Don Liewer

Welcome to our CaringBridge website.  You know when you come to CaringBridge, something sad has happened. This time, it is cancer.

Our beloved husband & dad, Don Liewer, has developed a rare form of the disease called Spindle Cell Sarcoma, which affects the connective tissues. In the past few months a large tumor grew in his leg, from his knee to the top of his hamstring. On June 14, he began five weeks of daily radiation treatments at University Hospital in Seattle.

It will surprise those who remember Don’s vigorous younger days of building houses and volunteer firefighting, but he has lost so much strength and energy in recent years – a lot more than we could account for through normal aging.  The problem grew much worse last winter after a bad bout with bronchitis. For weeks he struggled to even get out of his chair.

Even after numerous tests on his heart, lungs and kidneys, Don’s doctors couldn’t account for the severity of his symptoms.  Not until spring did they run a test on the fatty growth that had been expanding, rapidly and painfully, on his leg since January. They discovered it was a malignant tumor, not the harmless lipoma they had suspected.

The good news is that the cancer hasn’t spread. The goal is to shrink the tumor while Don gains enough strength to undergo surgery to remove it. If that can happen, radiologists say he has an excellent chance of surviving. He has beaten melanoma and prostate cancer.  With God’s help, he can beat this, too.

He asked us (Tamara, Patty and Steve) to keep everyone informed with regular updates on this site. And he is so thankful for all the kind thoughts, prayers, and love.  He feels like so many people are “storming Heaven” on his behalf.

Don will see any good wishes posted here at CaringBridge, and he appreciates cards sent to his home at 1155 E. Front St., Lynden, WA, 98264.  Thanks -- your kindness is what boosts us!