Go Steve - Steve's Updates

Updates from Steve’s cancer-free life

July 18, 2005

(drew paris)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , — By steve @ 8:15 pm

Well, I Eric Jerke and I were able to see Steve for his birthday last weekend and he seemed pretty decent. Un and Bree also showed up to wish Steve a happy 22nd. Members of Steve and Libby’s families were there also. The cake and pop were enjoyed by all.

Steve felt pretty good, he is back to where he was before he left the hospital. Feeling pretty good, eating well, etc. The most annoying thing to him is the cast he is in. It is really uncomfortable. It’s kind of bent and form-fitted so that he can sit up easier during the day, but that means he can’t really lay down flat on his back. He has to sleep sitting up.

When Steve was out of the hospital for those few days, his family was able to get a hosptial style bed for the hotel room. Well, apparently that bed sucked. It was an old 50’s style hospital bed that had a very uncomfotrable mattress. And since he has to sleep sitting up, he was kind of screwed. Everything was manual, no remote-control or anything. I guess the one in the hospital is better.

Anyway, he said he would rather be back in traction than be in that cast an longer. Unfortunately there’s not much he can do about it.

But, he still has high spirits. Eric and I got him the computer game “Battlefield Vietnam” and he seemed to enjoy it. That computer he has is awesome, and it can play any game out there. Hopefully when Steve gets back out of the hospital, he can get some high speed internet to make it more usefull.

Well, as always, call/visit/send stuff to Steve, he’s doing great and we just need to be there for him.

June 9, 2005

(from Drew Paris)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , — By steve @ 4:08 pm

Stopped by and saw Steve at the hosptial this afternoon. His mom is now back in the Cities for awhile, so she was in the room with him as well. Libby is still staying with him at the hospital. She is only a 20 minute bus ride from her job downtown Minneapolis. Steve seemed to be in great spirits when I saw him, so keep up the calls and visits.

He finally got his laptop computer setup, and he was busy playing Doom 3. Nice new computer – Dell XPS Laptop with all the bells and whistles. He’d probably appreciate any new games people can send/get him. The only problem is he has terrible internet access, so he can’t do online gaming. Also some games that need internet access (Half Life 2) won’t work at all (at least that’s what he said).

Also, Steve is back to eating normal food again for the past week or so, although his stomach has shrunk considerably after not eating solid food for 1+ months, so he gets full easily. His doctors want him to have 3000 calories a day! So if you visit, call and ask him what food you can bring for him. His doctors seriously told him not to waste time with vegtables and fruits, and just get a lot of fat and protein. Basically pizza, hamburgers, burritos, etc. are good. Since they took him off the IV feed, he needs those calories.

Also, they have him on these “Boost” health shake in a can things. Remember those from like 1993? They look terrible, if someone has a better suggestion please get them for him. I think he can keep them in his fridge and have those instead (make sure you ask him first).

This is basically the first time he’s felt normal in a long while. I suppose it will be this way until his next Chemo intake. Let’s hope it’s not as bad as last time. Again, keep up the calls, packages, and visits.

May 17, 2005

(from Josh Malnourie)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , , , , , — By steve @ 3:52 pm

Endoscopy Wed 10:30am, chemo to follow after

John Hoven (ND governor) sent Steve a get well card today. Awesome!

Steve’s hair is falling out a lot more now. Libby got him a pretty sweet beanie to wear once that process is done.

Sounds like the benefit dinner in Langdon on Sunday raised about $10,000! Nice work!

No throwing up today. Hurray!

Steve was playing some grand theft auto 3 today on the playstation, so he is feeling pretty darn good right now.

Still no food going down, but it sounds like Steve is taking a total of 250ml of liquids (meds, etc) every hour now. That’s a LOT!