Raine Hokan

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.    Here's Raine's Story:


Once upon a time there were three little girls who went to the police academy - oh wait - that's not the right story.  Back on September 23 I had a bout in the hospital with what we thought was just your run-of-the-mill hemorrhaging of three and a half pints of blood .  Through a series of tests, more tests, and then many more tests - we found out last week that I have cancer in my colon (get your colonoscopies gentlemen).  Of course, once the shock of that wore off it was time to spring into action.


So yesterday (October 24), we began a very aggressive chemotherapy regimen which is being done in-patient at St. Cloud Hospital.  So this week I will have five treatments (24 hours a day by the way).  I will be discharged on the weekend, go home for a couple weeks, and then come back and do the same regimen again.  The goal, of course, is to wipe this unwanted cancer out of my body.  The reason for the in-patient treatment is a heightened vulnerability in my heart due to a murmur and also to try and cut down on the risk of infections because my blood hasn't totally recovered from the 3.5 pints I lost last month.  Point of interest: They never did find any reason for all of that bleeding - none whatsoever - and it suddenly and inexplicably just stopped on its own mere hours after they admitted me. Ultimately, I'm pretty glad the bleeding happened, because if it hadn't, I wouldn't have had that colonoscopy and this cancer never would have been found in time. If all goes well, we will repeat this same process for 6-8 cycles over the next 4-5 months.


We are very optimistic and the prognosis is extremely good that we can beat this bastard and life will return to normal, but we also know we have a battle ahead.  The staff here is wonderful and even the food's alright.  So just so you don't think I'm a hermit, my public appearances will be limited for the time being.  Perhaps I'll have time to get caught up on some writing.  Who am I kidding?  "Mario Odyssey" for my Nintendo Switch drops on Friday!  


Dan is amazing and trying to keep the wheels on during this very busy time, so it's fun to see him working from the little desk in the hospital.    We will keep you updated as things happen and we battle.  Thank you for you thoughts and optimism.