Dan Schlader

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Dan is never, or hardly ever sick.  The week of August 26th started just like any other.  I was going back to teach, the boys we’re getting ready to go to the State Fair, and Dan was going to have a busy week at work.  Just normal life in our household.  Gradually that week, Dan got sicker and sicker.  He was to work an extra shift for a friend who helped him out earlier on Friday.  


Thursday, he thought he was getting a cold.  I asked him to call the doctor, as we were going into a holiday weekend.  It was very probable that his doctor may not be in.   I was concerned that he could pass something on to Brayden.  We have been fortunate that he had been well for some time.   Dan got busy at work, as it was fair week.   He did not get the call to the doctor made.  


Friday, he came home from work late morning.  He was seriously ill, and told me he threw up at work.   I called the doctor.  I was correct, holiday weekend equals no one on the doctors office.  Who would blame them for taking  time off.    The last official weekend of the summer,  it was State Fair weekend and absolutely gorgeous outside.


It took me about an hour to convince him to go to the ER.   We went.   Dan had blood draws to check for West Nile, and some other lab work.   He had and IV, as he came back dehydrated, with high calcium in his blood.  He was eventually discharged and told to report to a local physician in town, for a follow up that morning.


Dan had more blood tests done.  It came back with the possibility of Parathyroid cancer, multiple Myeloma or West Nile.  We were devastated.  Of course we hoped for West  Nile, as it would be an easier course of action.


More testing was done during the week.   We got results he had West Nile.  We were happy, as we felt of all of the illnesses, this would be the most treatable.   The medical tests continued, as the doctor felt this was not the total cause of his illness.   Thursday, Dan had a bone marrow biopsy.  Friday, we were on our way to Avera in Sioux Falls.  We sadly got the news of Myeloma.