A Hard Road Ahead

[DAN PILCHER]

Well, friends, I've got some tough news to share with you.  My wife, Madie, whom many of you have met, has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  That's the bad news.

The good news is it has been detected relatively early, and the diagnosis by the special pancreatic cancer team at the University of Denver Hospital is that it is "curable."

Madie's path ahead is two months of chemo, one session every two weeks.  Then, following a rest month, surgery.  After two more rest months, then four more months of chemo, one session every two weeks.

In other words, she now has about nine months of a hard, long journey ahead.  Her multi-disciplinary team is one of the best in the nation, and for that we are grateful.

Her brother, Hugh, died of pancreatic cancer in the early 1990s when he was 47 years old.  Frieda, my first wife, died of pancreatic cancer in early 2013.  Frieda also had a brother who later died of pancreatic cancer as well.

Consequently, pancreatic cancer is something that deeply concerns us, our children included.  So, we are just trying to take one step at a time, one day at a time, and do all that we can to support Madie.

We have established a page under "Madie Gustafson" at CaringBridge if you would like to check in on her journal entries.

https://www.caringbridge.org/

I hope all is well with you and your families.  I know some of you and your families also have been touched by cancer, so you probably well understand what Madie is now facing.

Best wishes, and stay safe.

Dan

[sfr4201]

Dan

That is pure evidence that cancer has no friends,enimies or an agenda!Will always be thinking of Madie,her family and yourself.Let me know if l can help out in any way

                 Heads up......

              E-Steve

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

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[Steve Smith]

Dan,

Sorry to hear about Madie’s medical challenge, but I’m sure that you’ll be there to help her through it. Please give her our best wishes for her speedy recovery. 

Steve and Annette 

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rmrat/1100677633.777225.1665572520456%40yahoo.com.

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Steve

[Tavis Aitken]

I am so sorry to hear that Dan. It sounds like you have a great team and a good plan. We will be wishing Maddie a speedy recovery. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you both.

   - Tavis

[Manuel]

Dan, I'm sorry to hear this.  Sending out thoughts to you and Maddie.  Stay strong, 

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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[Jim Baker]

That's too much for one person, Dan.  Please let us know if we can help.

Cheers,

Jim

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[DAVID WARFIELD]

Dan and Madie,

Very sad to hear your bad news. I'm a hater, I hate cancer!

Please know that we understand the hard times ahead for Madie and you, and are hoping that her treatment plan works perfectly. Let us know when you need some extra support to keep you going.

With love,

David & Andrea

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[Bullet Bob]

Dan,

So sorry to hear of Madie and your challenge ahead!  Stunned to see the extraordinary history you have both had with this most alarming disease, but expect those experiences have helped drive Madie's early diagnosis and strong treatment plan.  Our prayers and optimism for her full recovery, and however we can help.

Bob and Rebecca

[Robert Wendl]

Dan,

When I read your email my hart dropped. We will be wishing Maddie a speedy recovery. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you both.

Bob & Denise Wendl

------ Original Message ------

From "Bullet Bob" <rli...@comcast.net>

To "RMRAT" <rm...@googlegroups.com>

Date 10/12/2022 11:08:19 AM

Subject Re: [emrat:13781] A Hard Road Ahead

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[LARRY POAGUE]

 This is way beyond “tough news". Our collective fingers are crossed !!!

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[Doc]

Dan,

I have not been on the Rat emails for some time (life has kept me from riding too), and Norm just pinged me and told me the news. I'm sorry to hear this. I just lost 2 friends recently, and just heard of another friends brain tumor is back, and another that has been battling cancer for a decade now only has six months to live. Hard times indeed. I am very glad to hear that it is early detection and treatable. If I can help in any way I would be glad to be there for you as I am sure you already know my MC garage buddy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me. With sincere love, Doc

[Thomas Sangl]

Hi Dan-

Very sorry to hear this horrible news. Medical science has come a long way and brought some miraculous results.  Good luck to Madie and you.

Tom

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rmrat/891c1ed4-7826-40b5-8765-ea9512757256n%40googlegroups.com

.

[Martin Richard]

So sorry to hear this, Dan!  Let m know if there’s anything Liz and I can do. 

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