Dianne Vande Hey

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Dianne Vande Hey is an amazing, colorful, caring, strong, loving woman and I am so thankful that she is my Mother.   My Mom has always been the ROCK, the selfless giver for our family,  helping out and praying for everyone and everything.  And in light of the past year of care giving:  Dad having months of complications following double knee replacement from August 2015, several herniated discs in his back and neck, bursitis in both hips, a discovery of a small brain tumor that will be monitored, her granddaughter getting  sick last fall with a chronic illness called dysautonomia [her autonomic nervous system doesn't not work properly] and then Dad getting his C4, C5, and C6 neck vertebrae fused August 10, 2016, she has been carrying more than her share of burdens.  The forgetfulness, slight head pain the past few weeks and worsening driving was chalked up to stress....until MONDAY September 19, 2016.


Mom had her day scheduled to drive Dad to a few medical appointments from Oshkosh to Appleton.  But her head pain seemed worse so they made an appointment for her with the nurse practitioner in between Dad's appointments.  After the first back injection Mom was slightly struggling with round-a-bouts but could drive to her appointment.  The nurse practitioner discounted it as anxiety because of the stress she has been under but Dad stayed persistent saying that it is more than that and something is wrong.  The nurse practitioner went and talked to their family doctor and came back with an ENT appointment for the beginning of October.   As they moved onto his next appointment, which was with the neuro surgeon for both his neck fusion follow up and the review of Dad's brain MRI for his acoustic neuroma, Mom got so confused she could not drive out of the parking lot.  The good news was that Dad's tumor did not change in size and his neck fusion is working and healing as hoped.  However, after speaking with Mom and Dad Dr. Wascher recommended Dad bring MOM to the ER.

Thank God Dad agreed.  Unfortunately, it was then, that our lives would take a very unexpected turn.


After hours in the ER and a brain MRI we found out Mom, our caregiver, peacemaker and worry wart has brain cancer with an inoperable tumor the size of a tangerine on her right side and another small one on her left.  There is a small spot in her lungs but the pulmonologist said to not even worried about that right now.  It was a shock for us all.  They admitted her Theda Clark hospital and treated her with IV anti seizure medicines, strong steroids to reduce brain swelling, pain medicine and she had a brain biopsy Thursday 9/22.  Even with all that going on, Mom worried about the rest of us....she is so loving and caring words cannot describe how much she means to us all.   So, we ask for prayers of peace, guidance, trust and support as we begin an unexpected war together.   Mom's War against the GBM [stage 4 Brain Cancer] may have ended 2/4/19 but her faith, hope, and love shared with us all will remain forever!!!