John F’s Story

Site created on September 30, 2020

On Monday, September 14, John experienced abdominal pain. After trying to ease it through over-the-counter meds, it persisted. His mother suggested he have it checked out with his general practitioner to be on the safe side. On Wednesday, September 16, after a CAT scan, x-ray and MRI, a 4” tumor was discovered wrapped in and around the lower part of his spine. Due to the size and location of the tumor, John was immediately referred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The initial diagnosis is possible Chordoma cancer. In basic terms, Chordoma is a rare bone cancer that usually attacks the spine (sacrum) or base of the skull (cranial). Only one in one million people are diagnosed per year, and usually they are between the ages of 40 – 60. Until the tumor is removed, we will not know the actual diagnosis or malignancy. However, currently the focus is on removing the tumor – how to best remove it and how it will affect his body long term.

Newest Update

August 6, 2021

Journal entry by Maxine Farden —

John and Tierra's "Unmasked Tour" of THANK-YOU recitals has begun. Last Tuesday they were in Aberdeen for their first recital. This evening, August 6 - they will be performing in Faulkton at 7:00 pm at Our Savior Lutheran Church (308 15th Street) . On Sunday, August 8 - they will be in Freeman at 3:00 pm at Bethany  Mennonite Church (509 S Juniper Street) and then on Tuesday, August 10 they will be in Huron at 7:00 pm at the Huron Community Campus/Fine Arts Center (939 Ohio Ave SW). 

A variety of works, from J.S. Bach and Franz Schubert to Andrew Lloyed Webber and Neil Diamond, will be presented. These recitals are part of a post-pandemic tour of  communities, and was initially designed as a musical thank-you for the enormous support by several communities during John's diagnosis, removal, and recovery from a non-cancerous back tumor.

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