Go Steve - Steve's Updates

Updates from Steve’s cancer-free life

November 16, 2006

(mom [carla])

Since so many of you continue with love and support concerning Steve, I felt the need to update. Steve participated in the Relay for Life both at NDSU and hometown Langdon. How exciting to see the support for the American Cancer Society.

Steve continues to doctor in Minneapolis with frequent visits there. He looks like Steve again with good color in his cheeks and a full head of hair (no-it did not grow back curly-we will leave the curls to Libby!!) His last scans shows that he is a NERD! And that is a good thing-NERD stands for no evidence of recurrent disease! Steve does experience nausea and vomiting some days, but as his digestive system continues to heal hopefully that will keep improving. His heart function at his last test was within normal readings.

Steve is taking 12 credits at NDSU this semester and is participating in some Blue Key, ATO fraternity, and GOB activities. He is tired but it takes a lot of effort to maneuver those crutches!! He does have his prosthetic leg but can’t really use it yet until he has the OK for full weight bearing. His stump causes considerable pain as it is still healing.

We are so proud of Steve and his willingness to get back to classes. He has already fought many battles and won! More exciting news is that Steve and our angel Libby set their wedding date for next summer!

We have GoSteve beanies available as well as a new shipment of GoSteve shirts. The beanies are in both Fargo and Langdon and the shirts are all in Fargo but we will have some in Langdon next week.

Words cannot express how much your caring means to all of us. We are so grateful it is NOW and look forward to even better days ahead.

January 13, 2006

(mom [carla])

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , , — By steve @ 6:36 am

Glen and Steve returned to Fargo around suppertime, but by around 10 pm Steve and Libby were in the Meritcare ER. Steve was running a temperature, nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. He was admitted to the 7th floor at Meritcare Hospital. The Minneapolis doctors were in close contact with the Fargo medical personnel so Steve was able to follow the same protocol–more antibiotics, more blood, & many lab tests! He was discharged Tuesday noon–hopefully he can have some quality days before starting chemo again next Monday in Minneapolis. We are looking forward to some tasty fish at the benefit to be held Sunday January 22 from 11-2 at the Masonic Center in Langdon.

September 20, 2005

(mom [carla])

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , , , — By steve @ 6:18 am

This last month has been a time of stump healing (very slowly). His last stitches were removed and he was able to begin his chemo treatments again. On Sept 6, he was admitted back into the hospital and while he was getting his chemo drugs he slept a lot–waking up long enough to vomit. He was able to go back to the apartment but after a few days needed to have home infusion come to get IV’s going. Then on Friday Sept 16th, Steve ended up back in the hospital with mouth sores ( a side effect of the chemo drugs). Besides treating the infection, he is also on TPN and lipids (food in the IV bags). The plan is to have 4 courses of chemo now after surgery so there is still a long stretch ahead. The exciting part is Steve has been to see the prosthetist a few times, and was able to find out more about prosthetic legs and what technology has to offer!

September 6, 2005

(mom [carla])

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , — By steve @ 6:15 am

Steve started another course of chemotherapy, so he is back in the hospital. He is really sick like he was before and he is unable to eat again.

July 22, 2005

(mom [carla])

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , , , — By steve @ 8:20 pm

This whole last month Steve has had up and down days with fevers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, electrolyte imbalances, infections, cramping, and pains. Once your body has these “poison” chemotherapy drugs–it seems that you are prone to catching everything since you have a suppressed immune system. We are awaiting the official word regarding Steve’s surgery which is scheduled for August 5th. At present he is unbearably uncomfortable with his second spica cast.

July 5, 2005

(lib)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , — By steve @ 8:08 pm

Steve was readmitted to the hospital early Friday afternoon. He had a fever of 100.7, which is higher than the borderline of 100.5, at which the doctors said Steve would have to readmit himself for fear of infection. He had been going steadily down hill the few days before: getting a sore throat and coughing a lot and not eating since Wednesday.

He was hooked up to iv again and given fluids for dehydration and anti-nausea meds. His throat began to hurt very badly, on a scale of one to ten it was a 7. He slept as best he could with nurses and blood-draw people coming in at all hours of the night.

On Monday (4th of July) he is feeling a little better with a hefty dose of morphine. Still not eating or drinking, it was even hard to keep water or Tylenol down. For now, we’ll be in the hospital for at least a few more days.

Steve’s birthday is Saturday, July 9th. He will be 22. Happy Birthday, Steve!

May 29, 2005

(from Mike Rybak)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , — By steve @ 4:04 pm

Steve hasn’t thrown up from this chemo yet, and he is still feeling good and gaining his appetite. They were giving him 3000 calories a day through the IVs when he wasn’t eating, now he’s down to 850. Visit him whenever you can. He gets really bored not being able to leave his bed and loves it when we stop by to support him.

May 18, 2005

(from Josh Malnourie)

The endoscopy showed what appears to be some fungal growth right above his stomach in the lower part of his throat. This seems to explain the constant vomiting and soreness that Steve has been experiencing. This also means that the Chemo treatment has been delayed at least one week. Steve is on anti-fungal medication right now for this, and it will be monitored to ensure it goes away.

Sounds like Steve will be moving rooms soon, as they are remodeling the section of rooms that Steve is in now. More info to come in the next week.

Timberwolves cheerleaders were visiting folks in the hospital today. However, they were not able to stop in and visit Steve in his room. This didn’t really bother Steve at all, but Glenn and I were pretty disappointed as Glenn had his camera ready

Today for the first time certain food smells were pretty bothersome to Steve. So if you can help it, don’t bring in a juicy steak to eat in front of him, as that smell (or others) could make him feel ill. (not to mention it’s mean as Steve has not been able to eat anything for over 2 weeks!

no vomiting today (so far – yesterday he vomited right around midnight)

4 weeks down ~30 to go!

May 16, 2005

(from Mike Rybak)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , — By steve @ 3:50 pm

Steve has his first day in since his first round of chemo where he didn’t throw up.

He still didn’t eat any food for fear that he wouldn’t be able to keep it down and it would irriatate his throat further.

Right now his has an endoscopy planned for 10:30AM on Wednesday to take a look to see if there’s anything wrong with his throat beyond just irriatation and his next round of chemo is scheduled to start later that day.

A couple friends came down from Fargo to visit Steve and Libby today and with them they brought some gifts including some gift certificates.

If you’re planning on visiting Steve this summer he usually goes to bed around 8 or 9 at night so try not to show up then. Also Libby started an internship 2 miles away from the hospital and is gone from about 8am to 6pm so if you’re around the cities then stop by to keep Steve company and fetch him stuff around the room.

May 15, 2005

(from Josh Malnourie)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , , — By steve @ 3:48 pm

Steve continues to feel better than ever!

Today Steve was able to eat some soup ok, but once he tried to eat some starburst candy, he vomited again (from now on I officially boycot starburst). So, still no luck with keeping food down.

Doctors visited today and said that unless something drastic happens, there will be an endoscopy performed on Tuesday to see why Steve’s stomach/throat is so irritated.

The next round of Chemo is right now slated to begin on Wednesday. Remember to keep Steve in your thoughts during the Chemo treatments.

Not much else to say except it sounds like Steve is feeling much better, and is in good spirits. I wasn’t able to talk with him in person today, as the benadryl he gets puts him to sleep pretty well.

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