Bob Spoor is the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back and then ask you what more he can do. For more than 30 years, the 71-year-old Chenango resident has served his community through the volunteer fire department to help others.
When Spoor learned his kidneys were failing last year and he’d need dialysis treatment, he refused to let it stop him from suiting up and helping others in the best way he knows. Spoor’s medical team at Fresenius Kidney Care Binghamton helped him find a home treatment option, which allows him to dialyze every night while he’s sleeping and report for duty at the station in the morning as he did before his diagnosis. Bob begins at 9:30 p.m. before going to bed and disconnects when he wakes up and is free to go about his day.
He’s been volunteering for the Chenango Fire Department over 32 years. He had to go through first-responder training for his job as a book binding operator for 43 years, before he retired in 2009, at Maple Vail Press, formerly Vail Ballou Press. After that, it was only a few more classes to get his EMT certificate. He then volunteered for ambulance and fire for the Chenango Fire Department. After the department stopped doing EMS, Bob continued as a firefighter.
He’s been married for 35 years to Diane, he has two adult sons, a daughter, two grandsons and a granddaughter. With the help Fresenius Kidney Care Binghamton, his family has been trained to help with his treatments. He also enjoys metal detecting as a hobby with his grandchildren.
