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Hi, I'm Mrs L. I've been working at Holy family since 2001, and really enjoy rebuilding computers for our students and faculty to use. Teaching internet safety is one of my passions. My sister-in-law Becky also works here, and since she has been here longer, she uses the name "Mrs. Lindgren" so we don't confuse the students.
This web site has been a wonderful communication tool for my family and friends during my husband's cancer issues. Many people across the country have found it, and it has become a resource for young people facing prostate cancer. I leave the full journal online for their use. Scroll down and enjoy the pictures of my family if you want to. -Mrs L.
Darci Lindgren's Prayer Request Page
I took a picture of the roses I got Jon in front of a mirror, and the reflection behind them happens to be Jon sitting in bed reading a Farmer's Almanac. Really cool accident!
Original Web site continues Below....
I'm asking for everyone's prayers while we tackle the biggest challenge of our lives.
My wonderful husband of 15 years, Jon, was diagnosed with prostate cancer on January 15,2005. He is 38 years old. He is Mayo Clinic's youngest prostate cancer patient.
I'll be posting any new news and pictures on this page as we learn more.
I've had a few replies asking if I want to keep our situation quiet-Thank you for your concern for our privacy. I'm not keeping it a secret. I believe that it is not something to be embarrased about. Already, two young men have scheduled their first physicals since high school because we've been open about this. Maybe it will save someone else.
Daily Journal
May 2004 - Jon's lower back pain is back. He went to the doctor and found out the prostititis is back. On another 6 weeks of antibiotics. This is his second time with this. Kind of strange for someone under 40.
October 2004 - Jon's lower back pain is worse now, and going around to his kidney area. This time the doctor found a lump on his prostate and took a PSA test (simple blood test to see if there might be cancer.) The PSA came back as 5.6, and normal is 2. It might be elevated because of more infection. He put Jon on another 6 weeks of antibiotics, and they will repeat the exam and PSA test then.
January 2, 2005 - At church this morning, my 2 year old pulled a book off the church library shelf and shoved it in his diaper bag - Leaking Laffs Between Pampers And Depends by Barbara Johnson. It looks like a funny book, so I checked it out. Turned out it is really funny, but main theme is using humor to get you through life's crisis. I really haven't had any. I read it anyway and took it back to church the next week.
January 3, 2005 - The lump is gone, and Jons back pain is much better. Our doctor said it is probably all taken care of. They repeated the PSA just in case.
January 5,2005 - Bad news, it went up to 6 instead of going down. Our doctor has scheduled a needle biopsy with the Radiologist and a visit with a urologist.
January 10,2005 - The biopsy went as well as could be expected. Jon didn't even feel the needles. It would have been less embarrassing if he hadnt known the female technician who was assisting personally, but what can you expect in a small town. I was there to ask questions and help try to keep Jon comfortable. The radiologist said he got really good samples. He did notice some differences in the lower right lobe, but that could be from inflammation and infection. It is possibly cancer, but not likely in someone this young. We'll know the results in about 3-4 days. They repeated the PSA - 6.6.
January 15,2005 - Our doctor called and left two messages on our answering machine this morning. When I called him back, he said we need to call back together. I called Jon in from putting in fence, and we both got on the phone. It is cancer in the lower right lobe, and a-typical (ready to turn) in the left lobe. Our doctor tried to schedule a bone scan and CAT scan on Monday, but can't due to the holiday. The soonest they can be is Tuesday. We will keep the appointment with the Urologist on Wednesday, and will hope the results are back by then.
We told most of the family and our kids that night. It is amazing how well they took it. Our 2 year old was running in circles in the living room between us, sobbing and giggling, as he copied his 10 year old sister to provide comedy relief. Our 6 year old asked some very insightful questions. I'm glad we can all talk.
January 16, 2005 - Waiting for calls from nurses about test scheduling, so had to miss church. The 'Leaking Laffs' book's advise of 'smile even if you don't want to' seems to be helping. Acting cheerful makes the day go by faster, but it is hard. Jon was gone most of the day talking to friends and local men who have gone through this. With all the farming chemicals, there are lots of local cases.
January 17, 2005 - Back to work. I cried more than I expected. Setting up the prayer request web page helped. It is a way for me to vent with limited emotion. The support here at Holy Family and from other Lan Managers is amazing. Lots of offers of help, but I honestly dont know what to ask for other than their prayers. Jon had more blood work. PSA up to 7.2. Talked to the doctor, and was warned that things will be going fast since it is going up so quickly. I had hoped to be able to get two opinions at least, but his life is more important right now.
January 18, 2005 - Day of tests. They didn't take as long as expected. We had the whole day together, with me crocheting madly in the waiting rooms during his tests, and quiet time together in between. We grilled sirloin steaks at home for lunch and ate by candlelight. We took a nap after the last test before getting the kids from his Mom's. It was definitely an emotionally draining day.
We had another family meeting. Our oldest said he wished they could genetically create a healthy prostate to replace Dad's old one. Maybe he will be a scientist some day. I finished a granny square poncho for our 6 year old by 10 p.m.
A neighbor is checking our cows for us and has offered to 'calve out' the twelve first calf heifers we bought in December. We'll see how he's feeling by February when they're due to start calving. Nice to know the help is there if needed. We're selling the last of our hogs soon. Other offers of helping with planting and farming have also come in, but hopefully this will all be over by then. Farmers really stick together! This is actually a 'good' time of year to deal with this, if it could have been scheduled.
January 19, 2005 - Good News! The bone scan and Cat scan don't show any other cancer. The urologist from Hastings suggests a nerve sparing radical prostatectomy. We were able to schedule a second opinion in Omaha on Friday. His cancer is a Gleason grade 7 stage T2. The surgery will take about 1.5 hours and 2 days in the hospital. Jon won't be able to return to work or lift over 10 pounds for six weeks. I think I'm past the 'mourning' stage and on to 'survival' mode.
January 20, 2005 - I called Randy Melcher's wife, Alesa. They went through this last year. She was able to refer me to their doctor, Robert Myers, at the Mayo Clinic. He does a new type of nerve sparing surgery there, with much better results for young patients. The procedure takes 4 hours and uses two surgeons. Much more careful, extremely better statistics(above 98% for no bad side effects!) I made a consultation appointment for Feb. 1 and scheduled surgery for March 25. If Dr Myers is worried about it spreading, he will put Jon on some medication to hold off the cancer until the surgery. They said we need to wait 8 weeks after the biopsy anyway to have all swelling down before the surgery. Hastings clinic called to schedule surgery for January 31 (only 3 weeks post biopsy.) They must not have heard of that. Needless to say, we're going to Mayo first. I'm so glad I called Alesa! Lots of staff members had told me to, but I didn't call until we found out if it had spread.
January 21, 2005 - Jon stopped and talked to Dr. Mazour, his local doctor. Dr. Mazour said he was afraid it would take two to three months just to get a consultation at Mayo, and was very surprised that we were going in just 10 days. He was very pleased, and said there isn't a better place in the country to go. Jon was glad that he wasn't offended that we chose to leave the state for this. He definately thought we were on the right track.
January 24, 2005 - I spent the day at Mount Crescent, Iowa with my son and almost all of Holy Family. Wonderful day and our first experience with skiing. We had a very patient instructor. It was good to laugh, and I made it down the 'green' one time before retiring to hot cocoa and more crochet. Of course, my son was going down the 'blue' harder run before we left. I glad he enjoyed himself.
January 25, 2005 - Called Mayo and they were able to re-schedule Jon's surgery to March 4. They had a cancellation yesterday. This way there is less time for it to spread AND we'll be able to be home with the kids over Easter! Jon is expected to have one night in the hospital, and two nights staying close in Rochester. They called in a prescription of Casodex to our local Pharmacy for our peace of mind. It is a hormone to stop any spreading in the mean time.
January 31, 2005 - Day to leave for big drive. Jon's appointment is at 6:15 tomorrow morning, so we decided to leave by 2:00 today and spend the night at a hotel in Rochester. It will be a long day of tests and consultations, so having some rest before should help. I've started a new crochet bedspread project that I've been wanting to do for years. This long trip and lots of time in the waiting room will give me a good start on it! We both went to work this morning. I also downloaded some maps for my palm. Keeping busy helps to keep our sanity.
February 1, 2005 - Mayham at Mayo. It was a very good day, I'm just not used to all the people. The hospital and all the tunnels connecting the buildings reminded us of being in an air port. Very easy to get around, and well marked- just a little overwhelming. Everyone was very nice and every question and concern we had were taken care of.
GOOD NEWS - the Gleason grade has been changed to a 3+3=6, instead of a 4+3=7! That is an extremely big change if you're looking at how long it takes to spread, and being able to cure this thing. 6 takes years to spread, and 7 is measured in months. 8 is almost incurable.
We are still scheduled for a radical prostectomy on March 4 at the Methodist hospital at Rochester. Dr. Myers was very relieved that we were already prepared to face the surgery. Still very good outcomes with this new procedure, and Dr. Myers is one of only 3 men in the U.S. who know how to do it. http://www.mayoclinic.org/urology-rst/10139362.html
Jon agreed to help with a study of the outbreak of prostate cancer in young mid-western men. He is the youngest patient they have, and they were very happy to know he is willing to help. They took some extra blood and urine samples, and will get what ever is left of his prostate once the doctors are done with it. Jon is glad that maybe someone else will be helped from this.
Considering everything, the drive home had us feeling extremely 'lucky.' We were home at 12:30 a.m.
February 2, 2005 - Everyone was very surprised to see me back at work so quickly. It was nice to have good news to share for a change. The day went by very quickly. Our kids at home were on 'overdrive' that evening. We just sat and watched them wrestle and run all around the living room. They enjoyed their stay with Grandma Lindgren, but were happy to be together at home again.
February 6, 2005 - Grandma Obermire brought us a surprise - a new dachsund! His name is "Oscar", for "Oh I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner" - dog. The kids had fun playing with him, and our older dachsund cross, Fritz, seems to enjoy the company. He will fit in nicely with our menagerie, and will probably go to county fair next summer. Oscar is going to be something fun and positive to occupy our kids. Pets are a great stress releiver.
Stress? Who has stress? Ha ha.
February 8, 2005 - Jon is doing really well. He's been keeping very busy with all the snow removal at work, and is doing really well with stopping chewing tobacco. That is probably the toughest request the doctor made. Losing weight is on hold for now. Jon doesn't have much to lose anyway. Our heifers aren't calving yet, but all the snow storms might make them start early. Weather sometimes does that, but it is harder on the babies.
February 13,2005 - The kids and I kidnapped Jon today. We had planned on taking him skiing, but Mt. Crescent was closed due to all the rain. We took him to Grand Island and roller-skated at "Skate Island" instead. It ended up costing a lot less, and the kids still were able to be very active and have lots of fun with daddy! They all slept very well that night.
February 15, 2005 - First calf is born! A little heifer calf. Very small, so didn't need pulled. The mom seems to be taking care of her very well on her own. Never know with first-calvers like this. Nice, warm weather for the little one. We're starting to check the heifers more often. Jon hopes they all are born this easy.
February 16,2005 - Our oldest son competed in the Boone County Spelling Bee. He pulled off 7th out of 45 in the written part, and advanced to the oral finals. He was the first eliminated, but was still excited to make it that far his first year. The winner was an 8th grade girl who also won last year. As a 6th grader, our son has two more years to try. He received a nice hard cover Webster's Dictionary as a prize since he made it to the finals. Says he'll study more next year.
I mucked through the cow pen trying to find the baby calf when we got home - finally found her nice and dry UNDER the hay rack! I was worried she was lost. No new calves.
February 24, 2005 - Lost a baby calf this morning. First bull calf, Jon pulled it at 3 a.m. and it was dead. Bought a replacement for $300. New mom is happy with her little red baby (token red calf in our black herd.) 8 down, 64 to go! Jon has been getting up at 3 in the morning every day to haul manure into the frozen corn field. It gets too warm and slippery to haul after work. This will make the calving pens less messy for the new babies coming.
February 26, 2005 - Happy Birthday to me! Day was spent with Jon moving all our cows home from the corn stalks, and I took my mother in law shopping for groceries at Grand Island. I tried to stock her cupboards well since she'll be taking care of our kids during our trip next week. I got some bottled water and microwave popcorn to eat at the hotel. Jon and I were too tired to do anything special that night. Just enjoying our Saturday evening at home with the kids.
February 28, 2005 - Month of waiting is finally almost over. We've been having some sleepless nights, but they are getting better with talking more about our fears. Jon still feels fine, and that is making the reality of being 'really sick' hard to believe. I've started packing to avoid last minute laundry before we leave. Jon changed the oil in the van, and I decided to take out the center seat so he can stretch out his legs on the trip home. I've lost my cell phone again. Hard to keep things straight - my mind is on other things. I'm going to have to buy a new one to take on the trip.
March 3, 2005 - 2:40 pm. We're safely in Rochester, checked into the hotel, and waiting to see Dr. Myers. Beautiful weather for the drive down here!
9:30pm - Finally found out we have to be to hospital at 9am, surgery around noon, hopefully in recovery by 4pm.
Friday March 4, 2005 - Day of surgery!
Dear God, Please guide Dr. Myer's hands. Please help Jon's body to cooperate. Please let the cancer be contained. Amen.
Schedule as follows (may be changing again!)
In prep area on 2nd floor of Methodist Hospital until around 1pm
1pm Taken to Surgery on 1st Floor for more Prep -- Darci can't see him from now until out of recovery.
Surgery starting around 3pm
Hopefully out of Surgery by 8pm - Young patients are usually in surgery longer due to organs being 'tighter'. That is probably why Dr. Myers has put Jon last - he can go way over schedule if necessary and no one else will be waiting on us. Surgery might be as short as 3 hours or as long as 5 hours. He will be in recovery around 1 hour. Taken to own room hopefully by 9pm and we can be together again.
I will be keeping busy finishing my queen sized afghan - Thanks Jeanette for getting me the extra skeins of yarn! I'll also be trying to update everyone as I find out more. We will be able to have our cell phones on today.
3:30 was really bad for me. I had to leave jon at 2:30, so I left to buy him some roses. He had noticed a dozen roses for $12.99 special on the way into town and commented about it, so I took the 'hint'. Stopped at K-mart to pick up an inexpensive pitcher for a vase, then locked myself out of the van at the 'Flowerama'. Had a major melt down in the flower shop. A nice couple from Iowa gave me a ride to the hotel where I had a spare van key in our suitcase. Why, when you are at your worst, it brings out the best in other people?! I've never cried like that in public before. It was really humbling.
Saturday, March 5, 2005- Jon is finally awake and starting to move his legs around. He didn't get back to his room unitl 11:30 last night. Legs are still too numb from spinal block, so we'll probably be in the hospital until Sunday. I just took an hour nap in the hotel - Jon was going to try to rest. His sponge bath wore him out this morning. I was able to help a lot. The nurses here let me do some of the 'private' helping. It has helped him be more comfortable. In general, he's doing really well, but then he's still numb from the spinal block. I'm afraid tomorrow will be tougher. They're only giving him extra strength Tylenol! The incision is about twice as big as normal, but then the tumor was bigger too.
Good news - Cancer was confined to the prostate. No spreading to the lymph nodes, but was large enough that the doctor took some extra tissue from the right side. The tumor was 2 cm X 1.2 cm - the size of one from a man 40 years older. At least it doesn't look like it has spread.
Jon is really dizzy, but we're thinking it is from an ear infection. I convinced the nurses to get him some decongestant, and that really helped with the dizzyness.
Sunday, March 6, 2005 - We were just released from the hospital at 11 a.m. Jon relly felt better this morning. Amazing what a difference a night makes! I was wrong - tylenol was the only oral meds, but he had other pain killers in his IV. Now we have some Darvocet to help the tylenol. We're resting in the hotel tonight, and tomorrow at 8 a.m. is a visit to the doctor. We will probably be referred to an E.N.T. for Jon's ear infection that afternoon. Would be tough to go home all dizzy with plugged up ears. Currently hoping to tackle the long trip home on Tuesday.
Monday, March 7, 2005 - Follow up visit this morning went well. We've decided to head back home tomorrow and see an ENT locally. We're missing our kids, and couldn't get in to see an ENT here until Wednesday. Jon is feeling more energetic, but still has dizzy spells and tingling in his hands. The post operative pain really isn't as bad as he had expected. The numbness is supposed to be after effects of the anesthesia. Trip home will be slow, but it will be good to be home.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - Long trip home today. Left Rochester aroun 8 a.m. Had three stops on the way home to stretch Jon's legs. Got back to Grandma's house at 4 p.m. - just in time to watch our kids get off the school bus! We're both pretty tired, but it is good to be home.
Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - Jon is hurting more today. Seems like the local anesthetic they put around his inscision has finally worn off!! He didn't feel the top half of the cut around his belly button at all yesterday, but now it is making itself known. I'm glad we did the long drive yesterday. Maybe the trip itself is making him more sore as well.... I'm staying home to help. He is having trouble even standing up by himself today. Sorry - any computer emergencies will have to be dealt with later.
Thursday, March 10, 2005- Had to sneak into work for a few hours this morning to help my students export their finished video projects. The laptops they were working with are due back to the ESU this afternoon. All the videos got finished in time! Jon managed pretty well with the four kids at home 'helping'... No school this afternoon and tomorrow due to State Boy's Basketball tournament.
Saturday, March 12, 2005 - Time to get the drains removed. It hurt a little, but at least Jon can stand up straight now without those tubes pulling. He walked around a farm auction site for two hours today, and went to our niece's first birthday party that night, so probably will be sore tomorrow.
Sunday, March 13, 2005 - Yep, he's sore! Using some of the Darvocet that the local doctor prescribed. Still walking really well, but taking it easier today.
Monday, March 14, 2005 - Had to leave Jon alone with the kids again from 5 to 10 p.m. I taught an adult education class in Humphrey about using windows XP built in tools to make your own photo slide show set to music. The class went well, but Jon hurt himself. Picked up our 6 year old to put her to bed without thinking. Ouch!
Wednesday, March 16, 2005- I had Monday and Tuesday off from school due to Spring Break. Back to work today. Jon hopefully will rest more without all of us at home.
Saturday, March 26, 2005 - Mom and Dad from Atkinson visited today. Dad helped replace the burned out dryer heating element so I could finish my laundry. Nice afternoon watching the new videos they brought with them.
Sunday, March 27, 2005 - Happy Easter! We went to sunrise service with our kids and enjoyed the breakfast served by the Luther League afterward. It was hard for Jon to get away due to all our well-wishers. Beautiful day! Had the Easter egg hunt outside in the back yard. The younger kids had a blast learning to ride our new little four wheeler that Jon surprised them with. I have to follow behind it with a leash hooked to a 'kill' switch to turn it off if they go too fast. Good way for me to get some exercise!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - Jon went to see the radiologist for a urinary cystogram. The test showed no leaking at all, so they pulled his catheter right there. Jon didn't know that was planned, and forgot to even bring any protective pads. Luckily, he has had no "accidents." It was nice to sleep without all the tubes! Still a little sore, but wearing jeans again.
Thursday, March 31, 2005 - Jon slept all night last night with no trips to the bathroom. It is wonderful to see how fast he is returning to normal! Our local doctor is amazed. Jon will go back for another checkup in two weeks and hopefully will be able to return to work. I think he'll lift less at his state job than he does at home on the farm!
Friday, April 1, 2005 - Yippee! Last first calf heifer has calved! Only about 20 older mama's left to go. Less worries about leaving them now. Don't have to arrange for a neighbor to check them every four hours if we are gone. I'm going to try to take Jon to visit some friends in Kansas tomorrow. Again, getting away from the farm to try to keep him from working too much.
Wednesday, April 13,2005 - Follow up visit with our local doctor and urologist. Dr. Mazour checked out Jon really well, and said everything looks like it is healing well. The Urologist asked a couple of questions, then signed a form for Jon to return to work with no restrictions. He wanted to do a PSA test, but Jon declined because our Surgeon says it isn't needed within 3 months of the surgery. Afraid it would show a false high reading.
Friday, April 15, 2005 - Called and set up the 3 month check up appointment with Mayo clinic. We're going back on June 6. Follow up PSA then. I can only pray it will show the cancer is gone. Jon isn't worried at all, but I'm still scared. I've been doing more online reading, and some statistics say 30% of men need follow up radiation. But then, they might not have been diagnosed as early. I had trouble getting off the phone with the Mayo clinic scheduling secretary. She was really taken aback by Jon's age. She's our age. Oh well, more educating going on when I least expect it.
Monday, April 18, 2005 - Jon back to his 'day job' at the Nebraska Dept. of Roads. He was tired that night, but fighting a cold too. He and his brothers have been working late each night getting our new 16 row corn planter ready.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - Called our cancer insurance company. We have a really nice adjuster named 'Lillian' - same name as Jon's grandma! I have to fax four more forms tonight, then all our submissions will be covered. We're putting most of it into a savings account for kids' summer camps and family vacations.
Sunday, May 1, 2005 - Planting is officially started. Our oldest son is helping in the field like a trooper, and Jon spent the last two days on his 656 (open cab red one shown above) tractor. He loves that tractor, even though it is extremely cold and dirty out in the wind. One of his brothers brought over a cab tractor for him to work in today. I'm glad they're watching out for him. He's tired at night, but holding up really well. The new planter is finally working - with some quirks with the monitor. Covers acres really fast.
Monday, May 16, 2005 - We survived a very busy weekend!!! Saturday we were in O'Neill for my sister's wedding vow renewal, and I attended 13 graduation parties yesterday. That is one draw back of working at a small school, the seniors would know if you missed their party. Our three oldest kids went with me, and had lots of fun making new friends. It was a beautiful day, so they played outside a lot. I reserved hotel rooms for our June Minnesota trip. A couple were already booked solid, so I'm glad I did it today. Found a daycare center where we can leave our youngest if we need to. $45 per day, but worth it to have her in a safe place while we're seeing the doctor.
Wed, June 1, 2005 - Getting ready for the big trip. We surprised Jon with Adventurland tickets for his birthday. That should break up the long trip and make for a fun mini-vacation with the kids. We will drive to Des Moines on Saturday morning, spend the afternoon at Adventurland, the night in a Howard Johnson right by the park. Sunday we hope to catch a train ride by Boone, Iowa. Be in Rochester by Sunday evening.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN - Monday, June 6 schedule: Blood tests scheduled for 7am on Monday, Doctor visit at 11:30. Pray for clear results, or we will have to face radiation treatments.
11:25 a.m. - We're in the waiting room now. Probably won't know test results until after noon.....
12:05 am - ya hoo!!! PSA undetectable!!! This is the best news we could have gotten. Heading home now.
So far so good - Nightmare might be over.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Thank you everyone for all your prayers during this time. Jon has recovered well from surgery, and appears 'cured' at this time. We will be having PSA blood tests every 6 months for the next 5 years to be sure. We have not had to return to Mayo clinic since follow up visit in June of 2005. The blood tests are simply mailed to them.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Still 'Cancer Free' and follow up PSA tests mailed to Mayo clinic once a year. This summer Jon finally feels back to himself and no more localized surgery pain.