Holiday Greetings 2011

Happy Holidays everyone!

Well, we are on our way to drier climates and to visit Denver area: Heather, Erin and Glen and a host of friends tomorrow-and we are excited to get off the wet rock. Hope you are enjoying hoidays with families and friends too. Here is Alaska it seems to be raining much of the time, and there have been 5 days of no rain this month so far. We are ready to see the sun.

Dennis is on his second week of oral chemotherapy taking temodar and he is tolerating it well. He knows just what to do, take it in the evening and sleeps. He has been on it before, and there is a week between taking the drug when he can recover by not taking it. On the way south and on the way north we'll be visiting specialists, including a new oncologist that we have high hopes of taking over Dennis's care. We are also working with a local doctor so that he can take his chemo here in Alaska. Thank goodness everyone is working together.

There are lots of adventures planned for for 2012-Dennis is going pig hunting in Texas and I am attending and working at the Mule Deer Fdn camp in Salt Lake City. And, the days are getting longer-thank goodness, we are ready for spring to arrive. Love and best wishes to all of you, Dennis and Faith

Being Thankful 2011

We are here in Alaska enjoying a day off from hectic schedules; Dennis is putting away hunting gear, and I am off of work until Monday. It has snowed some in the morning, and it was 32 degrees F when we called Dennis's mom in Missouri and the girls in Colorado. Everyone we talked to is doing well; Heather was grating cheese for a cauliflower au gratin; in Missouri the temperature was headed for 70 degrees when we called.

On this Thanksgiving, and indeed each day we are thankful for having each other; that the kids are well and happy; that our family and friends are content and doing well; that the larder and freezers are full of the fruits (quite literally for my upright) fishes, game meat and birds of our labors. There's plenty else, and the list could be quite long, but we'll stop there.

As the darkeness falls around 4 pm we are looking forward to the time that daylight will increase instead of decrease. We wish you all the best in the coming season, Dennis and Faith

October through November Hunting trip

Dennis has just returned from his fall hunting trip to the lower 48. I tagged along for the first two weeks-after being with my mom for her 80th birthday. He drove his truck on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry and landed in Bellingham Washington, picking me up at the airport.

We began our adventure with the Daniels in Missoula and their doggie Maggie-then our next step was a terrific trip across Yellowstone country into Wyoming-to the K-Z guest ranch. There I hung out in the pines while Dennis got out hunting for some mule deer-and several rides on his horse, Nevada.

Nevada is now 19 years years old-originally a mustang from Nevada and bound for the Grand Tetons, this wonderful horse came into Dennis's life in 1994 via friend Scott Fitzwilliams. I have never seen such a broad smile as the day Dennis rode off on Nevada to hunt. Our trip to Wyoming and the K-Z was too short and we'll not be as far out of touch as we have been.

I then flew home to Alaska and Dennis went hunting on the lease for Mule deer with friend Orville Daniels-he got a non-typical 4 X 3-a big one-and then some pheasants. After getting the deer in the freezer he had brought in the truck. Dennis drove to the Black Hills and hunted with friends south of Custer, South Dakota for whitetail. Two weeks later he was back home in Alaska. Except for a pesky abcess in his jaw, he has felt fine the entire trip.

He got home just in time for some thick snow and blowing winds. Winter has arrived in southeast Alaska. His next medical step is a trip south next week to go to see his new nuero-oncologist and working with a local GP here in Ketchikan to coordinate chemotherapy. We'll update you when we know more. In the meantime, we are thankful for successful hunts and a safe return.

Our best wishes to all of you for a wonderful Thanksgiving with family around you, Happy holidays, Dennis and Faith

Dennis is going to get a P.E.T.

No, it is not a furry fourlegged one....it stands for Positron Emission Tomography, and it is a way of assessing the glucose uptake, oxygen use, and vascularity of individual cells. A nuclear medicine is added to glucose which is injected as an IV and then pictures are taken in what can only descibed as radiology donut machine smaller than an MRI donut.

Dennis and I have just returned from Seattle, where his latest MRI shows areas near the old tumor site that appear to have dye enhancements called flares. While some have come and gone, and many appear to have disappeared because they were scar tissue from past radiology treatments, this area is suspicious. The P.E.T. scan will determine if these cells are scar tissue or cancer.

In general he feels good. He was sad to see his nuero oncologist Dr. Lynn Taylor leave for Tufts University. She has been heading up his medical team and is one of the finest readers of brain MRIs ever-but Thursday is her last day so today we wished her well with a little Alaska salmon and jam, and then spent the rest of the appointment discussing his treatment options for the future-including how to work avastin treatments around his hunting trips and visits to the lower 48. We both got home to Alaska exhausted, but glad to be home.
Stay tuned, we'll let you know what we hear in a week or so. Keep those prayers and good wishes coming in, Faith and Dennis

September is here and so is Heather!

Youngest daughter Heather is here with her Dad and they have been fishing! So far the weather has given them a reprieve and they have had two good days on the water. Yesterday they saw humpbacks gulping krill, and today one of their lines had a banana peel on it as they pulled it out of the water. That is the way things go here in southeast Alaska. The fisherpersons have decided to sleep in this morning.

They have lots of plans for the rest of the week, we'll keep you updated, Love and cheers from us three!

August: Niece Bobbi Arrives from Utah!

Bobbi arrived for a week's visit-they did the zipline through the rainforest canopy, took a flightseeing trip into the Misty Fiords, went fishing and caught tons of salmon-and basically dodged the raindrops (they had some pretty nice weather days too!)

Meanwhile, I was at work, but did manage to make some kelp pickles and Dennis managed to pick huckleberries. The end of the summer is rapidly approaching.

Dennis is feeling good- as long as he has his naps. He is getting stronger day by day, getting ready for hunting season. I will be meeting up with him in Seattle as he is going down south by Alaska Marine Highway.

Youngest daughter Heather visits in a week so we are looking forward to that lots! More updates soon, Dennis and Faith

Blueberry Fesitval and Summer Activities

Let's see, first news is Dennis is feeling good-with the minor inconvenience of a toothache this week and then suddenly taking ill after eating nutrasweet in a milkshake (that set him back a whole week, he is allergic to phenylalanine, the active ingredient in nutrasweet). He's been hiking every day, taking long power naps, and generally feeling fine. His next MRI is on September 26th, and we'll both fly south for that.

Our yard sales went fine, people actually bought stuff! Hooray!! With the help of many friends we help put up the booth and unpack all the canned goods and fabric goodies for Faith's booth at the Blueberry Festival-she was so tired she fell asleep during the picture....

The weather here was cool and wet early in the summer so the berry picking schedule is really off this year. I continue to pick whenever possible. We are looking forward to visits from Neice Bobby this month and then daughter Heather next month-they are going out in the skiff with Dennis to slaughter the Silvers! Heather, and now Erin and Glen have moved to Colorado and are all in the Denver area. Wishing you a happy summer, Faith and Dennis

Monday's MRI brings GOOD NEWS!

Dennis was off to Seattle last Sunday while I visited my Mom in California. He had an MRI to see the results of the 8 days of IMRT radiation he had over a month ago. The MRI showed that the two lesions were smaller and had not spread. He must be living right! He was very relieved going home on Monday and now is planning another visit at the end of our New England tour in September-thw doctors said they wanted to see him again in three months,

This is great news.... and he ia feeling fine, hiking daily, and taking power naps each day. We are both going to be getting ready to have some massive yard sales un July. I return home tomorrow, Thursday, just in time for the weather to get hot here in the Valley. Wishing you a happy fourth! Dennis and Faith

Graduation Day for Heather!!

(left) Heather receives congratulatory kisses after the ceremony

(Left) Glen, Heather, Dennis & Erin before the ceremony

Despite the early hour we drove to get to Lake Street Church in Pasadena- we had plugged the location in the GPS-bless those machines-we had to drive right through downtown LA on the 110 freeway-Phew-remind me why I love Alaska. Traffic was relatively light until we got to Pasadena-where crowds of people were arriving for the baccalaureate cermony.

We picked up the soon to be graduate at her friend's place near campus-then Erin and Glen joined us-we all carpooled over to the enormous church where graduation ceremonies were being held. The graduates filed in at 10 am-and we were done a little aftenoon. It was a long ceremony with over 800 graduates-that is a lot of names and life stories. Now Heather has her Master of Arts in Theology, and we are all thrilled!

Afterwards, being truely hungry, we all went to Roscoes for chicken and waffles and then on to the Autry Museum nestled in the park for an afternoon of exhibits on cowboys, Colts, and basketmaking. Faith walked in at the end of a silent auction for Navajo Rugs -and picked up a storm pattern rug, waiting the 15 minutes to win it-it was a fortuitous arrival! By five pm we were off to Pasadena Old Town to eat at a restuarant Dennis and Glenn had discovered before the wedding last year: Green Street Tavern is really yummy and we all ate way too much.

It was bittersweet to have to leave the family after dinner-Heather flies back to Denver Monday- she's job hunting and dog training her new dog Charlie. Erin and Glen are moving to Denver from LA in three weeks. Erin finishes her teaching job at Watts Charter School in two weeks and then she will become a reading teacher in Lakewood, CO.

It was so great to be together-while we dislike the hustle bustle of LA and the air quality, we are very glad the family is going to be relocated shortly and that we could all be together for this important moment. Love to all, Dennis, Faith, Erin, Glen and of course, graduate Heather.

The Family is in Los Angeles for Heather's Graduation!

We are all here in Los Angeles for Heather's graduation from Fuller Institute in South Pasadena. We flew in from Seattle today and are now at the Courtyard Marriot. We are all so proud of her accomplishments, and we are really looking forward to a fun day.

Dennis has now been back from his radiation treatments for over a week. despite fatigue each day he hikes and walks about two miles or more, and has had few headaches.
More tomorrow from Pasadena-with pictures! Love, Dennis and Faith

Feeling Better All the Time: First Weekend Home

Dennis is feeling better being home! Yesterday we went for a 2.5 mile walk to Totem Bight State Park-and inspected the brand new totem carving shed built next to the dance house there. The tide was very, very low-we saw folks playing out at the mouth of Mud Bight. It did not rain a drop. All the rain happened on Saturday, when friends came over to drive the little Mustang skip loader to spread gravel on the driveway. Go figure....! Thanks to Forrest Cole, who made that happen-our driveway looks awesome!

Sunday Dennis had a visit from a retired Forest Service friend working on the Disney Wonder, a cruise boat that is having its first year in southeast Alaska. They tooled around the island for awhile, stopped in at the house, then headed back to the boat. It was a weekend of playing catch up and projects. Dennis is still fatigued and that is to be expected I guess.

This weekend is an important one-Heather Megan Neill graduates from Fuller Institute in theology! We are both excited to see this - Heather now lives in Denver, and has already moved. We'll be home Sunday. Have a great week, Dennis and Faith

Home Sweet Home Friday June 3rd

It is an understatement to say that Dennis is happy to be home. I picked him up yesterday after work-his suitcases were packed to the brim at 50 pounds apiece. He was tired but relieved. Luckily the temperatures in Seattle were mild while he was there.

The team in radiation at Virginia Mason was pleased that his side effects thus far are minimal. Fatigue is a very common side effect, so Dennis has perfected the super nap. He slept well last night and woke up without a headache. His hair needs cutting-three to four weeks without a trim has made him look scruffy. The doctors want him to return for another MRI at the end of June

Having a weekend together has been wonderful. Today friends helped us spread the gravel on our drive (with a little rented "Mustang" skip loader) and around the house and it looks like new. We are so very thankful for their help.

Dennis has been able to go through all the mail and is very thankful to those of you that have sent cards, letters, and prayers.

Our next trip is to LA at the end of the week to watch Heather graduate! More updates soon, Dennis and Faith

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

Slowly Plans Form Friday, April 29th

We have made some small progress in pursuing Dennis's health care this week, re-establishing a connection with his case worker in our health insurance, making an initial appointment with radiology to have the preliminary screening appointment on May 18th, and preparing to flie to Missouri to visit Dennis's mom Betty. Betty is the matriarch of the family, and we are all looking forward to being in Missouri. We all have projects, and mine is to plant the flower beds-I am looking forward to going to the nurseries with "Mom" and helping cook for the family. Even younger daughter Heather will be coming out to grandma's house, at least that is the plan. It should be a fun Mother's Day! Heather will be graduating in June, so we are hoping the radiation treatments will be over so we can both fly to Los Angeles to see her get her master's degree.
Dennis is appreciating hearing from everyone, especially old friends from Colorado and North Dakota who have emailed him-keep those prayers and well wishes coming, they make a huge difference. All our best, Faith and Dennis

The Waiting Game: 26th of April

So now we are playing the waiting game in regard to the cost of the sterotactic radiation therapy, and Dennis is pursing healthier ways of improving diet, supplements and lifestyle that will make him stronger to make the treatment more effective.
A small part of this is cost, as the Rasmussen Grant does not cover the costs of airfare or staying in Seattle during the treatment. He is planning it after his trip to Missouri and before his daughter Heather's graduation.
I have begun selling my belongings to get ready for a move. It's a slow start, but a start. No word on any job transfer yet. The days are filled with work and resposibilities. I have begun canning all the frozen berries from last year that are in the freezer. I did about 6 batches last weekend. I am hoping to sell them at a yard sale in June.
Meanwhile, at home the bulbs are up that we got from Amsterdam on our way to Africa a few years ago. I saw a bald eagle diving in flight and it seems a little early for mating , but who knows? It is only a few weeks now before we give up our downtown to cruise ship visitors. So in that regard any day that there is not rain is a good one to get out and go for a walk. Dennis does this daily and he has been seeing all the spring changes along the way. We thank you for all your care and concern. It was especially hard to tell everyone in my quilt guild I would be leaving-I will miss my sewing buddies a lot. Onward! With thanks, Dennis and Faith

Friday and the Results of the Tumor Board

We are now home in Ketchikan and it is overcast and rainy, pretty much an average spring day. The crocuses are out in Whale Park near faith's downtown office and the red alder trees along the road seem red with new buds. A bald eagle sits on a mast post near a floatplane hanger on the water of Tongass Narrows. The jewelry stores in town are beginning to wake up with fresh coats of paint and boxes piled high to the ceiling. I bought daffodils for the office since it is Earth Day, and chocolate easter eggs for everyone on my floor. Old habits are comforting sometimes.

Today the "tumor board" met at Virginia Mason, including all the doctors and specialists that have been treating Dennis over the last 22 months. He later got a call from his neuro oncologist with some advice about a relatively new treatment called hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy. This is a type of pinpoint radiation prescribed for three weeks that may buy Dennis some time with minimal side effects. In a study with about 105 people with glioblastoma multiforme, those that had re-occurence tolerated the radiation well, and survived 10 months to a year. The study was done over a period of 14 years, ending in 2008. Anyway, Dennis is going to think on this and get back to his neuro oncologist.

It is now officially our first weekend home in a while. Dennis did many chores today and retired early. He has heard from over 90 of you in the online Campfire and for that he is very grateful. It looks like his experiemntal treatment will not be paid for through the clinical trial. If you care to donate, you may donate to: Faith L. Duncan and Dennis Neill c/o Alaska Federal Credit Union, PO Box 196613, Anchorage, AK 99519-6613. Please put the ending numbers of the account #35 in the memo line. For those who want to send cards and well wishes (please don't send them to the bank address above), you can send them to: Dennis Neill P.O. Box 23383 Ketchikan, AK 99901 .

May spring find its way into your Easter. We look forward to hearing from you, Dennis and Faith

Home at Last, Home at Last.....

We got home today at last after a long pause at the Seattle airport and several airplane books. Dennis called the doctors in his team this morning and let them know his decision to not take the year long regime of chemo (avastin and iretocan). He is going to go for it concentrating on quality of life and enjoying the time he has left.

When we got home it hailed a little on us on the ferry-it was a very high tide- and then we picked up our mail and headed home. Our friend Marjean Zeiser came over as the dinner angel with a whole meal of lasagna and flowers and easter trays with chocolates. Thanks, Marjean, it was wonderful and it may us both so thankful! We are sure glad to be home. Tomorrow I return to work and hopefully hear news on a possible move to Montana. Dennis is tracking feedback from over 80 people on the Hunter's campfire...he is astounded at the outpouring of support and prayers. With thanks, Dennis and Faith

A Wednesday in the Woods and Beach

Well, it was a good day, but we are heavy in our hearts with the amount of life (and death) decisions we have to make. Yesterday the medical community that Dennis has been working with gave him a year or less to live. They also asked us to make some decisions about how to proceed, and asked us to examine what was most important to us. Everyone who has considered the quality of their life usually does not have to balance it with the quantity of their life except at the end of life. So that is what we are trying to do, and Dennis will be making some hard decisions shortly.

These are concepts that are hard to put your arms around. Intellectually we can, emotionally we cannot fathom them. We drove to the Pacific Coast for clarity today, on the southern edge of the Olympic Peninsula. We stopped in at a Forest Service Office (imagine that)-then a small interpretive center run by a private group of friends of the Comunity of Ocean Shores (huh, funny about that too) then out to the beach in the cold wind and tried to take pictures in the 30 knots!! The community reminded me of reading "The Outermost House" about the east coast. Later in the afternoon we drove on to the Quinault Indian Lands north of Ocean Shores. Dennis drove all 325 miles and we got back to Seattle after 8 pm. Many times that day we tried to put our arms around the time we have left. Thanks to all of you that called today, and to those that wrote Dennis on the campfire-he logged in as soon as we got back to the hotel and was gratified at the responses. Thanks to Steve Daniels for helping with this.

We talked about having fun and trying to fit in all the experiences we could together, including
going to New England to see fall color, Acadia, my grandfather's grave, and for Dennis to hunt in the three states he has left: Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. We plan to do that this September before he goes deer hunting in Montana and South Dakota. Then there is the trip to New Zealand and Australia to hunt targ. This is a little further out there, in May of 2012. We are hoping to reach that goal. In between there is a trip home to Missouri to visit his mom on this mother's day (the next trip), and to his youngest daughter Heathers graduation from Graduate school, (a trip in June), our anniversary, and a few birthdays....sigh.....

So this brings us to your comments about donations. Dennis is thinking of starting a fund as part of his donation account-I think in his name -with the Friends of the Ketchikan NRA for teaching girls and women hunter education safety, and the shooting sports. Dennis has been an advocate for women appreciating and learning about hunting and shooting his whole life. Any extra donations might go there, and can still be sent to the Dennis Neill donation account at Tongass Federal Credit Union in Ketchikan. Or you may wish to designate it for the carving of his memorial, which has a deer hunter and deer on it. He wishes to be buried in Missouri in bucolic cemetary in the country near where he was born. In any event, stay tuned as these ideas form more fully.

Now to the present. Faith has requested a transfer of work, and that may allow a move to Montana in the near future. This move means that Dennis will be closer to his girls, his mom, and to his hunting areas that he loves. It means lots of change in the Neill and Duncan house-stay tuned for further updates. We are flying home tomorrow-and looking forward to a return to our normal Alaskan life-with a challenging future ahead! Onward....Dennis and Faith

Another Journey Begins

It's spring in Washington State and a week before Easter-the birds and buds have sprung, and Dennis has just received the devestating news that his glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer has returned.

The Virginia Mason Team told us yesterday that the MRI showed several new tumor like "flares" that indicated the progression of cancer. Dennis has been feeling great, with only short term memory lapses and word finding issues. When the doctors found the new cancer, they unblinded him out of the clinical trial he was in. It indicated that he was indeed receiving the avastin drug every two weeks for a year.

It has been a while since we spoke to everyone. We decided to bring you up to date. After the end of the clinical trial last year, Dennis went off hunting in Montana and South Dakota. He paused in Montana to help the Daniels. He brought back some awesome deer, and then we settled in very a very busy and cold winter. Except for Christmas-we decided to relax in Kuaui: flowers, real fruit, art walks, pig hunters and their families (on Christmas Day in Waimea Canyon) and farmer's markets were some of the highlights. Dennis has decided the best bananas come from there...I decided I like Kuaui better then any other island so far.
In February 2011:
Then we took off for Salt Lake City, and worked at the Mule Deer Foudation and Western Conservation Expo-it went really well. We saw and talked to lots of folks about Sitka blacktaileddeer and the habitats they live in. Thanks to Jim Baichtal and Steve Daniels for help there. Then Dennis was off to Cady Texas environs to hunt feral pigs with his buddy Gary. He returned with a cooler full of pork! Then we were off to the Elk Foundation to see old friends and enjoy Reno. It was fun to see everyone.

I have been working, but went off to volunteer at the Iditarod in Nome & to help my friend Angie Taggart who successfully finished-fun but cold. See Duncanattheiditarod2011.blogpot.com

But getting back to the present-we are now thinking about it-and decisions may be posted soon. Keep Dennis in your prayers, and don't be strangers. There is no time like the present. Love and Cheers from us both, Dennis and Faith