The Weber Family

Hello, my husband- Randy, my daughter- Blake, and our 3 rescue pit bulls are my family. I am writing for myself, these last two years have been a rollercoaster and one that you would only see in movies. I’m not kidding. I have been in the graphic/print industry for 30+ years when my last job had closed up shop in 2021. Printing jobs are not much needed anymore since the internet so I knew I was going to have to take a different road. I was now looking into production jobs cause I didn’t want to go back to school. I was hired at C6-zero in Marengo, Iowa and started 2/7/2022. It was way out of my league and physical, but it was great pay, 20 minutes from home(I was driving an hour one way before), and a new and upcoming business. C6-zero was created by Howard Brand, it was designed to take shingles old or new break them back down into the original granule, fiberglass and what was left was going to create a new biofuel. With the great pay and close to home I was going to be proud to be a part of this business cause it was going to be environmentally saving the planet. As Howard always stated to the employees it was on a shoestring budget, but many companies started this way. I worked there for almost a year, when on 12/8/22 the plant experienced a major explosion. A spark ignited fumes, many injuries, burns and I was then diagnosed with PTSD. I am still in therapy and getting better. It took me over 5 mos(Jan-May 2023) to receive a check from Workmans comp which is now being cut off this coming June 12. My husband has been supporting the family through all of this, but when a household is use to two incomes you can only imagine. We have sold everything we can except the house and vehicles(2) and bills are late. Then on 2/2/2024 I was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma breast cancer stage 1. Luckily it was caught very early. I went through a lumpectomy/nodes surgery to find out it had spread to the lymph nodes already. Radiation was always in the course of treatment after, but now chemotherapy was added in. I just had my second treatment May 22 and my symptoms after are kicking me more than the first. Two more rounds then 6 weeks of radiation. I am positive through all of this. Don’t get me wrong, I have my moments- we all do. You see, C6-zero, I am sure is the cause of my cancer. I was exposed to pages of carcinogenic chemicals without knowing. The owner didn’t reveal because it’s proprietary. It took me 3 mos to finally get a “true list” for myself and everyone at the plant. One of the chemicals,(one Howard created), Kaniksu, is contributed to possibly causing ovarian, uterine or breast cancers. One year later I have cancer and if anyone watches NCIS, as LeRoy Jethro Gibbs would say Rule #39 No such thing as coincidence. I am sure there were others, but there is no way to prove it was this exact one or another one. I still try to be “Wonder Woman” and I am looking forward even though I may have been slighted. My famous words are “it is what it is”, “it’s the past what is done is done, one just has to push forward as best they can”. I have always worked 40+ hours a week and had the ugly shifts in the nights/early mornings. My husband had days as Blake grew up( She is 22). I was and still am a hard worker-just like my dad taught me, but at this moment I have never felt this vulnerable and helpless as I do right now. Our daughter has also been trying to help, but she has bills too. So if there is any chance to get some financial help I will put forth the effort and try anything/everything I can. My family needs a break to get through this horrible rough patch and I need a little stress lifted. This has more than humbled me and my family, we have never had to ask for help. We have always been the helpers.

Thank you for your time to read this and I pray something comes through.

Kimberly Weber