Dennis is progressing along pretty well. Up and moving around, eating more and appears to be recovering from surgery as expected. He is still in CCU - they are waiting for a room to come open on the 17th floor. Hopefully that will happen today.
The pathology has been completed. Unfortunately it confirms what was expected; "Stage IV Glioblastoma". This is a very agressive form of cancer. Treatment options are being discussed and analyzed. He needs to heal from the surgery before treatment can begin, so he has some time to decide a course of action.
Before the surgery he told me with a clear head and only the way Dennis can, "it is what it is and I have to deal with it". The man is not short on courage for sure. He has a hell of a fight in front of him and I know he appreciates your thoughts and comments.
The plan is for he and Faith to fly back to Ketchikan on Saturday and focus on post-op recovery. Then they will figure out what the next steps will be.
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11 comments:
10 years ago my niece/god-daughter was diagnosed with a extremely rare, and very agressive form of cancer. But she's tough and she beat it, as I'm sure that you are, and will too.
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts,
Chris
(a/k/a MurphysLaw-24 Hour Campfire)
Hello Dennis! Vern and I just heard the news....We are so sorry to hear it but are happy to hear that so far, so good. I'm sure I'm not the first one to mention it, but the most tragic part just might be the loss of all that beautiful hair!
We will be thinking of you every day and following the posts. (Thanks so much to Scott F for handling the blog!). Our hearts are with you and your familiy.
If you decide to pursue "alternative treatment" we have heard incredible things about the Century Wellness Clinic here in Reno. Many people for whom traditional routes of chemo,etc, have failed, have been cured -- so we hear. Just an fyi if you want it. (And if you go that route please let us know how we can help as local residents).
Now cowboy up and beat this thing! There's a lot more fish out there that need catchin'!!!
Peace, julie
Cowboy up, get tough, kick ass and take names!
Nothing less than you are capable of and nothing less than we expect to see!
Then you can come to the KP and see how purty that Loopy looks on my kids bear gun! my daughter used that one to smack a blackie on Sunday night. (Thread in AK forum) ;)
Keep your stick on the ice - we're all pullin' for you!
ironbender
Dennis,
Sorry to be tardy in posting. Been occupied getting the travel trailer ready for a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains to rendezvous with old Army buddies. Along the way, I'll see my ancient mom in Colorado Springs, and enjoy all life has to offer along America's interstate highways. I did the routine purging of anti-freeze; sanitized the water system; got the water heater, 'fridge, and heater blooded with propane; and checked all the lights, lines, plugs, and pumps. It recalled for me the little trailer we stayed in while elk hunting on the White River NF. I think that's the trailer Faith christened with the phrase, "If this trailer's rockin', don't come a knocking..." (I should add here -- for the curious and purient -- the trailer did not rock while Dennis and I shared those close quarters. It may have rippled a little, but that was from the snoring!) Anyway, there we were, stuck with a downed elk and several miles back to the trailer. We had your game cart, but it was so loaded with meat, green hide, our packs, and other stuff that the only way we could budge it was to harness ourselves to it with a yoke-like apparatus and pull with all our strength for distances of maybe 30 yards at a time. After each pull, we would collapse in a breathless heap, waiting for the altitude and our respiratory system to synchronize sufficiently to allow another 30-yard burst. God, we had some fine times, didn't we? What did it take, the better part of a day to get back to camp? Anyway, all of those memories came flooding back to me while getting the trailer ready for the trip. I know you have a challenging trip ahead, but I also know you are up to the challenge. A lot of us are pulling for you -- just as hard as you and I strained against that log and line -- and are focused on helping you get back to camp. Get well, my friend.
Ed
Just left this message on your thread at the 'fire...
Until you get this thingy licked, here it goes again.
Hoping today found you even more rested. Only a few more days and you'll be back home/in AK with your critters and a familiar surrounding outside of those icky white hosp. walls.
Ned and I will continue to to send positive thoughts and prayer your way, man. DO know... ya have a host of people that care and are keeping you close in spirit.
Same ole same ole Giant Bear Hugs to all,
Jane and Ned
Good evening Dennis. Ed's note got me thinking of travels with you. Thank heavens none of them involved a travel trailer or a human-powered game cart that was obviously filled to more than capacity by some pretty greedy fellows.... but I digress. I was thinking of our epic journey to Grey Towers, meeting with TR IV, and the classic photo shoot. You had such a strong hand in taking us all there, what a great trip. Then there was my other personal favorite, wherence you got to stay in the Juneau Super 8 while I got to stay in the five star, French-cheffed Angoon fishing lodge. It's all about the plane you get on, buddy. God save the Tongass. Love, Patty
Go Dennis!
The Samuelson children just went to bed and included "Mr. Dennis" in their prayers.
God Bless!
Wade & Kelly Samuelson
Kylie, Kate, Hallie O'Malley, and Maizy too!
Hello Dennis. I'd heard stories about your long trips in the Alaska wilds with Baichtal and others involving tents, waiting out days of rain and fog on Dall Island, and packing out moose for days up in the interior, but never anything about rocking trailers. Imagine you were hitched....
I was on my way to Sitka this past weekend when I heard Scott and you were on your way south for surgery. Sounds like they dropped you at the bottom of the mountain and now you are starting your climb back up to the top. There are more than white rams and beautiful vistas up there, and I have no doubt you are up to the challenge. Lisa and I are here to help you at any step along the way.....you and Faith just let us know whenever you need a hand.
Guess I must admit just how technologically challenged I am, as this is the first "blog" (think that's the right term) ever attempted by this farm boy. Hope it works. I trolled around Sitka for 2 days this weekend trying to snag on to a king salmon, with only black bombers to show for the effort. The catching wasn't to good, but some great fishing around the volcano with fair winds and calm seas.
I recall that trip Patty mentioned to Angoon as it was my first TLT meeting as an acting. It was rather ironic with some of us at the Super 8 in the capital city of Juneau roughing it while those in a small village in the wilds of Admiralty Island were being wined and dined. There's probably a lesson there other than just knowing when to wing it.
We have been thinking about you and Faith a lot and are wishing you all the strength, good medical help, and prayers needed in your recovery.
Take care friend and get well,
Greg and Lisa
I'm jealous of all these great stories, but they are exactly as I expected. I'll have to roll out a family story or two in the near future. But, Dennis, remember something that someone said to me..."If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it."...
Hi Dennis,
I'm sorry to hear this news, but if anyone can get through this it's you. Stay strong! I'll be thinking of you and Faith.
Since you're bound to have abundant "couch time," check out my blog at www.toogroce.blogspot.com. It might entertain you for 5 minutes...
Get better,
Jackie
I can remember the caribou huunt to the interior, outside of Dillingham. We had not seen signs of civilization for nearly a week and Fitzwilliams had left us two days earlier. We were sitting on a frozen lake that we had named Swan Lake, one of dozens in that area. The only person who knew where we were was the cranky bush pilot, who was four hours late and couldn't land anyway due to the ice. I was concerned, but when I turned to you, Dennis - you were confident and telling one after the other of your famous Dennis Neill stories.
I expect you are just as confident now and will get out of this jam to tell more stories. Get well soon!
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