Dennis’s Story

Site created on November 23, 2019

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place while Dennis is undergoing a stem cell transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Dennis' story:

In the Spring of 2018 Dennis started noticing  shortness of breath when he would do yard work etc.  He would often feel tired.  If he bumped into something while doing yard & house work he would often  find bruises later on his body-which had never happened in the past.  He originally thought the tiredness was caused by his blood sugars being  low as he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes or that he was having heart issues since he has been on high blood pressure medications for the majority of his adult life. At the urging of his wife he finally  told his endocrinologist about his symptoms.   His endocrinologist urged him to visit with a cardiologist.  At first it was thought that he was having blockage in his heart and that  was causing these symptoms and they ordered a coronary angiography.   During the pre-ops it was noticed that his blood counts were low. His doctors reviewed his physicals from years past and saw a pattern of his blood counts getting lower and lower each year.   Additional testing and a bone marrow biopsy were ordered.  In August of 2018 it was learned that the shortness of breath,  tiredness, bruising, and bleeding  were symptoms of  myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which is sometimes referred to as pre-leukemia.


After being diagnosed with MDS it was decided that he would first deal with his heart issue before he began treatment for MDS.  He  under went  the coronary angiography, thinking he would probably need a stent.   It was learned during this procedure that his heart was fine and no stent was needed .  It was also learned that he was strong enough to begin chemotherapy to fight his MDS.    In October of 2018 he began chemotherapy.  He underwent chemotherapy for 7 days in a row every 21 days.  At the end of the first  three month cycle he did another  bone marrow biopsy, and  meet with his hematologist-oncologist to  see if his blood count numbers were improving from the chemotherapy.  It was also discussed that chemotherapy is not a cure for this disease and the only possible cure would be a stem cell transplant.  His doctor wanted him to first check with his brother  to see if he could possibly be a match.  Roger graciously under went the testing procedure but was not deemed a match.   So the search for an anonymous donor began.

Dennis continued to undergo chemotherapy for 7 days every 21 days.  Every three months he would meet with his doctors at Mayo and do a bone marrow biopsy to see where his blood count numbers were at.   In the summer of 2019 he was told he was strong enough, his blood count numbers were holding steady and now was the  time to go forward with the stem cell transplant.    In early November of 2019 he finally  received the phone call that a match had been found and his stem cell transplant would occur at the end of November 2019.   His donor is from Europe and anonymous.  Dennis entered the gift of life house on November 18th, 2019.  He started IV chemotherapy on Monday the 18th to prepare his body for the transplant.  On Tuesday he had an outpatient procedure to place a port in his neck. The port has been used for daily blood draws, chemotherapy and will be how he receives his stem cell transplant on Monday November 25th. Dennis will be at the gift of life house for approximately 100 days post transplant.









Newest Update

October 22, 2021

Journal entry by Joyanna Mickels —

It has been a long time since I have updated my dad's caringbridge.  I think I stopped journaling as things had been going better....been relatively stable. 

 Dad was able to come home from assisted care/rehab in June.  A week prior to coming home I hadn't seen him in almost a month.  He shocked Jesse and I by walking into a restaurant in Lansboro without a walker.  He was feeling well enough that  he had even come out to where we were camping drank a beer and spent the day in the sunshine.  The Dodge Center Assisted Care/Rehab facility had done amazing work and dad was feeling good.  He recognized that he wasn't as strong as he was pre-transplant and had the fire to keep doing PT to get stronger. 

Dad was feeling well enough he had even started driving a little bit again (which I must admit caused some banter about whether or not he was ready to be driving on the interstate again after a two year break.)   He worked in his yard. He visited friends. He tinkered in his garage. He drove and visited us as we camped in Royalton.   He spent time with Jonah and Jacob.

He had a scary fall in mid August when he missed a curb in a parking lot, Thank goodness he David with him.  He  ended up riding in an ambulance to the hospital.  But he came home that night and kept doing his physical therapy.  David stayed with mom and dad for a couple days and he felt good knowing he had a nurse staying with him  He wasn't as strong as he was in June  but he wasn't at his lowest point either.  His diabetes improved so much he no longer was taking insulin shots or pills which he was super proud of.   

Two weeks ago Jonah had a soccer game in the cities and the all 7 of us were together in Woodbury watching Jonah play soccer and ate Bridgeman ice cream afterwards.  Dad said it was the best ice cream he had in a long time.  Last Thursday dad felt well enough to travel to Moorhead and came to our house to visit.   He hadn't felt well enough post transplant to visit before.  We did Friday night game night and played cards, pass the pigs and candy land.  We watched the vikings, and he rode with me in the car for four hours to Burnsville.  before I flew out to Hawaii.  He had a little cough, and had complained of a headache on Sunday. 

Thursday morning dad passed away in his sleep.  His fight is over. I am so grateful the last two weekends of his life we were able to spend time with him.   I am so happy I had those 4 hours to bullshit with him in the vehicle 36 hours before he died.  We wish his transplant would have given him more time but we are so grateful to his donor and the extra time he had.  Dad's visitation will be 4-6 on Thursday October 28th at Brick-Meger funeral home in Owatonna.  His funeral will be 11am on Friday October 29h at St. Joseph's in Owatonna with visituation one hour before.  

https://www.megercares.com/obituaries/Dennis-M-Quimby?obId=22735085#/obituaryInfo

Thank you for all the prayers, kind words, and encouragement you provided him during his journey.  He knew he was loved & appreciative of all the kindness everyone showed him.   I apologize for the long rambling post, but it's been a struggle to process this.  We weren't ready for him to go...  

 

Read More of the journal titled "October 22, 2021"
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