cancer was excluded from coverage under state law in 2015, workers injured or diagnosed with occupational illnesses affecting the eyes may find themselves without the safety net that typically protects firefighters and other public employees from catastrophic medical debt.
What Comes Next
The pancake breakfast will provide immediate relief, and the IV fundraiser and donation drives offer additional avenues for community members to contribute. Hunsaker’s surgery is scheduled for July 31, with the 96 percent success rate offering optimism for a positive outcome. However, the long-term financial impact of treatment and any ongoing medical needs will likely require sustained community support through the recovery period and beyond.
For those interested in supporting Hunsaker, the fundraising events organized by Rock Creek firefighters, Velaris Med Spa, and Kimberly Good Neighbors Days offer direct ways to help. The outpouring of donations and community participation suggests that Pocatello-area residents and the fire service community stand ready to ensure that one of their own receives the care and financial stability he needs during this challenging time.