August 7, 2024
Page 3
ocaL N ews
INSIDE L Portland
Musicians ‘Mess
s ports
o piNioN
c Lassified /B ids
page 5
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pages 10
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Portland, OR 97212
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with Texas’ for a Cause
Portland Rock-
scene Stalwarts
Show Their
Continued
Support of
Leukemia Fighter
Texan Tony Hilsmeier has been
a mainstay of Portland’s music
and restaurant scenes since his ar-
rival in the ‘90s, but received an
unwelcome surprise in December
2022—acute myeloid leukemia
(AML), a deadly blood cancer af-
fecting bone marrow. He had just
bought the house that he is now
fighting to keep. Three days after
moving in, he spent 33 days in the
hospital. Without aggressive med-
ical intervention, Hilsmeier would
most certainly be dead.
He looks back on his extended
stays in Oregon Health & Science
University’s (OHSU) Knight Can-
Texan Tony Hilsmeier has been
a mainstay of Portland’s music
and restaurant scenes since his
arrival in the ‘90s.
cer Institute, with deep gratitude.
He endured rounds of chemother-
apy to allow a life-saving bone
marrow transplant in June 2023.
Hilsmeier’s health continues to be
monitored by his OHSU medical
team, and he recently received
the promising news that his can-
cer has been in remission for one
year. The bone marrow trans-
plant was successful as Hilsmei-
er is currently in remission.
However, he now battles mas-
sive graft versus host disease
(GVHD), which has severely
damaged his eyesight. Addition-
ally, the chemotherapy induc-
tions have profoundly weakened
his heart. This requires yet more
expensive medication to avoid
heart failure.
The 15-year employee of Ser-
ratto restaurant on Northwest 21st
Avenue (where customers' kids
know him as "Uncle Tony") has
been unable to return to his for-
merly high-energy career. While
aggressive treatment saved Hills-
meier’s life, his ongoing issues
with GVHD have made his return
to the workforce uncertain.
Hilsmeier has been a familiar
presence in the local music scene
for nearly three decades. He was
the founding singer, songwriter
Continued on Page 7
Health care resources for you
Get help with appointments, getting coverage, mobile showers and more
AUGUST 22
Mobile Showers
12-2 p.m.
247 SE 82nd Ave, Portland
1:30-3:30 p.m.
18 NE 11th Ave, Portland
AUGUST 23
IRCO
SEPTEMBER 5
Mobile Showers
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10301 NE Glisan St, Portland
AUGUST 27
Blanchet House
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
310 NW Glisan St, Portland
Family Promise of Tualatin Valley
1-3 p.m.
11460 SW Pacific Hwy, Portland
Union Gospel Mission
2-3 p.m.
3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 2
Doreen’s Place (for residents only)
9-11 a.m.
610 NW Broadway St, Portland
Mobile Showers
10-11:30 a.m.
4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland
careoregon.org/connect-to-care
SEPTEMBER 3
Jean’s Place (for residents only)
12-2 p.m.
247 SE 82nd Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 10
Blanchet House
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
310 NW Glisan St, Portland
Union Gospel Mission
2-3 p.m.
3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 11
Rosewood Initiative
12-3 p.m.
14127 SE Stark St, Portland
SEPTEMBER 16
Doreen’s Place (for residents only)
Mobile Showers
10-11:30 a.m.
4244 SE 91st Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 17
P:ear (for youth only)
9-11 a.m.
338 NW 6th Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 19
Mobile Showers
12-2 p.m.
247 SE 82nd Ave, Portland
SEPTEMBER 24
Blanchet House
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
310 NW Glisan St, Portland
Family Promise of Tualatin Valley
1-3 p.m.
11460 SW Pacific Hwy, Portland
Union Gospel Mission
2-3 p.m.
3 NW 3rd Ave, Portland
9-11 a.m.
610 NW Broadway St, Portland
connect to care