Blog

Sunday, June 23rd 2013

With me on summer break, kids home for summer, and family vacations; Dan has kept busy with family this month. His sister's family was here for a week and then we all spent a week in Rocky Point before starting a new round of chemo. As he started the new oral chemo his body started responding adversely with an allergic reaction as well as fever, chills and fatigue. His doctor, who is very aggressive in her treatment recommendations for Dan, wants him to take a break with that specific chemo. She has re-started him on 2 others which were very successful at the beginning of his treatments a year ago.

We are going to spend the 4th of July holiday in California and we are very much looking forward to a little R&R in the cool weather.

We had a great time at Todd Watkins' annual golf tournament and we are so thankful to everyone who supported this event. It is always a favorite time of ours.

Save the date…. A poker tournament is in the works for August 10th. A flyer with details will be under the events page very soon!

Saturday, May 7th 2013

We just got back from the beautiful Bahamas and let me tell you, it was paradise! From beginning to end we received royal treatment and we are so thankful for the Jack and Jill Foundation, the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort and all of their partners for putting this trip of a lifetime together for us! We are about to celebrate the one year anniversary of Dan's diagnosis and this trip was the perfect way to celebrate, relax and create beautiful memories with Tatum and Tallen!

When we arrived at Nassau, everyone we encountered went way above and beyond for us. We started the trip with Majestic Tours picking us up in a beautiful limo. You should have seen the smiles on the kids’ faces, priceless!

Then we arrived at the beautiful Sheraton and we were greeted as if we were celebrities by Glenn and Keiani. They were amazing and I have never felt so welcomed! The next WOW moment came when we walked into our beautiful, 3 bedroom suite with the most amazing view of the ocean.

The next day we enjoyed the day at the Sheraton beach and had so much fun playing on the kayaks, building sand castles on the beach and swimming in their beautiful pools. That night we had a photo shoot with Jamal with J and J photography. He was so much fun and was amazing with our kids. I absolutely love the pictures he took of us on the beach and I will cherish them for a life time! It was a perfect way to capture our experience.

Our excursions included a dolphin encounter on Blue Lagoon Island, a snorkeling trip with Seahorse adventures on a beautiful catamaran, and a full day at the Atlantis Aqua Adventure water park. We had the time of our lives on these excursions and I love the pictures I took of our kids sleeping on the ride back to the Sheraton after every one!

It was hard leaving paradise yesterday knowing that Dan had to go straight into his 20th Chemotherapy treatment today but he said that he will keep the memories from the trip with him and it will help him through it!

I can't thank the J and J foundation enough for giving us this opportunity and it is a great feeling knowing that other families like ours are getting the chance to take a break from the "battle" and focus on what is really important “time together”.

Saturday, Apr 27th 2013

Dan has completed his 19th round of chemotherapy. April has been a much healthier month for the entire family, which has really helped Dan get through his treatments. He has been healthy enough to do the full dose of chemotherapy so we are anxious to get a scan done to see how this treatment is working.

Dan went to California with his Dad and they had an amazing trip! They drove the Pacific Coast Highway and made several stops along the way. Dan really enjoyed their dinner at Pebble Beach and visiting wineries along the Central Coast. Dan was even feeling well enough to partake in the tastings. Definitely a very special and memorable trip with his Dad.

We are getting ready to go on our trip to the Bahamas. We are staying at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort, May 1-6. The Jack and Jill Foundation, as well as the Sheraton, have put together the most amazing itinerary for us. It includes a Boat Ride to Blue Lagoon Island to swim with dolphins, a snorkeling day trip, a day trip to Atlantis water park and aquarium, tours of the island, picnics on the Beach, a photo shoot, and more. Not to mention all hotel accommodations and food will be taken care of. We feel like we are getting celebrity treatment! We are all so excited and can't wait to make some unforgettable memories together in paradise. We had a group of close friends take care of our flight arrangements and we can't thank them enough for all that they continue to do for us.

Todd Watkins annual golf tournament is back and he will be hosting it in our honor for a second year as the Dannenfeldt Warrior Invitational.

Saturday, June 8, 2013 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Karsten Golf Course
1125 E. Rio Salado PKWY
Tempe AZ 85281

There was an amazing turn out last year and everyone had a great time! We can't thank Todd enough for doing this for us. If you would like to participate please email Todd at:
todd.watkins@babysafehomes.com

Tuesday, Mar 19th 2013

January, February and March have been rough months. Along with battling the flu, a stomach bug, and seasonal allergies, Dan has completed 4 treatments of his newest chemo therapy. The biggest side effects are fatigue, nausea, and dehydration. Looking back, it has been hard to tell which was worse… the flu, a stomach bug, or chemo side-effects. He had a scan on March 7th and results showed that a couple of tumors on his liver had grown a bit and a couple had shrunk a bit, so we are calling those results a "push"…considering the month he had health-wise, we may even consider the results as positive. The scan also revealed a new, relatively small, tumor in his stomach area. We are hoping our current plan of every other week chemotherapy will attack this new growth as well as the liver tumors. Unfortunately, Dan is not getting as many "good" days during his off week from chemo. He is experiencing some cancer side effects like fatigue, fever and shortness of breath even during these breaks. This treatment is scheduled through June but we are always searching for different or better options. We have an appointment scheduled with a new naturopath that came highly recommended on April 1st.

March looks to end on some positive notes. Dan has enjoyed two weeks off from chemo to spend Spring Break with me and the kids: Enjoying the sun, a spa day, and a fun pool day at the Phoenician resort. He is going to Las Vegas with friends to catch some March Madness this weekend.

This week, we were accepted by the Jack and Jill Foundation( jajf.org ) to be recipients of a family vacation that we will take this summer. Jack and Jill Foundation is a great organization that allows families to make memories together in the midst of the struggles that go along with cancer - we truly feel blessed to be one of the families chosen and we will relish every second of the experience together.

Thank you for your positive thoughts, prayers and love.

Monday, Jan 28th 2013

At the beginning of the year, we got results from the CAT and PET scans that showed we would have to move in a different direction than we had hoped for. Unfortunately, Dan had stopped responding to the previous chemo treatments and his tumors had not shrunk enough to do the localized treatment in his liver. The new game plan is to start another round of chemotherapy with a drug called Zaltrap. This is a new drug that has just recently been released. Dan has just finished his second dose of this new treatment. The biggest side effect is fatigue and nausea but fortunately this drug has not made the neuropathy in his hands and feet any worse. The last month has been one of the hardest for us mentally and physically but we are confident in our doctor and the new game plan. We hope and pray for better results with the next scan.

We have a few events happening in February:

1. Tallen's Teacher, Sheila Schmidt, is hosting a yard sale on the morning of February 2nd with all of the proceeds going to our family. If you have any used goods you would like to donate to the sale, she would like them by THIS Wednesday, Jan. 30th. You can contact us for more information.

2. The Day of Play is also on Feb. 2nd from 11-2 at Bright Beginnings School (see flyer under events).

Check back regularly to the website because there are a couple of amazing things in the works that my school, Jacobson Elementary, is putting together! There will be more information coming very soon. Honestly, what we love most about these events is getting to see and spend time with our amazing friends and family that we love so much. We truly look forward to seeing each of you!

We are looking forward to a big Birthday month this February! Our darling Tatum is turning 5 on February 4th and I can't believe that it is almost time to register her for Kindergarten! Our amazing Tallen is growing like a weed and is turning 3 on February 27th. I can not express the joy and love they bring to our lives every day! We are truly blessed with two angels!

Thank you for your positive thoughts, prayers and love.

Wednesday, Dec 12th 2012

Dan completed chemo treatment #12 of 12 this Tuesday - quite an accomplishment. These last few treatments have been very uncomfortable. Dan's body was still healing from surgery, and the neuropathy in his hands and feet became a much larger side effect than during his treatments prior to surgery. The plan is to consult with his oncologist after a most recent PET and CAT scan (late Dec.) with hopes that the radioactive beads can be inserted in January. We will keep you posted as results become available.

We celebrated a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by the blessings of family and friends. We were so thankful for all of Grandma Cathy's yummy cooking and know everyone gained some weight - whether they needed to or not! Surprises kept coming with three handy elves visiting to put up our Christmas tree, decorations, and lights on the house - thanks Larry, Al and Joey!

We want to thank Sheila's Academy (Tallen's school) and the Jacobson Elementary staff for all the wonderful meals and gift cards we have received over the last couple of months. Everyone has been so thoughtful and we are very grateful.

Tatum's school, Bright Beginnings, is hosting a "Day of Play" fundraiser on Feb 2nd from 11-1:00. Ironically, there is another family at the school going through a similar situation as ours and the school is having this fun day in honor of both families. Check back for more information after the first of the year.

Dan had a great time this past weekend with his Sigma Nu brothers at the Sigma Nu 50th anniversary celebration in Flagstaff. Dan always enjoys catching up and reminiscing with those guys!

The Holiday season continues to bring so much excitement for Tatum and Tallen. They are at the perfect age to soak everything in, and we are very excited to take them to the Polar Express next weekend. We hope this update finds all of you enjoying the excitement of the season and the special time shared with loved ones.

We are looking forward to all that 2013 has in store and we're excited about another trip to Colorado in January, this time to see the snow! We will also get to see our friends Alexis and Kyle and their new "Stand Up To Cancer" arrow tattoos for Dan! We continue to be overwhelmed by the love and support from our friends and family!

We wish you all a very, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Monday, Nov 19th 2012

Dan completed chemo treatment #10 last Tuesday. It has been hard to get back into the swing of chemo since he is still healing and recovering from surgery but each week seems to be a little better than the previous. Neuropathy in his hands and feet are most bothersome these days. He is very thankful that Thanksgiving will fall on an off week and is looking forward to gaining some weight back that he lost due to the surgery and chemo. With lots of family, a great weather outlook, it promises to be a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Monday, Oct 22nd 2012

Dan came home from the hospital Saturday morning and is now at home recovering from his colon surgery. Quite an amazing feat in itself! Dan's colon reduction was a success with all cancerous masses removed - Great news! During exploration of his other organs no other masses were found - more Great news! When the surgeon examined Dan's liver, he decided not to operate on the liver masses due to tumor placement and size - this news was disappointing to all of us. The liver surgeon did tell us that there are other treatment options for Dan due to his very healthy liver (except for the masses), and by Friday he had come up with a new plan of attack.

The next treatment being proposed is TheraSphere; which is millions of small glass beads containing radioactive yttrium-90 (Y-90) that is injected by Dan's doctor into the main artery of his liver through a catheter. It allows the treatment to be delivered directly to the tumor via blood vessels. This web site gives an overview and explains the procedure: http://www.nordion.com/therasphere/

We are planning to go back to the hospital this week so that the doctors can determine a course/path for the catheter, and two weeks later Dan will get his beads. We will keep you posted as this progresses.

Thank you so much for all the thoughts, prayers and support. We lean on them everyday and know they are helping us get through this recovery time.

Monday, Sep 17th 2012

The Team Warrior Golf Tournament was a huge success. It was so great to see a lifetime of friends and family in one room. We were truly feeling the love. We had lots of help and support for this event. A big "Thank You" to everyone that was able to come. Mike, Wes, and Vicki did an amazing job, we can't tell you how much we appreciate all your time and hard work.

We were given confirmation from both the liver and colon surgeons that surgery to remove the larger mass on the liver, as well as the mass in the colon, is being scheduled for the second week in October. We will post updates as they come. We have been told that Dan will be in the hospital for 5-7 days for the procedure, and that recovery may take up to 8 weeks. Dan will begin chemo again after the surgeries, once the doctors feel his body is ready. We will keep you posted on that timeline as it unfolds.

As always, thank you so much for the prayers, support, messages and well wishes...they sustain us more than you know.

Wednesday, Aug 22nd 2012

We had an extremely successful meeting on Monday with the liver specialist/surgeon. He was very happy with the results on both the PET and CAT scans.

A tentative plan has been developed: 1) Complete two more treatments of chemotherapy (yesterday's treatment was the first of two). 2) Take a 1 month break from chemo to allow Dan's body to free itself of all the treatment chemicals. 3) Have surgery in mid-October to remove the larger mass on Dan's liver as well as the mass on the colon.

Depending on what the doctors see during surgery, the next step will be injecting the smaller masses that remain on the liver with specialized radioactive beads that will hopefully render them completely inactive/dead. All of this is dependent on the masses remaining inactive and shrinking over the next 2 treatments of chemo and during the "off" month. Also, both the liver and colon surgeons need to consult so that all involved are on the same page.

Dan completed his 7th treatment yesterday.

The "Team Warrior Golf Tournament" at Orange Tree Golf Club and Resort on September 15th is in full swing. Make sure you let Mike Murphy know if you plan to attend so we can get a head count and finalize numbers as the event nears. Please see the flyer located under the "Events" tab for more details. If you would like to donate something for the raffle, please contact Vicki Richardson at 602-570-1316 or vickir@cox.net. We are very excited for a fun day of golf, celebrating the good news so far and relaxing with friends and family.

Wednesday, Aug 8th 2012

Dan completed treatment #6 yesterday and he is doing well. The side effects of treatment seem to be hitting him faster, but they are also going away quicker, which is a definite positive. Dan is scheduled to have a CAT scan next Wednesday to measure progress. The oncologist has been pleased with results so far and is anxious for Dan to take the upcoming CAT scan results, along with the recent PET scan results, to the liver surgeon. Hopefully, with the scan results and the liver surgeon's expertise, a surgical plan can be developed in the the next few weeks. We will keep everyone posted.

Dan is very excited about the upcoming "Team Dannenfeldt Warrior Golf Tournament" at Orange Tree Golf Club and Resort on September 15th. Please see the flyer located under the "Events" tab for more details. Mike Murphy is handling registration and Wes and Vicki Richardson are organizing the dinner reception raffle. If you would like to donate something for the raffle, please contact Vicki at (602) 570-1316 or vickir@cox.net.

A big "Thank You" goes out to LaBella Salon and Spa for a great event! There was a ton of support and a fun time was had by all.

Tuesday, July 24th 2012

What an encouraging day! It feels good to know that the plan of attack is working and yesterday confirmed that with the news we received regarding the PET scan. As Dan's overall health continues to improve each week, we received confirmation that the masses in the colon and the liver have both shrunk. As well, the activity of the tumors has decreased significantly. Our oncologist was very pleased and things continue to move forward in a positive direction towards surgery. We will have a CAT scan done in one month and take those results to meet with the liver surgeon to discuss our options and come up with a surgical game plan.

Chemo treatment #5 went well today. Dan continues to feel well on his off treatment weeks but is now dealing with stronger side effects during his chemo weeks. For example, he is having numbness in his hands and feet which he never felt before. Next chemo treatment is Tuesday, August, 7th.

We want to thank Wendy Eslick for all the effort and hard work she has put into the LaBella Spa Day fundraiser. LaBella has completely sold out all available service for Sunday the 29th. I think Tatum and her cousin Abby are just as excited about the event as I am! We are so looking forward to a day of being pampered and spending time with our friends and family- just what the doctor ordered! Thanks again Wendy and all of the LaBella Staff!

Wednesday, July 11th 2012

We are back from our trip to Colorado. We had such a great time it was hard to come back to the AZ heat! We started our trip in Ft. Collins visiting our friend Michelle, where we enjoyed great weather. We made a stop in Vail, where we met up with Chris Budd and his family. We spent the day riding the gondola to the top of the mountain where we were able to take in the breathtaking views, and there were plenty of kid-friendly activities including pony rides (Tatum and Tallen's favorite part)! Our last four days were spent in Aspen Glen with the Vitale family. We swam every day and were even able to golf, play tennis, white water raft, and sneak in a little shopping. We did not watch fireworks this year because of a state-wide ban due to the recent forrest fires, but I think the kids were so busy having fun that they did not notice! All in all, it was a great week - Even though Tallen does not do so well driving through the mountainous switch backs!

Dan's energy levels continue to improve! His blood levels are improving on their own, and each time he goes to chemo we are finding that his blood count is increasing by one or two points. Our Oncologist ordered Dan to get a PET scan next week, which is encouraging because she originally said the scan would most likely happen after 6 treatments - Dan will have had 4 treatments. She told us she is anxious to see how Dan is responding to the chemotherapy. We will keep you posted on the results.

I can not believe I have to go back to work on Tuesday, July 17th and Tallen and Tatum start school the week of July 23rd. This summer has really flown by!

We are looking forward to the PET scan results next week and the LaBella event on July 29th - hope to see lots of you there.

Tuesday, June 26th 2012

We had a great "off week" from Chemo treatments… always a great week to look forward to. We want to start this week's update with a huge "THANK YOU" to Todd Watkins. His Team Dannenfeldt Warrior Invitational was a great success and a great time to catch up with old and new friends alike. Dan was so humbled by the turn out, I know he is now more motivated than ever to win this fight! Thank you Todd and everyone who came out to play golf!

Yesterday, Dan and I met with a liver specialist to discuss Dan's case and determine a surgical plan of treatment. Both Dan and I felt very comfortable with him and really feel like his aggressive approach is what we are both looking for. We plan to meet with him again in 2 1/2 months once our initial 3 months of Chemo is done so he can determine what the next steps will be moving forward. Bringing us to today's main event which is our 3rd treatment of Chemo. We continue to have very positive expectations that the Chemo is doing it's job and we will be where we need to be at the end of 3 months to operate and move forward!

We are very excited and looking forward to this weekend as we plan to beat the heat with a family trip to Colorado. We will be visiting friends and enjoying a much needed break from the Arizona sun from June 30th- July 8th- we even hope to see the Budd family during our vacation. We will be back in time to catch our 4th chemo treatment on July 10th. Check back in for an update after that and in the meantime, enjoy your summer, your family, and have a Happy Forth of July!!

Monday, June 18th 2012

We started this week out on a real positive note. We met with Dr. Rubin, our naturopathic specialist who set Dan up on a protocol to help ease some of the chemo side effects and strengthen Dan's body to continue to fight the cancerous masses. I was so impressed with Dr. Rubin and really excited about all the insight and tangible plan he was able to set in place for us.

On Tuesday the 12th, Dan got his second chemo treatment. It was a much quicker process than the first time. This time, we left treatment with his port-fed chemical pouch, as well as with a nausea patch. Although Dan did get sick on Wed. night, the nausea seems much more controllable this time around and seemed to go away much quicker. In addition to the patch, Dan also started implementing the protocol given by Dr. Rubin which included supplements in his morning smoothie and a Vitamin C treatment he received thru an IV. All in all, this round of chemo seemed to be a much more manageable with the addition of the naturopath protocol and the use of the patch.

On a personal level; Dan, the kids and I enjoyed a full weekend celebrating my 31st Birthday on Saturday and a great Father's Day on Sunday. And as all of you who know, Dan would not be himself if he didn't enjoy watching the golf tournament this weekend- and he found time to squeeze plenty of that in! We are looking forward to the Team Dannenfeldt Warriors Invitational on Saturday!

Saturday, June 9th 2012

Dan had a great week and we think that the blood transfusion has a lot to do with it. He's got an increased appetite and a lot more energy this week.

We celebrated Dan's 37th Birthday yesterday and he really enjoyed his day (me too). He has dropped a few sizes so we started the day off with a little shopping followed by lunch at the Sushi Room and then massages at Labella. He loved the massage so much he wants to make it part of his routine on his off week from Chemo. Thank you for all of the Birthday messages and wishes!

We are a little more comfortable but slightly nervous now that we know what to expect as we go into Dan's second Chemo treatment on Tuesday. We feel like we have an idea of which days might be the worst, what foods we should avoid, which ones he craves (and can keep down) and how things may go in general. Most importantly, it is nice to know that each day gets better as the week goes on. I am so impressed with Dan's positive attitude and determination!

On Monday the 11th, Dan has an appointment with a naturopathic specialist who was recommended by our oncologist. We are hoping to get some further knowledge regarding diet/nutrition and supplements that he can take that will work in tandem with the chemotherapy treatments and produce the most effective results possible.

Saturday, June 2nd 2012

Dan is starting to feel better every day. The hardest part for him so far has been dealing with the nausea and figuring out what he wants to try to eat, but over all he has been a trooper. He even made it into work for a few hours on Friday. He has a blood transfusion scheduled for Tuesday morning. That should help boost his energy a little bit!

Dan is looking forward to getting out if the house tonight to go to Tatum's dance recital and celebrating His 37th Birthday on June 8th and our 6th wedding anniversary on the 10th. Thank you for all of the amazing messages you have been sending us, they have been inspiring and bring smiles to our faces! We are feeling the love!

Tuesday, May 29th 2012

Chemotherapy went really well for Dan yesterday. He was at Ironwood getting his treatment for eight hours and they sent him home with a pump that is attached to his port and will slowly release the chemo for 48 hours. He didn't have any side effects yesterday other than a little fatigue. It may take a day or two for it to kick in. He is looking forward to getting the pump removed on Thursday. Dan, Amanda, and the kids are in good spirits and adjusting well.