IMRT Radiation Days, Week One

Four days are scheduled this week for radiation, and by Friday Dennis will be half finished with his treatments. The radiation mask fits tightly due to his lack of haircut and full beard. He is assuring me that he falls asleep during the short treatments that are at a different time each day. Then he has Memorial Day weekend off and then next week has the rest of the treatments. The weather in Seattle is still bearable, with overcast skies and it has not been super warm, which is a big relief for him. Not having air conditioning is a big problem when you are in Seattle and it is very warm. He sounds positive on the phone and so far has not had any adverse reactions. He is looking forward to having his hair trimmed when he comes home. He is a Neill, and his hair grows lots!

Your cards, letters, and packages have been super-I especially like hearing about all the graduations and the pictures of all the kids! Wow, how the time passes. Dennis has had lots of phone calls from friends and a visit from a friend from Prince of Wales who was in town for some medical work. Yesterday we heard from the American Cancer Society in Anchorage which is sending him a debit card he can charge to for his out of pocket expenses. Many, many thanks for those that have sent monetary contributions, we both appreciate them immensely, and we'll put them into the old donation account for use. Since the Bank doesn't maintain it as a donation account past 3 months, you can send things to me or Dennis and I will make sure the deposits happen.

He will fly home to Alaska next Friday night. At that point we'll be beginning the process of simplifying our stuff-selling and getting rid of many things to facilitate storage, moving, and figuring out our future. Until then, stay posted, we love you all, Dennis and Faith

Today we returned from the southwestern Washington coast to Visginia Mason and Dennis met with the radiology technicians that will administer the IMRT style radiation for 8 days-that's right. 8 days only, and the treatments should take 15 to 20 minutes total.

It was a little tricky to make sure that the new Varian Trilogy radiation machine was lined up perfectly for the multidimensional x rays that are being focused on the two lesions he has. After driving in the traffic here in Seattle I wished we were back on the coast sitting on the beaches or watching great blue herons on the marshes. But Dennis will be able to come home earlier than planned and that is good.

It's Amish baked chicken, sweet potato and rainbow chard for dinner so I had better get back to it. This is a very restorative menu! Best, Dennis and Faith

Further Discoveries on the Coast Sunday the22nd

This morning we headed north from Seaview across the street to the west-and drove out to the seacoast access a few blocks away. People were clamming at low tide, there was some wind blowing in off the ocean, and the beach yawned for miles in either direction. We found the international kite museum nearby and spent some time enjoying the kites from all over the world, and military ones as well. My favorites were the bird kites...there is a big festival in August each year on the beach. We pulled through Longview after a stop (for me) at a quiltstore and at a fabulous bakery. Yum O the the shortbread cookies....
Dennis at gingerbread decorated church at Oysterville.

Onwards to Leadbetter State Park at the northern tip of the peninsula separating the quieter Willapa Bay full of private oysterbeds from the windier Pacific Ocean side. We had lunch on the quiet beach and then Dennis walked the mile loop while just sat in the sun and napped. We followed up with a visit to the historic buildings of Oysterville-wow, what an amazing village-and ended up at the working cranberry farm and museum. I never knew anything about the delicious berry, and am a lot more informed than before. We had a good day overall and were glad to take the extra day to relax.

We called it an early night and had dinner in our little cottage room. Tomorrow there is driving on Highway 101 back to Renton for appointments at the Integrative Cancer Center and then on to Virginia Mason in the late afternoon. We should have updates for you tomorrow. Thanking you for all your prayers, Dennis and Faith

ATrip to the Columbia River and Coast: May 21 through 22nd

We traveled south out of Seattle through some scattered showers to turn west at Kelso and head out paralleling the Lewis and Clark Trail along the Columbia River. Weboth needed to get out of the city and get some air. Dennis's apartment is nice, but we needed rural, country setting to relax. Next Monday the radiologists begin his treatments, which begin in earnest for two weeks Tuesday. He will be done the 7th of June and then fly home before turning around and going to Heather's graduation.

Results of the MRI on Thursday indicated little had changes in the size or nature of the lesions they found in the old location of the brain tumor 23 months ago. We both think this is good news. Tomorrow afternoon we go to an integrative health institute in Renton before going back to his radiation doctors at Virginia Mason. At this point we still do not know what type of treatment they are putting him through, just that he will have it daily for four days this week, four days the following week-they do not work the holiday-and then daily for two days the last week.

Today it is Sunday -and we are staying in a nice little cottage in Seaview, Washington. After racing to the closing hour of the Cape Dissapointment Lighthouse Interpretive Center yesterday-run by Washington State Parks and attached to an old WWII battery-see photo-and it had the BEST view of the Pacific I have seen since working at Point Reyes Lighthouse- today planning a lazy day of beaches and visiting museums before returning tomorrow.

Our trip yesterday was awesome- our first stop was groceries-then a little picnic in a park in Olympia-then a nice drive west along Route 4 paralleling the Columbia River-then we stopped at the closed but peaceful refuge for Columbian White Tailed Deer and watched the slough and the birds for while. We stopped at a covered bridge that was built in 1905-06by a private family-that is still standing and a community association manages it-very cool picture of Dennis at the exit. Then back on the road crossing the Gray's River we happened upon about 20 Roosevelt Elk along side as the road-they were wild and feeding in a pasture by the side of the road-it was cool!! Then onwards to where the Columbia opens out to the "Nitch" where Lewis and Clark, in view of their Pacific dream, pulled their boat into the rocks and logs to wait out a storm for five days. Finally, through Ilarco and past a closing arts and crafts show to the head and the Interpretive Center. On our way north to the Longview Beaches we found the Enchanted hostelry we stayed at for the weekend. It's cool, quiet, and we had a great repast at the 42nd Street Cafe across the street-best fried green tomatoes we have ever had.... so we are off to new adventures today-including an internationally recognized kite museum, and of course (for Faith) a quilt store. Love and cheers, Faith and Dennis

Beginning three weeks in Seattle, 15th through 20th

Dennis flew back to Seattle Monday and moved into the Alden Apartments, a quiet spot near the hospital. Unfortunately our favorite market near there had closed, so Dennis was without the standard yoghurt and bananas for breakfast until the following day.

He met with his medical team the following day, and the radiology team took over from the chemo team. Then on Wednesday his radiation mask was made-and good thing, he did not need to cut his hair this go around. Today he had an MRI and the pictures indicated the lesions had not grown. That is also good news.

Tomorrow I fly out to spend the weekend with him. We are going to escape to the country. He begins his radiation on Monday afternoon. Right now the doctors are going to treat him with radiation for two weeks. Then he can come home on the 6th of June. We are both looking forward to going to Heather's graduation on the 10th in Los Angeles. Talk with you soon, Faith and Dennis

Friday the 13th: Leaving Trenton for St. Louis

Our trip to visit Dennis's family is over for now. We visited a lot, and were able to help his Mom with some house and garden projects but we mostly had to settle on making contacts and paperwork related to his plot in the Salem cemetary and other related activities. We pulled out of town after being able to see most everybody at least once. One friend from High School even called while we were on the road to wish us well It was a trying and exhausting week. We were glad to be heading for our adventure in St. Louis, but about halfway there Dennis drove through very heavy rains that made it impossible to see the highway. Slowing way down we followed the truck lights across the Missouri countryside on Interstate 70!! We switched halfway and I drove through St. Louis to Illinois and to the hotel in Collinsville-phew! We were ready to call it a day after that.

On the 14th we had a bucket list item for Faith: several well spent hours at the Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site outside Collinsville. This is one of the many places Faith studied in North American Archaeology. It was misty and raining lightly (by Ketchikan standards) when we finally climbed to the top terrace, terrace 4, on Monk's Mound. We flew off to Seattle that night and we are looking forward to getting home tomorrow. Dennis turns around and flies back to Seattle to begin his radiation treatments Monday, so we just got our visits accomplished before that. Best wishes to all, Dennis and Faith

A trip to Iowa on May 11th

Kevin's eyes are closed, but his new kitten's eyes were opened-these are two of four born.

We decided to go north to visit family that lived north of Missouri in the middle of the week. We stopped in outside Princeton to visit the Dorland patriarch Maurice who will be 90 this year and found him well considering his age. Then we went on to family right outside Osceola-the threatening clouds were getting gray and the wind was beginning to howl. By the time we sat down to a delicious supper with Marilyn, Merrill and their families there were some tornado warnings on the radio and the rain was pounding on the Iowa clay. After a fitful night of listening to the storm and many coal trains passing by from Wyoming bound for eastern cities, we loaded up and curved south to visit more family and pull through Brimson, a town where Dennis had lived for several years before leaving home to go off to college.

While we were in Iowa we got to see and hold the new crop of kittens that had been born about two weeks earlier. They immediately fell asleep on the folds of Faith's shirt. There was a lot of hinting about Faith taking kittens back but we resisted. Especially considering the fact we may be moving some time soon. Our love to all the family, Dennis and Faith

Mother's Day In Missouri 2011

Fried chicken made by Dennis Mom for breakfast; gooseberry pies made before lunchtime for Heather and other pie eaters. So far we have been through a pan of chocolate cake, Rhubarb and peach pie, and numerous melons and tuna sandwiches. Relatives have dropped by to visit, making parking minimal on Normal St., and there have been multiple trips to the Amish town of Jamesport.

L to R: Older brother Ken, Heather, and Dennis visiting outside the house.

On Friday evening Dennis received word that he has secured nice apartment within walking distance to Virginia Mason hospital so he can have his own place while going through three weeks of radiation treatment. We get home to Alaska next Saturday evening and he leaves the following day for his treatment.

I will be visiting midway, and then we both take off for Heather's graduation in Pasadena.

Meanwhile we are enjoying the weather here and the family visits and going to fun places. Wishing all the families and mothers out there a great day, Dennis and Faith

Thursday Cinco de Mayo en Missouri

Well, here we are-sitting in the living room at Betty Neill's house on Normal Street in Trenton. We've slept in because all of us have been on the road for hours. The last to arrive was Ken, it took him about 7 hours from Oklahoma, -he walked in this morning. We are all still yawning here. I went out to see what the red birds, the cardinals, were doing.....there were wrens making nests, Mom saya about a week so far. The male wren is calling and calling to tell the other birds that his nest is here and the female is building and primping the inside.

There has already been thunder, lightening, and two rainstorms already. It is nice and cool still, here, and I pruned some shrubs in the garden already. Best from Missouri, Dennis and faith

Tuesday May 3rd and we are on our Way to Missouri

Well, we are in Seattle on our way to Missouri via St. Louis tomorrow. There's lots of family in the Trenton area, but Dennis's brother (who is driving north from Oklahoma) and his youngest daughter (who is driving east from Denver with her cousin) will also be there, visiting Dennis's mother Betty for Mother's Day. Betty is 86 and is getting a house makeover-siding and painting are needed and I am told that I am in charge of planting flower beds. Trenton is a small town near where Dennis was born, so there will be visits to homesites, cemetaries, and dinners with the family.

Usually this time of year it is relatively mild and not as humid as summertime. We'll drive west from St. Louis to get there, so it should be an adventure. Luckily the GPS will assist-I do not know this part of the country very well. Dennis is napping-he has been working out his next medical treatments and is fitting in his stereotactic radiation between this trip to Missouri and daughter Heather's graduation in Los Angeles in June. He is tired but in good spirits.

So far we have not made much progress on the move to Montana. Working remotely for the Tongass NF seems like a continuing possibilty. Dennis has appreciated all the email from Region 2 of the Forest Service. I have appreciated the continuing support of the First City Council on Cancer-can I tell you the folks in Ketchikan Alaska have been terrific? We'll log in again and give you an update from Missouri. Traveling, traveling, Dennis and Faith