Good Evening!

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting and praying for Dad today and throughout the course of his cancer journey. I am very happy to report that the PET-CT scan today came back NED (no evidence of disease)! You can see the look of relief in Dad and Mom's faces in the attached picture as Dr. Philip was reviewing the latest scan. This was the best news for which we could have hoped, and we are so grateful to the amazing team of doctors and nurses who have helped us along the way and for all of you who have faithfully stood alongside us through all of the ups and the downs. It is so nice to report an "up"! 

Of course, as discussed earlier, we know that ATC is an extremely aggressive cancer that can metastasize and grow quickly. So while we celebrate this great news today, we know it will be important to continue monitoring the disease to see if there is any progression. The next PET-CT scan is scheduled for July 18, and we will continue to remain hopeful that the cancer is at bay (or, better yet, gone!). We would greatly appreciate the continued prayers and support. In the meantime, Dad plans on enjoying as much time on the water and with Mom and his family as he can, and we are all so grateful for each new day and each new breath. Mom and Dad have a full summer of plans - from fishing and enjoying the cabin to watching kids and grandkids race and golf and shoot trap and other activities to traveling to Michigan to see Joy and Chad and Isaac and Meikea - and they can't wait to get started! Yes, today was a good day, and we'll take it. 

There are so many people that we'd like to thank, and the list is overwhelming. While this list is by no means exhaustive, I would really like to acknowledge a few people by name. As mentioned earlier, the doctors and nurses have been amazing, and we are so grateful for all of the advances in science and medicine  and technology that have helped make this possible. Dr. Troy Duininck (surgeon and friend), Dr. Zaidi (surgeon), Dr. Philip (oncologist), Dr. Hilton (radiation oncologist), Dr. Rhodes (ENT surgeon), and countless nurses and physicians assistants and specialists were so instrumental in using their gifts and talents and expertise to help get us to where we are today. We cannot thank them enough. Heather and Joy and Mom and Alicia were incredible nurses throughout the past several months, and their patience and care were inspirational to me and so many others. Joy took weeks off of work to spend time with Dad and Mom and to act as an advocate with all of our medical appointments. Mark and Laurie and Ethan and Esther took time off to visit Mom and Dad in the hospitals and prayed with them frequently on the phone. Mary and Les and Jessica and Jennifer came out from Oregon to visit and spend time with Dad, and Mary has been such an encouragement to me personally with her frequent texts, wisdom, and advice. Mike and Haley sacrificed much personal time and vacation days to help out with the dogs, attend meetings with the doctors, and just be there for whatever Grandpa needed. Danny and Maddie house-sat and dog-sat, and made numerous trips to Duluth to bring up supplies and be there for whatever was needed. Chad and Isaac and Meikea made the trip from Michigan to visit and help out and offer their encouragement, and Chad and Isaac worked on our house for a day. Ron and Ruth Bouma made multiple trips to the hospital, and even took care of Moxie for a few weeks. Jeff and Dawn Poppema stopped over and helped out on multiple occasions. Dave and Helen stopped over to pray with Dad and Mom frequently and offered continual texts of encouragement. Dad and Mom's small group and church have remained so faithful and encouraging to them. Dad has even received numerous letters from people he does not even know! My extended family - Robyn and Patrick and their kids, Gail, Ron, Mark and Dayle, Matt and Katie - have all dropped whatever they were doing to support us along the way. Patrick drove all the way to Duluth just to deliver supplies for our house! Kirk VanderPol and Jeff Fisher have been incredible sources of encouragement and have sacrificed much of their time to help out whenever is needed. Our small group at Timberwood have been so supportive, as has Pastor Steve and Pastor John. My new employee Sara Stone has picked up so much of my slack in my consulting business as well as at UMD, and she has really helped keep the company and business running. My clients have been so supportive and understanding, and I have received so many encouraging texts from clients and colleagues all over the world, from Canada to Poland to Australia! Numerous colleagues at UMD have stepped up to teach classes for me when I couldn't be there and to take many of my tasks off of my plate.

I know I have omitted many people in this list,  but suffice it to say that we are so incredibly blessed by this amazing community of supporters, and I wanted to take a few moments to acknowledge your tremendous contributions. We couldn't have made it this far without you, and we cannot thank you all enough! 

Mike

P.S. If you have made it this far, I'd like you to know that June 1 is our annual Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge Fishing Tournament that Dad and I have fished for the last decade. Back in January, we didn't have a lot of hope that we would be able to compete in it this year. Well, this news today was just what we needed to confirm our participation in the event again. Is it too much to ask that we win the bass division this year?! I think we are due. Whatever the case, I can't wait to wet the lines along the Gull Lake shorelines once again with my hero and friend at my side. For those of you who have faithfully contributed to our fundraisers in the past years, you can look forward to hearing from us again in the next few weeks. For those of you that haven't, you may still be hearing from us ;-)