December 30

Hi,

Day 1 of this chemo round went very well so I hope that bodes well for the rest of the week. Tom Neises, Scott Sowinski, Sam Pocsiak, and Jake VandeHey brought Den pizza and had supper with him, so that was a real spirit lifter. He's walking unassisted, reading "Marley and Me", and talking about getting back to his classes. Life is good!

Tonight I give thanks that this is all I have to report. Thanks for all of those prayers!

Hugs,
Carla

December 29

Hi,

Although Denny remains in the hospital, he is making noticeable progress. He can walk the length of the hospital corridor and is being faithful to the physical therapy workouts prescribed for him. He knows this is the only road to recovery and now that he can experience the benefits, I believe he will be even more diligent getting all of the repetitions done. He's pretty exhausted when he finishes, but even that is getting a bit better each day. The edema is slowly subsiding and his blood pressure is staying fairly consistent, so the doctors are pleased.

Tonight he will begin the round of chemotherapy that was delayed because of all of the problems he's had the last few weeks. Dr. Meena wants to monitor that very closely, because we never know what is going to happen when a new component is added to the mix. So, he will be at St. E's until next weekend, at least.

Despite the circumstances, our family had a wonderful Christmas and hope that you did, too. Thank you for all of the cards and good wishes, and a very special thank you to the Xavier seniors and faculty who are shoveling me out every day so I can get to the hospital. I really can't imagine how we'd be getting through this without all of you!

Love,
Carla

December 22

Hi,

All in all, Denny has had two good days in a row. He had two good physical therapy sessions today and went for the longest walk yet tonight. He said he doesn't remember the last day he felt this strong, so maybe he's made the turn for the best. I left him watching the Packer game, looking pretty comfortable despite the swelling that still have his legs at nearly double their size.

That's really all there is to report. We know this will be a slow process, but as long as he can feel progress and there are no more setbacks, maybe this "bump in the road" (as the doctor called it) will be just that.

Both of us wish all of you a very blessed Christmas. Hopefully you will spend it with family and friends, cherishing each moment you have together. Your gifts of love, friendship, and prayers makes this a very special Christmas for us. Thank you.

I'll keep you posted!
Love,
Carla

December 20

Hi,

Denny was moved to the sub acute unit this afternoon and will begin intensive occupational and physical therapy on Monday. I hope that the levels of all of his medicines are finally figured out and his body will stabilize, allowing him to regain his strength. His legs are still very swollen but we hope that will slowly reverse itself.

I have to give a public shout-out to Dr. Jim and Laurie Richter. They came to visit Den today and Dr. R. wasn't in the room one minute before he noted the size of the bed in the room. It was even smaller than the normal hospital bed, something I didn't notice (too busy trying to make his new room look "homey" and festive.) Then I watched the wheels of the medical system at work. Dr. Richter took a stroll down to the nurses' station and within fifteen minutes a brand new, state of the art, bed that extends to seven feet was there for Den. When he was finally in bed for the night, Denny looked more comfortable than he's been in a long time. Laurie brought beautiful prayer shawls and suggested music relaxation for Den, so as soon as I finish this I'm going to get his I-Pod charged up. Thank you both so very much!!

There shouldn't be any news tomorrow, but I'll let you know how he does Monday after his first day of boot camp!

Good night,
Carla

December 19

Hi,

Well, at last there is a plan. Dr. Meena spent about 30 minutes with us today, explaining all of the tests that she has had done for Den and giving us her opinion on how to proceed.

First, the vascular surgeon that read the report of the ultra sound from last night is the same doctor that read the report on November 30. Because there are so many clots in both legs ("shocking" was the word he used,) he compared the two reports and told Dr. Meena that his best guess is that there are probably no new significant clots and that the swelling is due to the pooling of all the IV fluids Den's been getting.

Second, Dr. Meena ran a test to check whether Denny's pituitary gland is capable of producing it's own cortisol and it is, which means that the weaning process of getting him off the dexamethosone will start again but at an even lower reduction rate than was done in the past.

Next, after conferring with another specialist, Dr. Meena is going to give Denny a new medicine that will help get the edema back into his veins and muscles. (I hope
that's right--I know it's to get the water redirected!)

Finally, all of his other blood tests and vitals are falling within normal ranges, he seems to be a little stronger each day (today he walked to and from the bathroom,)
and he is strong enough for physical therapy, so sometime this weekend he will transferred to the sub-acute unit where he will be until they decide he is able to come home. Dr. Meena estimates that will be a week or two. He won't be able to come home until there is no risk of him falling. He will get more intensive physical therapy, etc., on that unit but won't see the doctor everyday. This surely beats having to transfer him to a nursing home.

So, that's everything from today. Hopefully, future blog entries will be short and positive, and the ups and downs will plane out. That's what I'm praying for tonight!

Take care and have a fun weekend-before-Christmas!

Love,
Carla

December 18

Hi to everyone,

It should be no surprise anymore to read that we had another roller coaster day. When I arrived at the hospital this morning I found Denny reading the paper, in good spirits, and able to stand without getting dizzy or faint. I know it doesn't sound like much, but he walked seven steps--I was thrilled! I left at 11:30 for an appointment, and when I returned a couple of hours later I couldn't help but notice that his legs and feet were very swollen. I'm learning that you have to be your own advocate if you really want things done, so I insisted that the nurse call the doctor so that an ultra sound could be ordered. That did get done and the initial report is that there are new blood clots, which would explain the swelling. However, Denny has no pain, which is usually associated with clots. Go figure.

Dr. Meena, his oncologist, has delayed the round of chemo that he should currently be taking because she doesn't want to add another component into the mix. She's adjusting his steroids daily and is having his cortisol tested daily as well. When all is said and done, I have confidence that she will get him over these latest setbacks. She and Steve Howard and probably Phil Yazbak confer regularly about Den, so I know he's in good hands. To be honest, both of us are happy he's in the hospital and are hopeful that when he does return home his condition won't be as fragile as it was last time.

So that's it for today. I'm almost wishing we get snowed in for at least a while tomorrow so I can give some attention to wrapping gifts and making peanut butter balls for Dave. What I wouldn't give for just a normal day--except I'm having a hard time remembering what that was like.

I must be overtired because this is sounding depressing and I don't want that to be the case. We sincerely do continue to count our blessings every day and hope for brighter tomorrows. With all of you praying, how can it turn out any different?

Thanks for everything.
Love,
Carla

December 17

Hi,

After thinking Denny was getting stronger and making progress, things went bad yesterday. Last night around 9:30 I had to call for an ambulance because he simply collapsed from weakness. It had happened twice earlier in the late afternoon and again after supper, but those times we managed to get him back to his chair. They admitted him through the ER last night, so by the time they excluded anything related to his heart and lungs plus did all of the blood work, it was after 1:00 a.m. before he got to his room (410 at St. E's.) Chip and Shannon were there with us as was our friend Jim Romenesko who was visiting when all of this happened.

Right now they are once again giving Den fluids plus even more steroids. He is comfortable, in no pain, and totally coherent, so I doubt there is any brain swelling. They haven't even checked for that. All of the blood tests came back within a normal range, so I'm not sure what the plan is, but I'll let you know when there is one.

Thanks, in advance, for the extra prayers you might send up for Den. He really needs your continued love and support more than ever. To say he's "bummed" is putting it mildly.

With love,
Carla

December 15

Hi everyone,

Today we spoke with both doctors, and they with each other, and the plan is to decrease the steroids a tiny bit, progress as planned with the chemotherapy tomorrow through Saturday, and go back for more blood tests on Friday. They gave Den another liter of liquids today and did all the blood work. The only thing out of whack is the low blood pressure issue, which is being attributed to the incredible weakness in his legs. So, the good news is that there isn't any more bad news. He just has to build up his own strength when he can in any way he can.

Tonight we will celebrate the fifth birthday of our oldest grandson, Connor. He is the little guy who developed an extremely rare autoimmune disorder 2 1/2 years ago. Since that time he has had multiple stays at various hospitals, dozens of tests and IV's, and nearly 500 injections given to him at home by Chip. The protocol for his treatment was developed by the only specialist for OMS in the world and carried out by a pediatric neurologist in Green Bay. His treatment ended about two months ago when he was declared "cured" by his doctor in GB. Connor is a very happy, healthy,
pre-schooler who makes us remember every day that miracles do happen. Now we just continue to pray for one for his Papa.

I'll update the blog on Friday after we see the doctors.

Stay warm!!
Carla

December 13

Hi,

This morning we spent several hours at St. E's where Denny received two liters of fluids -- so that's a total of four liters in three days. We were hoping this would put an end to the dizziness when he stands and/or walks, but his blood pressure still varies over 20 points from sitting to standing, so dehydration is not the entire answer. We will be seeing both doctors again on Monday, so maybe they'll have some answers. I still think it all has to do with either the steroids or the filter they inserted to block the blood clots.

Being housebound or at the hospital, I have learned that online shopping is okay and the hospital gift shop has interesting gifts. I hope you have have had more fun getting ready for Christmas!!

I'll update this again on Monday. Hopefully, there will be something more positive to report. Den sends his best to everyone and is grateful for all of the cards and letters he continues to receive.

Hugs to all of you,
Carla

December 12

Hi,

After putting in a rather restless night (which is probably a good sign for Den because taking all of those steroids should interfere with sleep and recently he could sleep around the clock,) we headed off to the hospital where he received another liter of fluids. Blood tests from yesterday showed that he is not deficient in potassium or magnesium, so it's just the fluids that he needs. We are going back tomorrow morning for a third liter. We may have to go on Sunday as well. Then on Monday all of the blood tests will be repeated.

That's it for today--he's napping now and I'm hoping when he gets up he'll feel a little bit better. Thanks for caring!

Love,
Carla

December 11

Hi,

It's been a long few days here, so today we were anxious to see both doctors. Denny's weakness and fatigue didn't seem to be getting any better and the dizziness upon standing made me think all of this had something to do with his blood pressure. When we got to the hospital his BP was 90/70 after he was sitting for a while and then it dropped to 72/48 when he stood. Both doctors agreed that dehydration is the reason for all of those symptoms, so one liter of fluid was given to him intervenously. We will return to the hospital tomorrow morning so he can get another liter, which should make him feel much better. We expected (or at least hoped) for some improvement already tonight but that has not been the case.

Next Monday they will repeat all of Denny's blood work so the oncologist can decide how much chemotherapy to give him next Tuesday through Saturday. Despite everything, the doctors consider this just "a bump in the road" and are optimistic that he will feel better in a few weeks. Please pray that they are right.

I'll let you know what happens tomorrow!
Carla

December 7

Hi,

Today we can report that Denny's right leg (the one with the biggest clots that was causing such terrible pain) has shown signs of improvement. I'm sure it's due to the walking around the house he did yesterday. The flip side, is that maybe all that walking caused additional weakness today, because he's been lightheaded every time he stands, so the walking today has been minimal.

After the Packer game he watched a movie with Ryan. Shannon and the kids came over to visit and I took advantage of the time to do some grocery shopping. In a little while Connor McKnight will come over to pick up all of the student papers that Den still has here. Our apologies to all of the seniors and the students in Creative Writing for the delay on these grades but we know you understand. In his short term as a sub for Mr. O., Connor has done an exceptional job in the classroom and has been an invaluable friend to his former teacher and coach. We both appreciate how much he has done to make this situation easier for Den.

Thanks to the seniors who came to shovel -- what a great surprise! And thanks to Pat and Dave Rudolf who brought Denny communion today. Thank you to all who have brought food and have offered help in any capacity. We are overwhelmed by your generosity and appreciate everything so very much.

Love to all,
Carla

December 5

Hi,

I am happy to report that Denny is home and is doing as well or better than the doctors expected for all he's been through. Chip, Pat, and Patti, were all here to be sure he got into the house and settled into his recliner. Everything went just fine. He had supper and has been up and about several times. The pain is still pretty intense, but we know that it's part of the healing process for that one huge clot. None of the other, smaller clots seem to cause any discomfort at all.

So the medical plan is for him to sleep when he needs to, walk around the house at least once an hour during waking hours, and do his foot and leg exercises while he is in his recliner. He's back on all the meds, including a higher dose of steroids again. We'll be seeing Dr. Howard on Tuesday and Dr. Meena on Thursday. They have promised us that they will keep in close communication regarding his treatment program. Dr. Yazbak has also been wonderful. He saw Denny every day at St. E's and was always available to the others for consultations. The goal is to get Den through this latest setback, hope that the tumor sheds the dead tissue within, and then still look to go to Madison for the stereotactic radio surgery. We're a few months behind, but we know we can get through this with a lot of hope, patience, and prayers.

Thank you for all of your calls and e-mails during this past week. I really don't know how we could cope without your continued support. Everyday in our prayers we thank God for your friendship.

With love,
Carla (and echoes from Den from his recliner!)

December 4

Hi, Everyone,

I just got home from the hospital, where Denny is sound asleep. He's exhausted from the walking that he has to do to prevent more clots from forming. The pain must be terrible because I've never heard him complain and/or groan like he does when he is walking. The doctors and nurses have told us it will slowly get better as the large clot that is causing the pain dissolves. The pain goes away within minutes after he returns to bed or to a recliner, so he doesn't take any pain medicine at all. They tried giving him some prior to one of his walks, but it only made him lightheaded and it didn't do a thing for the pain. I have a feeling we're in for a long couple of weeks as he recuperates.

He'll be coming home either tomorrow or Saturday. I'll keep you posted until he is ready to start writing again.

Good night!
Carla

December 3

Hi-

It looks like Denny will be in the hospital until Friday. The HMO's don't let patients stay any longer than what they deem necessary. I was there this morning and found him to be much less confused but still pretty weak. He walked a short hallway for the first time--no shortness of breath but lots of pain in his righ
leg (to be expected.)
He was very happy to get back to bed. Since he already had his lunch and we had visited with the doctor, I decided to just leave him be for a few hours so he could get some sound sleep. Just as I was leaving, the nurse said that I'd find him in room 411 when I return. They will transfer him sometime this afternoon.

It's been quite an emotional roller coaster for our family since Sunday - thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

Carla

December 2

Hi-

Just a quick update to let you know that Denny has been transferred out of ICU to room 246. I'm not sure how long he will remain in the hospital. He is still incredibly weak and is still somewhat disoriented. The MRI today showed swelling in his brain, so the steroids have been increased. He is not in any pain and is comfortable most of the time. Not being able to give him any anti-coagulants pose a treatment dilemma for the doctors, but Drs. Howard, Meena, and Yazbak are consulting daily.

Thanks for all of the extra prayers - I know they must be working. I will try to update this each day when I get home from the hospital so you'll know the latest!

Love,
Carla

November 30

Dave (Carla and Denny's son) is writing the blog entry today.
After battling pneumonia for the last week dad's cough finally started to lessen going into the weekend. Saturday night the cough returned and Sunday morning he had quite a bit of pain in his right leg. These symptoms prompted a visit to the emergency room on Sunday morning where we learned he has blood clots in both legs as well as in both lungs. Shortly after receiving this news, dad underwent a procedure to have a filter inserted to prevent more clots from reaching his lungs. He has been transferred to the ICU where he will be monitored for the next few days.

Normally the treatment for these clots would be some type of blood thinner, but the doctors are hesitant to start this treatment for fear of another brain bleed, as was the case in September when he had blood clots. For now the doctors are observing his condition carefully. We are all hoping and praying that with the filter in place, everything will begin to resolve itself. We will continue to communicate how things are going.

This is the most serious obstacle dad has faced. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

November 25

Hi,

Denny continues to battle the affects of his recent round of chemo, the cough produced by the pneumonia, and the basic weakness caused by the steroids. He hasn't been to work since last Wednesday, so needless to say, he's sick and tired of being sick and tired!

We saw the doctor again today and he prescribed a cough suppressant that actually turns off the cough center in the brain. Amazing! Thankfully, Den was able to come home and get about four hours of sound sleep and we are hoping that he can get through the night without much disturbance. (We will both be grateful for that!)

If all goes well, he will be able to return to school after the Thanksgiving break. Until then he's going to just try to get better and stronger. It will be great having Dave home for a long weekend and we will spend Thanksgiving at Chip and Jenn's. My goal is to get up some of the Christmas decorations.

Other than that, we are planning a relaxing few days and hope you can do the same.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Love,
Carla

November 23

Hi,

This is just a quick update to let you know that Den got through this round of chemotherapy with relatively few side effects. He was a little more tired than usual, but that could be because this is such a high dosage of temador (460mg) or because he is battling pneumonia. My guess is that it's a combination of both. He was diagnosed last Wednesday, so he has been home since then, taking the additional antibiotics, coughing a lot, and resting when he can. Hopefully, he is on the mend.

If he had to get pneumonia, better to get it last week than the upcoming one because that will be when his immune system will be at it's lowest point. We are both wondering how that will go in each upcoming month. Like everything else, it's wait and see, living one day at a time.

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, please know how special all of you are to us. We give thanks for your love and friendship every day and hope that you and your family are able to celebrate a wonderful holiday together.

We'll check in Tuesday after seeing the doctor!
Carla

November 18

Happy Tuesday!

Our weekly visit to see Dr. Howard resulted in another cautious reduction with the steroid meds, so now Denny will be taking 1mg in the morning and another 1mg in the afternoon. Steroid-wise, he's at the dosage he was taking when he was told to stop taking it. That was on September 9 -- needless to say, it's been a long couple of months.

The good news is that at the lower dosage he's been on the last week, Denny has been sleeping very well. That will surely continue and even be better with now going to 2mg/daily. Den feels pretty good, considering all he's been through, and Dr. Howard is very pleased with the recovery process. Going forward there will be even more caution because of the complete adrenal shutdown Den experienced in September.

Those steroids are nasty little pills that tear apart the large muscles in the arms and legs, so Denny's strength is still compromised and that's what makes him so tired. Short naps do revive him considerably, so now he just has to be patient as those muscles redevelop. Walking and light weight lifting are the two best exercises for him, so that's what he'll be doing!

More good news is that for this term at school Denny will only have to teach two classes full time. Connor McKnight has agreed to stay on and will be teaching the creative writing class that is Denny's 4th block class. Just like when Connor took on Honors English during the first term (and did an excellent job,) this relieves Den of the worry that I know he would have if a stranger would have had to substitute for him. Plus, it allows him to stay semi-involved but he won't have the papers of those 29 students to correct, etc. The 59 he has in British Lit is quite enough.

When Connor first told his mom that he would be returning home when his last job ended, Ann said she felt in her heart (and even told her husband) that Connor was coming back for Denny. That was weeks before Den's set-back. It's just another affirmation, to me at least, that God has a plan for all of us.

Tonight Den will begin another round of chemotherapy. Through Saturday he will be taking 460mg of temodar every night. This is the dose he will be at each month for at least the next year. Please pray that every bit of it gets to what is remaining of that tumor!

Again, on behalf of our entire family, I thank you for your care and concern. Many people have told us that they read this blog and that they've told others about the site. Knowing that Denny is loved by so many former students and their families helps us all be optimistic that he will be able to continue his passion of teaching for years to come. God bless each and every one of you.

Love,
Carla

P.S. For those who have asked, our home email is doudenhoven@new.rr.com

November 13

Happy rainy Thursday,

Today we went to the oncologist, which is a monthly appointment the week before the five days of chemotherapy. Denny always has blood work done there, and the results are immediate. Dr. Mortara was pleased with all of the numbers, so Den will take his chemo Tuesday through Saturday next week. He will be at 460 mg. of temador, which will remain at that level for at least a year. The only time he would not take it would be the month before he has the stereotactic boost, aka, gamma knife. We won't know when that will be until either a PET scan or MRI shows that the tumor is at the right size for that procedure.

Dr. Mortara agrees that Den should continue teaching, but was happy to hear that he has cut back on his schedule until he gets off the steroids and regains his physical strength. That will be a gradual, subtle, transition and nobody can predict how long that may take. As long as Denny can feel some improvement, he will be happy. He does feel a little better each day.

This is a busy week as I prepare for the opening of "Beauty and the Beast." It will be a great production, as are all of Jim Romenesko's shows. I haven't been able to be quite as involved this year as in the past, but I still do the hair, wigs, and makeup, so it means being there now for two hours preceding and throughout each of the ten shows. We have some incredibly talented students, so the challenge of a show this big has proved to be very rewarding for the kids in the cast, crew, and orchestra pit as well as for us adults. I hope those of you who are able to attend will enjoy what you see.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Carla

November 11

Hi,

Today Denny received another good report from Dr. Howard, who is able to assess Den just by looking at him. The steroid dosage has been reduced to 3 mg. per day, which should make him feel better, just as the past reductions have done. But those "evil but necessary" little pills do a lot of damage to a person's large muscles, specifically in the upper arms and thighs. That is what is causing Den to feel so weak.

So, we'll be trying to take several walks each day and maybe Den will try to do some exercises to strengthen his arms. Thankfully, his appetite has remained good and his weight is pretty stable, so we are hopeful that his strength will return soon.

Taking all of this into consideration, Denny has decided to teach only his two British Literature courses for the remainder of this term. His schedule will then allow him to sleep a little later each morning, go to school for those two classes (with lunch in between,) and then return home by 1:30, so he can rest for a while before correcting papers and doing his lesson plans. It will also allow him to get to bed at a reasonable time, insuring adequate rest.

On Thursday we will go to the oncologist, where they will do all of the usual blood work before another round of chemotherapy starts. That is scheduled for five days next week (Tuesday through Saturday.) This will be a higher dosage and the one Denny will stay on indefinitely. We are hoping that he will not experience any bad side effects from this higher dose.

So, we continue taking each day as it comes and we take great comfort in knowing that God is hearing the prayers of all of our family and friends. Thanks for being there.

Love,
Carla

November 7

Happy Friday!

With four days at the lower steroid dose, Denny is feeling a tiny bit better. He probably worked too much this week, as he did go to school every day. Connor McKnight is still "team-teaching" with him most of the time, so Denny is able to get up to the Guidance Suite for an occasional nap. Next Tuesday I am hoping we will have a little heart-to-heart with Steve Howard, who has not released Denny to return to full time teaching. Much will be determined by how he tolerates the next round of chemo and when he will be sent to Madison. We'll see how things go. This gentle, soft-spoken, even tempered husband of mine can be a little stubborn when it comes to taking it easy!

Have a great weekend, even if the weather is crappy!! We'll check in after our next appointment. Thanks for keeping in touch.

Love,
Carla

November 4

Happy Election Day!

Good news continues! We saw Steve Howard this morning and he has decreased the steroid dosage again. He can tell by seeing and talking to Den how things are going
and he is pleased with Denny's progress. In all probability, the dosage will be reduced next week to 3mg per day. In the meantime, Den can do as much as he can tolerate but must include several rest times during the day. Dr. Howard is encouraging a little extra walking to help rebuild the leg muscles that have been destroyed by the steroids.
We are convinced prayers have been heard and are being answered. The journey ahead is still unknown, but with all of you with us, it isn't quite as scary. Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Carla

P.S. Please keep our friends, Mike and Eileen Gerrity, in your prayers. Their son,
Trevor, died unexpectedly and Mike's only brother, Tim, died last Saturday. Our hearts ache for them.

November 2

Hi,

This is just a note to let you know that all is fine today at the Oudenhovens. Denny had his best day in a long time yesterday and I am doing great.

I learned a few things from this last week. 1. Let your friends take care of you when you are too much of a wreck to make a good decision. 2. Always get a second opinion, unless, of course, you are lucky enough to have the #1 -- because then they will have checked out all of your options and you won't even have to make many phone calls!! (Really, this is a huge shout out to Beth and Phil Vogt, Patti Voss, and ultimately Jeff Klingbeil.) 3. Be sure to get a colonoscopy when your doctor tells you to, even if you don't want to. There is no history of any of this in my family, so it would have been easy to just not have the exam. But by the time there are symptoms, it is often too late. I hate to sound preachy, but what I just went through is nothing compared to what things might have been had I ignored this.

So, until Tuesday, when we see Steve Howard, who will (we hope) be reducing Denny's steroid intake, take care. Thanks for thinking of us.

Love,
Denny and Carla

October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!

Shannon here (Carla and Denny's daughter). I am reporting with good news! Mom's procedure went well today and she will be going home this evening! Dr. Klingbeil was able to do the procedure as hoped and the resectioning was not required.

On behalf of our entire family, THANK YOU. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Shannon

October 28

Good evening, everyone,

It's been a long day, but I'm here with what we consider to be good news.

This morning we went to St. E's for Denny's MRI. We met with Dr. Howard shortly thereafter, and he gave us the following news. First, there is very little brain swelling left, so he was able to reduce the steroid amount Den is taking to 6mg. That should allow him to sleep better and start to regain his endurance. Steroids really take a toll on a body's muscle and bone strength, which is why Denny has felt so incredibly weak. Next, Steve was able to get a good look at the tumor. Right now it is still too big to consider the stereotactic radio surgery, but that is because it is filled with a lot of the dead debris caused by the radiation and/or chemotherapy. He explained that the brain has it's own mechanism of getting rid of that residue and it will, in time. Once it is gone, the tumor should be within the size range of being treatable. The best news, though, is that the tumor appears to be completely encapsulated, which it had to be in order to even be considered for the gamma knife surgery. Another MRI will be scheduled in another six to eight weeks, and hopefully we'll head to Madison sometime after that.

Denny will continue to see Dr. Howard weekly, his steroids will be adjusted, and he will continue taking the chemotherapy five days out of every four weeks. His work schedule will be determined by his progress. Right now Den is planning to continue like the last few weeks, adding hours of teaching as he can tolerate. I think he realizes just how dangerous it would be to overdo things at this point. Dr. Howard did give Den the okay to start driving and that made both of us very happy!:)

Now, to the other member of the O-Team. Last week I had a colonoscopy that resulted
in some abnormalities. Naturally, it threw us for a loop, but things are working out on that front, too. I couldn't stand waiting the 7 to 10 days they said it would take to get the pathology results back, so my doctor, Nancy Lindo-Drusch, was her wonderful self and called me yesterday with the results. No cancer, but a situation that has to be dealt with. Then last night, just after supper, Dr. Jeff Klingbeil called, asking what he could do to help me!! Imagine that! He is a partner in Phil Vogt's office, and Phil had told him about my dilemma. What a great friend!! Dr. Klingbeil is the only surgeon in the area who specializes in treatment of the colon and bowel. So, to make a long story short, I will be having surgery on Friday. If Dr. Klingbeil can take care of things they way he is hoping, I will probably come home Friday night. If he has to do a resectioning procedure, I'll be in the hospital for about five days and have a longer recovery. I'm all for being there for just Friday.

Everybody always asks what they can do to help us. Doubling up on the prayers is all we really need. We know that's what has gotten us through this so far, so if you can just keep us in your prayers we will be eternally grateful.

Hopefully our future blogs won't be so long!! Thanks for checking in.

Love,
Carla and Denny

October 21

Hi!

Today was a good day, indeed. We met with both of the doctors this morning and it appears that everything is getting back to where we were at in early September.

The steroids have been decreased to 8mg per day. From this point on, the weaning will go slowly enough so that we know Denny's adrenal system is manufacturing cortisone. There are blood tests that can be done to measure that, but Dr. Howard will see Den often enough to assess the situation. At this dosage, much of the depression should lift and take with it some of the fatigue.

Denny completed a round of chemotherapy on Saturday. He did experience some tiredness during those five days and that may happen each month. His blood work today was almost perfect. Only his liver function level is slightly elevated. All of this is very good news.

Next Tuesday Den will have an MRI. That will give Dr. Howard a very good idea of how the tumor has responded to the radiation and chemotherapy. He will also see how much, if any, swelling is left. If that tumor has responded as we have all hoped and prayed for, another appointment will be set up in Madison with Dr. Mehta, who will proceed with the stereotactic radio surgery. Because Steve Howard works with Dr. Mehta (and has done this procedure himself,) he knows exactly what to look for regarding the tumor.

For the remainder of this week and all of the next one, Denny plans to maintain the schedule he has been following the past couple of weeks. This will allow him to meet with his classes for short periods of time three days each week. He continues to create lesson plans, read essays, and grade papers. He naps when he needs to and tries to pace himself to avoid any exhaustion. He hopes to return to school full-time for term 2.

Thanks again to all of you reading this update. We continue to need and appreciate your concern and prayers, especially as Denny faces the MRI next week. We'll keep you posted!

Hugs to everyone,
Carla

October 16

Hi,

We have had quite a day, considering that all we had anticipated was a day of relaxation and continued improvement for Denny and a day for me to get some things done around here.

Denny had a good, although exhausting, day yesterday with no side effects from the chemo, etc. Last night we had a great dinner at Chip and Jenn's. He played with the boys, and after we got home, he did some homework and wrote out his lesson plans for his classes.

I had an appointment this morning, made weeks ago, that I decided to keep because I was sure it would be okay to leave him alone for a short while. I was just getting off the phone with my sister, ready to dash out the door, when Den told me he was having chest pains! Fearing that this might be the start of a problem with the blood clots, I called the doctor and took Den straight to the hospital. A CT scan of his lungs and an EKG showed no abnormalities, so the theory is that the pain came from taking his medication on an empty stomach, resulting in severe heartburn.

So, it was pretty scary for a while, but better to be safe than sorry. We heard that phrase a lot this morning. Everyone knows that Denny never complains, so we all went into possible crisis mode when he talked about the pain and tightening in his chest.

That's the news from here today. Never a dull moment! My plans are to write again next Tuesday after we see his doctors. Until then, have a great weekend, and enjoy every moment you have with the ones you love.

Love,
Carla

October 14

Happy Tuesday!

Things seem to finally be turning around. The brain scan today showed a remarkable reduction of edema (Steve said he could see the improvement from across the room when he went in to view the scan,) so the steroid dose has been reduced by 25%. The plan is that next Tuesday it will be reduced again, and thereafter Den will be weaned off of the remaining 8 mg. very, very slowly. That way his own adrenal system will start making its own cortisone and things will be back to normal. If all goes as expected, the doctor will schedule Den for an MRI in two weeks. He'll have that here and Steve (Howard) will be able to determine when we'll head to Madison.

The other good news is that Den's blood tests are all normal except for the elevation with the liver function test and that, too, has improved since last week. I am picking up a different type of anti-fungal medicine that must be taken when a person is on steroids. Hopefully, that will make a difference with the liver enzymes.

All of Denny's strength and function tests were fine today, so tonight he will resume the chemotherapy. He will take that medicine five days of each 28 day cycle. It's double the amount he took last summer, but at that time he had no side effects, so we hope he will tolerate it as well this time.

So, as I type, Den is reading and correcting tests and essays. He won't return to work full-time until the doctors give him the okay, but his goal is to be there for term 2. In the meantime, a former student, Connor McKnight, is now teaching all of his classes, and Den goes in for blocks of time several times a week. This is such a perfect solution for Denny and his students. Connor is such a wonderful young man. He will be a great role model for the kids and seems to be a natural in the classroom.

Thank you for the concern and love you have shown these past weeks as we struggled through some scary days and nights here. Your prayers sustained us.

Today please keep Barb Craghan in your thoughts and prayers as she goes through her eye surgery. She did a great job taking over Denny's classes and we hope that she can go back to a relaxing retirement. We also hold Mary Beth Meehl and her children in our hearts today as we mourn the loss of her husband, Tom. He has been a great friend to us and we will miss him very much.

Thanks for everything!

Love,
Carla

October 9

Hi,

We just had lunch after being at the hospital all morning. Denny is napping, so I thought I'd let you know what's happening.

Our first stop today was a visit with Steve Howard, who is able to get a pretty good read on things just by looking at and talking to Den. He recognizes the side effects that the steroids are causing, but it's more-or-less a necessary evil in order to get the brain swelling down. He has ordered another brain scan for next Tuesday to assess that situation.

Next, we went to see Kevin Mortara, the oncologist. They did another complete blood panel there, and the good news is that the elevated liver enzymes appear to be self correcting. Those blood tests will also be repeated on Tuesday. If everything is okay, Denny will then resume his chemotherapy. The dose will be double the amount he took before, but he will take it for 5 days out of every 28 days.

Because the trip to Madison is temporarily postponed, the chemo really has to be started just to be sure that the tumor doesn't start growing again. Steve told us this morning that when the swelling has gone down enough to get a good look at the tumor, he will order an MRI to be done here so we won't have to wait even longer to find out if any or all of the treatments achieved what was hoped for.

October 14th was the date we were waiting for, praying that it would bring us the news that life just might have a chance at returning to our "old normal." Pushing that date back, and realizing that he won't feel any better than he does until the steroid dose can be reduced, is taking an emotional toll on Den. The steroids themselves can cause depression, so it's a vicious circle right now. While he understands it, that feeling of being bummed is difficult -- specially for a guy like Denny. All of this is just so foreign to him.

I'm hoping that visits from the kids and the grandkids will cheer him up -- it always does. (That and the batch of cookies I'm going to make for him.) Who else but Denny could be on all of these steroids, enjoying all kinds of desserts, and only gain two pounds in the last month?

Thanks for checking in and keeping Denny in your thoughts and prayers! Unless there's something to report, I probably won't write again until next Tuesday. No news is good news!

Carla

October 7

Hi,

Denny's had a couple of rough days lately, so we were happy to get to the doctor today. We were anxious to get the results of the brain scan and we were hopeful that we could get some explanation for the increasing body weakness, dizziness, profuse sweating, and depression that Den's been experiencing.

We received some good news and some not so good news. The good news is that the swelling in his brain is subsiding, slowly, and there is no bleeding. That news did not surprise either of us because Denny's concentration, recall, and writing have all improved a great deal since last week.

The not so good news is that all of the symptoms he has are side effects of the steroid he is taking in mega doses. He will have to continue taking that same dose until at least next Tuesday when he'll have another brain scan, so I'm guessing the next days will surely have their ups and downs.

Dr. Howard also ordered a complete blood panel, just to be sure that something wasn't being overlooked. We had been home about an hour or so after the brain scan when the doctor called to say that there is something "way out of whack" (another of Steve Howard's medical terms) with Den's liver function test. So we had to go back to St. E's for a scan of his stomach, liver, and bowel. You can imagine the fear that went through us. The scan, much to our relief, showed nothing, so Steve and Dr. Mortara are stumped. They know that those enzyme levels were normal on September 9, when Denny had his last blood work done. Now, we were told, we will be referred to a liver specialist. I suspect it's a side effect of the steroids.

The other issue is the blood clots that are currently not be treated. It's my understanding that Denny will go back on a blood thinner as soon as all of the doctors agree that a brain shunt is definitely not necessary. Most likely he will return to taking the shots to his stomach rather than the pills.

Now, with the October 14th appointment at UW postponed, the chemotherapy must also resumed. We will be meeting with Drs. Howard and Mortara on Thursday to discuss that. Den will be changing to a new oncologist next month when Dr. Mortara discontinues his practice at St. E's, but that protocol of 5 days out of 28 on the temador has to begin before the new oncologist is here.

All of this puts everything on hold as far as our jobs. Denny desperately wants to get to his classes a couple of times each week, if only for a half hour or so. Dr. Howard said that would be the maximum and directed me to be the judge of what Den should or shouldn't do. If he feels as lousy as he has lately, my task won't be as difficult as it was those first few weeks of school. Until things improve, Steve said someone has to be with Denny 24/7, so I will be here with him.

That's the medical update for today. After reading it over it sounds overwhelming, but we're actually doing okay. Our kids and some friends check in regularly, Sarah Simon has brought us some meals and is keeping Denny supplied with desserts, and
tonight Den received a book of poems and letters from the students in his honors class that really lifted his spirits. Each day we count our many blessings.

Please know that you are among those blessings.

Love,
Carla

October 2

Hi,

We just returned from an appointment with Dr. Howard and I thought you would like to know the latest assessment of things.

First, the steroids seem to be working. Den had 22mg of dexamethason on Tuesday, which is a mega dose and should have put him in HappyLand. It didn't exactly do that, but the improvement was evident already that day. Yesterday was also a little better and today we can also measure some improvement. Denny measures this by his penmanship. A few days ago he couldn't finish more than a word or two, and it was illegible at that. Today he wrote a few sentences and his writing looks nearly normal. My measurement of his progress deals more with his balance, walking, retention, and speech pattern. I see dramatic improvement in those areas and the doctor did as well. Thus, Den will continue on the current 16 mg per day of the steroid for at least another week. If all continues to go as hoped, the need for more brain surgery to insert a shunt will be averted. So, thanks for those prayers!

Next, they had to address the blood clot situation in his legs in relation to what's going on in his brain. It's been determined to suspend the use of the blood thinners until more of the brain swelling is gone. We have to be vigilant about being aware of any signs of an embolism, i.e. any fragments of the blot clot making their way to his lungs. That could be potentially fatal, so if we note any of those symptoms they would surgically insert a sieve in his main vein that would prohibit the clots from traveling up toward his heart. Guess what we are praying for now?!

Third, Den has been instructed to be a "couch potato" (another medical term used by Steve Howard) until things are at least stable. This means at least another ten days of staying at the current pace. It means continuing the naps and limiting physical exertion. He'll still be able to correct papers if he's up to it here at home, and we will continue to go to school to get his lesson plans ready, but that's about the extent of his activities.

Finally, the October 14th appointment in Madison won't be happening because Drs. Yazbak and Howard agree that the swelling will not be gone by then. When scans done here show that Denny's brain is back to normal and and they know that an MRI of the tumor (or what remains of it,) would be clear and definitive, the appointment in Madison with Dr. Mehta will be rescheduled.

So, that's it from the OTEAM for today. We appreciate the messages and hope that more of you will leave notes if you have time. Those are real morale boosters!!

When he is able, Denny will get back to writing these blogs. In the meantime, he sends his love and wishes for a wonderful day to all of you! God Bless.

Love,
Carla

September 30

Hi,

As Denny's condition seemed to get worse, I became increasingly worried and called his doctor yesterday afternoon. There are so many doctors treating him but I decided that his radiology oncologist, Dr. Steve Howard, would be the best choice. I am so happy I made that call.

This morning we went to Dr. Howard's office at 8:00, and within the hour Den was having a CT scan to see what is going on in his brain. They found considerable swelling as well as a "bleed". It seems that Denny should never have been taken off the steroids prescribed for him at the end of his chemo and radiation. We learned today that when a person takes steroids, the body's adrenal gland stops manufacturing cortisone. As a person is gradually weaned off steroids, the gland starts making cortisone again. In Denny's case, that doesn't appear to have happened. No wonder he was so lethargic, confused, and unable to concentrate! Dr. Howard seemed surprised that Den is as functional as he is.

So, to jump start things they gave Den 10mg of steroids intravenously. He already feels better. He will continue taking rather high doses of the steroids in an effort to get the swelling in the brain to subside. And that, we hope, will make that brain bleed correct/heal itself. Often shunts are put in to alleviate that pressure, but the danger of doing that for Den would be that if there are still active cancer cells
currently trapped in his brain, a shunt would be their transportation into the rest of his body. So, I've just given you something new to pray for! Drs. Howard and Yazbak have conversed and will wait until Thursday to see if that procedure is necessary. Please pray that it is NOT!!

Dr. Howard, God bless him, has also ordered Denny not to work until he gives him the official okay to go back. He implied that Den should stay home for about two weeks and "veg" (I believe that was his medical term for it!). This time I don't think Den will fight this directive, because it will be a long time before he forgets how miserable he has felt these past two weeks. I will stay home with him this week so he will get the right meds at the right times and I can watch for any other unusual symptoms.

All of this may or may not delay our trip to Madison. Dr. Howard will assess that as he sees Denny's progress. It's possible he'll have another scan in a couple of weeks. There would be no point in having an MRI to assess the condition of the tumor if the tissue around it is still swollen.

We want to thank Barb Craghan and Beth Rippl, who will be taking over our jobs at school. What wonderful friends and colleagues they are. And to all of you who will find time to pray that this obstacle will be managed as we hope, we send our grateful thanks.

Love,
Carla and Denny

September 28

Hi,

We have had an unusual week, so as Denny sleeps, I will fill you in.

To make a long story short, it seems like Den is now experiencing many of the side effects from the radiation and chemotherapy that we were cautioned about at the time of his treatments. It's been a month since those treatments ceased, but about two weeks ago he began to experience incredible fatigue, unclear thinking, and some balance problems.

Those symptoms started after he stopped taking the steroids, so we went to the doctor on Wednesday, who thinks that edema from the radiation is causing everything. So, once again, he is taking a low dose steroid. So far we haven't noticed any improvement but since the dosage is low we're hoping there will be some change within a few days. We also have to find out how that medicine will affect what he is taking for the clots in his legs. We stopped at the hospital for a blood test on our way to church this morning and are waiting to hear from the doctor sometime soon.

Understandably, Den is feeling pretty bummed about his current condition. He is giving in to three to four hour naps but worries when he's awake about things he thinks he should be doing. We all tell him that the only thing that's really important is that he stays strong physically and emotionally so he can take on whatever the next step will be in this treatment process. So, with the naps and going to bed earlier, he's trying, but we all know how hard it is for him not to be able to do the things he really enjoys.

Please keep him in your prayers. October 14th is coming up soon, and we are all trying to stay very positive about that prognosis. We appreciate your calls and notes
of love and concern. Thank you, all, for being such a great support system for our entire family.

Love,
Carla

September 21

Hi, Friends--

As I write--with one eye on the Packer game--I'm hoping all of you had a great weekend.

Friday night our family gathered at Chip and Jenn's for a belated birthday party for Great Grandpa, my dad. As usual, the kids had lots of fun playing together and the meal was delicious. Grant is walking now, so we were all entertained by his new skills. Keira was doing a lot of "talking" and laughing. At just over three months she has quite a personality already. It was so nice being together, along with Jenn's good friend, Sarah, and her fiance, Darren.

Yesterday we traveled to Milwaukee with Pat and Patti to attend a wedding. Our connection to the bride is that she is one of Shannon's best friends and Carla has known her parents since high school. Voss' connection is that the bride's father was Pat's college roommate at St. Thomas. I'm always amazed at how small the world is sometimes. We had a wonderful time visiting with several of Shannon's friends from high school and their parents. I am equally amazed at how quickly time passes! It seems like yesterday that these girls were playing middle school basketball, and suddenly they are 32 years old!

While we were there, I was aware of an increasing discomfort in my right calf, so this morning we called the doctor and then headed for the hospital. Blood tests and ultrasounds revealed blood clots in both legs. Those in the right leg are smaller and not quite as serious as the one in the right leg, which is deep in the vein. So, just when I was so happy to be off almost all my medications, I'm being treated for the blood clots. I have to give myself shots in the stomach and take an oral blood thinner. My blood will be checked regularly until the proper dosage is determined, but it sounds like I'll be on this blood thinner for at least six months. When I resume the chemo, I will most likely go back on the shots and not take the warafin/cumadin.

For a person who rarely took medicine, all of this is hard to comprehend. It's a good thing someone invented those little daily pill containers, and it's even better that Carla keeps them filled and reminds me what to take and when to take it.

I know that this is just an inconvenience, and we'll just roll with it. There really isn't any choice, I know, and I am grateful that this condition was all found so early. But I must admit, I'd sure like to just be "normal" again.

Have a good week!

Denny

September 16

Hi Everyone,

We are currently enjoying a short reprieve back to the way life used to be. Denny is at school, teaching a full load during the day and correcting papers at night. I am back to job-sharing my position at Xavier, which allows me to have two days each week when I can just do what I want to do! We know we only have a few more weeks of this right now, so we are enjoying these days.

Currently the only medicine Den is taking is an antibiotic because his immunity system is still compromised from the chemo he took for those six weeks during his radiation therapy. He's still a little tired but he tries to rest after lunch and he sometimes naps before supper. He's eating well and feels good.

Yesterday we met Denny's new radiation oncologist, Dr. Steve Howard. His specialty is brain cancer radiation. He comes from the UW Hospital where he works with Dr. Mehta, the specialist we will be seeing again on October 14. Dr. Howard goes to Madison every Friday, so he will be part of the team that will treat Denny there, should there be stereotactic radio surgery (gamma knife) in the future.

We found Dr. Howard to be very caring, patient, and perceptive. He was patient and thorough with our questions and seemed to be quite optimistic about Denny's chances to have the gamma knife procedure. He estimated that at 50/50 right now, but indicated those numbers could change if more chemotherapy is the course of treatment first. He also told us that there are some experimental treatments being done that are having very positive results. He said that we would want to consider those since Denny is in such good general health.

Dr. Howard also explained the gamma knife procedure in more detail. He has done over 200 of these and Dr. Mehta, who is considered the nation's expert, was actually the doctor who perfected this treatment. Dr. Mehta has done well over one thousand of these procedures. On October 14, Den will have his first MRI since the biopsy and we will meet with Dr. Mehta the same day to find out the results and learn what the course of action will be.

We continue to feel very blessed for the outpouring of love, concern, prayers and support we have received. As we thank God for that each day, we pray for continued
health and happiness for you and your families.

Hugs to all,
Carla

September 9

Hi!

I hope this finds all of you enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. Wouldn't it be great if this could last for another couple of months? (The older I get, the less I look forward to snow.)

Today we had an appointment with my oncologist, Kevin Mortara. I had some blood tests, and then we had a visit with the doctor. He seemed pleased with my overall condition, i.e. weight, strength, cognitive abilities, etc., but, of course, he has no idea of how successful the radiation and / or the chemotherapy has been. At some point the chemo will resume, but until we see Dr. Mehta in Madison next month, I am off all medicines except an antibiotic.

Generally, I feel almost back to normal. I'm enjoying my time and work in the classroom during the day and reading student papers at night. My appetite is back, the metallic taste is gone, and I've started biking again. Like before, I am just taking one day at a time.

Next week I will meet my new radiology oncologist, Dr. Howard, who comes to Appleton via Harvard, Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and most recently, the UW Hospital where he worked closely with Dr Mehta, who is regarded as one of the nation's best. Needless to say, I feel I am in good hands and am grateful for the peace of mind his expertise and reputation give my family and me.

In October, then, we will learn just how well the treatments have worked thus far and what the next step(s) will be. Keep your fingers crossed that the results will be good and that I can beat whatever the odds are. Your calls, cards, letters, notes, and prayers have been a constant source of support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

God bless you all.

Denny

September 1

Hi, everybody!

Well. the first week of school has come and gone, and I made it through all of my classes. The combination of finishing with the treatments and being with the students seems to have energized me. Each day I feel my strength returning a little more.

Friday morning the all-school liturgy, celebrated with St. Mary's pastor Fr. Mike O'Rourke, included the sacrament of healing. After the homily (which gave perspective on why things like cancer happen to people) Father gathered Carla, our son Chip, daughter Shannon, son-in-law Doug, granddaughter Keira, and me near the altar on the stage. (Our son Dave, daughter-in-law Jenn, and grandsons Connor and Grant were unable to attend but were with us in spirit.) Those moments, it seems to me, were holy and meaningful. I am grateful to Sarah Simon, the Xavier campus minister, who planned the mass. I appreciate the students' acceptance of this special service and their active participation. And I thank Fr. Mike for putting his heart into the liturgy, homily, and sacrament of healing. I have faith that all our prayers will be answered.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering what my feelings (physical and mental) will be like when I resume the chemotherapy, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. In the meantime, I'm getting a little more done each day. I am looking forward to biking for longer distances and maybe even jogging again.

I hope each of you had a relaxing Labor Day weekend. Late last week Carla and I decided to go to Chicago with Jim Romenesko. We drove down Saturday afternoon and saw "Jersey Boys" that night. It's a play Carla has wanted to see since it opened on Broadway, and it was everything we hoped it would be.

We thoroughly enjoyed the music, the story, and the set design. After the show a friend of Jim's (the head electrician at the theater) gave us a backstage tour that certainly gave us a much different perspective of the enormity of a production like that. It was awesome.

We stayed at a boutique-type hotel right above the theater, so we were able to enjoy downtown Chicago on Sunday before we left for home. It was good to get away, if only for a day or two.

Tonight we had dinner with Pat and Patti Voss to celebrate Patti's birthday. I hope this blog is an appropriate time and place to publicly thank these two wonderful people for their special friendship. We've enjoyed a close relationship with them for many years, but when our world turned upside down this summer, they were alongside us each and every day. We know that they fielded phone calls and inquiries about my health situation,and they were instrumental in the letter sent to many alumni. The list of their selfless acts goes on because their generosity knows no bounds. We are and will forever be grateful to have have them in our lives. We hope all of you have friends like Pat and Patti.

My next medical appointment is September 9 with my oncologist. Blood work then will determine the strength of the chemotherapy.

A lengthy blog this time--so much to say, so little time and space. I'll write again next week.

Have a great week!

Denny

August 26

Happy Tuesday!

It's a day of firsts -- the first day of school, the first day with no radiation, and tonight the first time in six weeks I'll go to bed without taking four chemo pills! So, it's a very good day, indeed.

I've managed to make it through all of the necessary inservice meetings and the first day of full classes. I do admit I am tired, but I also have to say that it felt great to be back in the classroom doing what I do.

Today I did sneak up to the guidance suite, where there is a couch in a meeting room. There, for a short while, I was able to rest and relax during my prep period. My hope is that a short rest will be a part of my daily routine and that Barbara Craghan can enjoy this beautiful weather.

In two weeks I will have a blood test to determine the amount of chemotherapy I will have to take for the next four to six months. I will see Dr. Mortera, my oncologist at that time, and he'll outline the remaining treatment.

I will also be seeing a new radiology oncologist, Dr. Howard, who is coming to Appleton from the UW Madison Hospital, where he is a colleague of Dr. Mehta, the doctor who will determine if gamma knife surgery is right for me. Lots of wait-and-see, but I guess that's all any of us can do anyhow.

The doctors and nurses tell me that I will feel much better in about six weeks. I think I feel stronger already, and I attribute my improvement to the prayers from all of you. You are the best!

Thank you. And God bless you.

Denny

August 19

Hi, everyone--

Only four more radiation treatments left!

By Thursday of last week I was really dragging -- very tired and absolutely no energy. On Friday when I saw Dr. Speer, the radiology oncologist, he prescribed a "six-pack" of steroids (meaning I take them for six days) to get me through this last week. They seem to be working--I feel so much better.

It will be interesting to see how the effects of the radiation affect me after the actual treatments conclude. The radiation, they tell me, continues to work for another four to six weeks. As long as it's accomplishing its mission I can tolerate anything.

Today was our first day of school, and I must say it felt good to be back at school with my Xavier family. I made it through the day just fine and then went over to St. E's for the treatment. After a short nap and supper, I'm here at the computer. It was a good day.

For those who have followed my metallic taste dilemma, I have found something that "cuts through it." V-8 juice! I never really liked it much before, but it's amazing how good it tastes now. On the other hand, my former favorite chips, Fritos, taste terrible. Go figure.

The technician admonished me for not getting enough rest, so it will be an early night for me.
We usually watch the Olympics and go for a short walk. After I take my chemo meds, I read for a while. I zonk out pretty quickly. Yes, we are the fun couple!

So, thank you again for following this blog. It means so much that others care about me and my family because we all are going through this together. God bless you.


Denny

Papa & his boys (Connor and Ryan)

August 13

Hi,

Eight more radiation treatments to go! By then I may be sleeping 20 hours a day and most of what was left of my hair will be gone. But at least this phase of things will be over.

Each day is like an endurance test, and I don't like tests that I can't ace.

I don't mean to complain, but I really didn't anticipate the tiredness being this consuming even though the doctors, nurses, and friends warned me and tried to prepare me.

Thank you to those who contacted me with suggestions about how to deal with the ever-present metallic taste I have. I've tried them all and have found them to be helpful. I know I've eaten more hard candy in the last month than I have in the last fifty-some years!

I am planning to go to our in-service meetings next week and then start school the following week. Fortunately, Barb Craghan is ready to step in if that plan proves to be too ambitious at first. I'm looking forward to getting back in the classroom and getting to know the members of the class of 2009.

This illness is a challenge, that's for sure. Again I want to thank all of you who are keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers. We know your constant faith (when mine wavers a bit) is what gets us through each day.

One day at a time--that platitude keeps me going right now.

God bless you.

Denny

August 5

Hi, everyone--

Today I had my fifteenth radiation treatment, and tonight I will take my four chemo pills. So tomorrow I will begin the last half of my treatment regime.

I don't want to wish the summer away for any of you, but I'm hoping the next three weeks pass as quickly as the last three. I am experiencing some of the side effects of the radiation that they warned me about, and it's not the way a person would want to spend the summer.

The fatigue has set in, so I really hit the wall every day by mid afternoon or before. After I nap, I don't wake up feeling refreshed -- it's kind of like having the flu. I always hope a nap will help, but I wake up feeling kind of foggy and lacking energy to do much. I'm finding that I'm not very good at not doing much.

The other side effect annoying me is the constant metallic taste in my mouth. If anyone has any suggestions for combating that taste, let me know! Carla keeps telling me that my job this summer is just to rest and let the radiation and chemo do their jobs. But this job is a challenge!

Today we went to UW Madison Hospital to meet with a nationally recognized expert in the area of radiology oncology. His name is Dr. Mehta, and he will now follow my case and decide if I am a candidate for stereotactic radio surgery, more commonly known as the Gamma Knife.

Dr. Mehta has to wait to see the effectiveness of the radiation and chemo, so in early October I will return to Madison for a stealth MRI, which will show the exact nature and size of whatever may remain of the tumor.

The miracle would be that the tumor will have vanished. The next best news would be that the tumor will have shrunk significantly and have a smooth edge, making it a good target for the Gamma Knife surgery.

So now our prayers are for one of those two options. The Gamma Knife procedure has an 85% success rate, meaning that those patients live for years after.

So, things are looking up, I guess. Lately I've had some great hours with all of our grandkids. Saturday all four were here, so that's about as good as it gets. Connor (4) and Ryan (3) drove the jet boat with me, Grant (11 months) is on the verge of walking, and Keira (8 weeks) smiles just about every time someone looks at her.

Being with them really makes the time go quickly, and for a few hours this cancer thing takes a back seat. I've said it before, I know, but we surely are blessed to have our kids and their families so close. Dave will be here this weekend, too, so I'm sure we will all get together again.

I hope this message finds you enjoying these beautiful summer days! Again, please, keep us in your prayers. I'll write again toward the end of the week. Take care!

Denny

July 30, 2008

Hi,

It's been a while since I've written, so I thought I'd let you know what's been going on around here.

I spent most of my time last week preparing for my class reunion, which was Saturday. We had a great turnout and a wonderful time reminiscing about our days at Sacred Hear Seminary.

Our wives had their usual comments about the wisdom of sending off 13-and 14-year-old boys for that type of training at such a young age. To them it is unfathomable. But like I always tell Carla: "That's the way it was then!" We had the best teachers there, for which we are all eternally grateful.

All of us have gone on to enjoy fulfilling careers in medicine, business, social services, and teaching. Oh, yes, one of us did become a priest. That would be Don Zuleger who currently serves as pastor at St. Bernadette Parish right here in Appleton.

Health-wise I'm doing ok. I'm in my third week of treatment, experiencing exactly what was predicted. There is an ever present metallic taste in my mouth, and I am experiencing a bit of fatigue in the afternoons. Both are side effects of the radiation. We are dealing with this "new normal" the best we can, taking each day as it comes. When I do have questions, I have almost immediate access to my doctors and/or their staffs. We are so fortunate to have such skilled physicians and state-of-the-art facilities so nearby.

This week I plan to concentrate on getting ready for the upcoming semester. My plans are to teach full time. My treatment will go until the end of August, so the radiation and the chemo and the start of school will overlap with each other slightly.

So, that's the news--and some commentary--for today. I'll get back to you again at the end of the week. I hope all is well in your corner of the world.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Please know that they are appreciated so much. God bless you.

Denny

July 24, 2008

Hi Everyone,
It's Carla writing this one. Den has been busy the last few days with his class reunion that's coming up this weekend (40 years since his days in the seminary!) so I thought I'd fill you in on the latest -- not that there is too much to tell. His radiation treatments each morning are going well. He sees his doctor there once each week and the treatments are given by the technicians. Each week they make any necessary adjustments to the six or seven sites on his head that are radiated. The goal is to hit the tumor from all angles. Yesterday he did have a headache in the afternoon, but that could have been from playing golf with Dan Riordan and Mike Mauthe! If the headache was a result of the radiation disturbing the tumor, that's considered normal and expected and Tylenol seems to take care of it.
His chemotherapy has posed no side effects at all, so that's good. Really, if it wasn't for the routine MRI in early June, we'd be living this summer in a state of ignorant bliss because Denny is still symptom free. I still believe that in itself has to be a huge plus. It's been an emotional summer but I can't imagine what might have happened if this hadn't been found when it was.
On behalf of the kids and myself, thank you for all of the wonderful notes, letters, and cards you've sent to Den. Every day there's something in the mail that provides a trip down memory lane for both of us and we are touched by the messages of hope and prayer. We are so fortunate to have our families--immediate, extended, Xavier, church, neighborhood, as well as some very special friends --to be with us through all of this. We love you!!

Keep praying,
Carla

July 21, 2008

Hi, everyone!

It's a beautiful day outside this morning--not too warm or humid and just breezy enough to keep things pleasant.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. The words of encouragement and the sharing of your stories have lifted up my spirit. In short, your kindness makes me feel better.

Today I begin my second week of radiation and chemo. For those who have asked, I take the chemotherapy in a pill form right before I go to bed. An additional anti-nausea pill allows me to sleep through any side effects the chemo might cause. So far I haven't experienced any unpleasant side effects from either treatment.

The weekend allowed the other "therapy" I eluded to in a previous blog. On Saturday Carla and I were able to spend the afternoon with Connor (age 4 1/2) and Grant (10 months) and then yesterday we went to Bay Beach with Shannon and her children where we met up with my brother and his family. We are so grateful that our kids and our extended families are nearby.

Thanks again for being interested in what we are going through and for reading my blog. Please leave a comment as I love hearing from you.

Until next time,
Denny

July 18, 2008

Hi, everyone!

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have expressed your kind thoughts and concern. After four days of treatment--radiation and chemo--I am feeling pretty good. The great people at St. Elizabeth Hospital have made my visit each day pleasant, something I look forward to. When I hear the machine buzz, I almost can feel the cancer cells being zapped.

I am learning a lot about a condition I formerly did not think twice about. But I am doing all the right things. My days are filled with an appreciation for what is really important: spending time with Carla, our kids, our grandkids, and our friends. I am doing a little something each day in preparation for my fortieth class reunion or reading or helping around the house or preparing for the next school year or just taking a nap whenever I feel like it. Believe me, the pace is a little different this summer.

Keep me and my family in your prayers. I feel they are truly working.

And you take care of yourself, too. Take time to smell the roses. May God bless you and yours.

Denny

July 16, 2008

Hi, everyone!

Exclamation point. Did you notice that? I guess that mark of punctuation represents my attitude today because I had a comfortable night after my first chemotherapy and a good day today after my second radiation treatment. Besides the positive feelings from the three treatments so far, I spent a wonderful morning with my grandson Ryan: he and I took a Valley Transit bus from downtown Appleton to the Fox River Mall, where we met his mom, Shannon; his seven-week-old sister, Keira; and his Nonnie, Carla; for lunch at the food court. That's therapy, too!

Thank you again, everyone, for the encouragement and the prayers.

July 15, 2008

Hi, everyone--

I just want to thank my daughter, Shannon, for starting up this page for blogging. While I am not exactly sure how blogging works, how frequently I might write here, or how literary I might become when I write here, I regard this page as a start of something.

Want an update while I'm here and writing? This morning I had my first radiation therapy at St. Elizabeth Hospital. The technicians, whose names I will get to you, worked on the set-up first of all and then carried out the prescribed dose of radiation. The mask placed over my face and head while I lay on my back holds my head in place--tight. I can barely blink my eyes, and I can breathe more easily through my mouth than through my nose. If I do say so myself, I behaved like a good patient, staying still (what choice do I have?), making no unusual sounds, and being entirely compliant and uncomplaining.

I stayed on my back, in the mask, and under radiation therapy until 10 a.m. (My session started about 8:40.) I had two very pleasant and clear technicians, who made my first day a good one. Afterwards, the physicians assistant Jodi gave Carla and me a clear explanation of what went on and of what would be expected of me in the days ahead.

We walked outside into the warm summer sunshine about 10:30. I will be back here for six straight weeks, five days a week, right at 8:30. My chemotherapy begins tonight, too, right before I go to sleep--seven days a week for six weeks and then one week a month thereafter.

There you have it--the first Denny O. blog. Thank you for your prayers. Don't stop for any reason.

Denny O. (Dennis, Mr. O., Mr. Oudenhoven, etc.)