In 2005, my only brother died at age 74 of pancreatic cancer. At the time, my husband and I were living in Chicago, and I had been impressed by Joseph Cardinal Bernadin’s memoir of his final months of living with the disease. His book, The Gift of Peace, had been published in 1997, and I mailed a copy to my brother.
This past Thursday, I scanned my bookshelves for my copy of The Gift of Peace. I was happy to find it; I wasn’t sure if it had made the move from Chicago to Sioux Falls with us or my recent move from my twin home to the Village Cooperative of Sioux Falls. and I knew I would want to read it again.
You see, last Sunday, I, the youngest of the five Hoitenga children, and the last to survive, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I am 83 years old. I had driven myself that morning to the Emergency Department of the Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center. I’d had a rough night of pain and decided I had to take action. I called my daughter, Kathleen, told her to go on to church, that I could drive myself, and then she wouldn’t have to sit around and wait all day for any test results.
I had the results of my CT scan while her family and my son and his wife were still in church. After further testing, I was finally discharged on Thursday, four full days later. As in the case of my husband’s death seven years ago, I’ve been thinking about how I wanted to keep family and friends informed. I’ve decided to use my blog again, the same that I did for him.
So, if you are interested, I invite you to go on this adventure with me. You may recall I used the term adventure with Marv’s terminal illness also. I have a problem with the word journey, the term often used for end-of-life stories. Sounds ominous. I’m anticipating this time to be a time of learning like no other, another quote from the book I wrote of our experience with Marv’s terminal cancer. As a life-long learner, I’m looking forward to discovering first hand what my final adventure in life of dying will be like. Cardinal Bernadin’s book will be my inspiration.
I must stop now because I’m not yet adjusted to a pain routine. I’m a bit wacko in my head. With a tad of double vision thrown in. You are welcome to ride along.
Write Along with Me 
Oh, Lois. Not sure you needed this adventure, but I know you will handle it with grace and humour.
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I feel privileged to go
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Dear Lois…sending love. Lots and lots of love. 💕
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Very sorry to read of your diagnosis. Not surprised you are facing it with courage and curiosity. I want to go on your adventure so I can cheer you along and know I will learn something important.
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Not the kind of adventure anyone of us would choose. I feel privileged to go on the adventure with you. Love and kind wishes from your friend onthe other side of the world.
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A beautiful invitation and one I wish to accept though I read your blog with some dread (effective writing!) that grew as I read on. Having Kathleen and her family in church while you took not the first and another step on the adventure must have given you some solace. Having them nearby during this adventure will be important for you and for those of us who continue to learn more from you through the posts. As Pepper said long ago, you’re good at turning lemons into lemon aide.
Lois
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allsmerSent from my iPad
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I know you’ll share this latest challenge with the same love, honesty, humor, compassion, humility and sense of wonder that you bring to all of your work. It will be an honor to follow along as you blog your experiences.
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I’m so grateful Mike and Kathleen are nearby on this adventure… Couldn’t think of anyone better to keep your spirits up together! Great decision all those years ago to move to Sioux Falls!
I’m so grateful we can rely on our Lord’s promises that He will not leave or forsake us but will walk with us on all the adventures of our lives. Praying for you all – especially to keep the pain tolerable and not TOO much double vision!!!
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You are in the best hands God and your amazing family. Heyboers will be praying for you all.
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Well, Lois, I am sorry that this is your next bit of adventure, and I will follow along on your journey, offering support and best wishes from afar. Your writings have inspired me all along, and I attend with curiosity.
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I just now opened this and I’m speechless! I want to shout and insist th
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I’m so sorry, Lois. I will follow your blog, as always. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers too.
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Will look forward to hearing g from you, not the news anyone wants to hear. Don’t know if this will get to you or if I have to do something else. Sending a hug!! Marge
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Hugs and prayers! You are an inspiration.
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As with those who have already commented, this is troubling. More than that, I have thought of you as invulnerable. It turns out, you aren’t and none of us art. You have all my good wishes, dear Lois. I will follow along.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! If at all possible, I will try to connect with you before this adventure comes to a close! I remember your interest in humor. I will probably have to keep a lid on mine, so I don’t get obnoxiously irreverent. But I do naturally see a funny side of things. And I’m grateful! I hope it’s ok that I sign off with professional love and respect! You know I believe in being proper. Ha. Carry on.
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Mrs. Roelofs, my very favorite Nursing Instructor at Trinity Christian College. Class of 1990 here. Always with a smile and twinkle in your eye. You made the scary psych rotation not so scary. I actually enjoyed it so much that I considered working the unit after graduation. I ended up in OB and pediatrics, but let’s face it, your valuable teachings and insight of psychiatric nursing always came in handy, no matter what unit I was working on. Besides your infectious smile, you were always dressed to the nines and rocking those navy tights. I would be honored to accompany you on this journey as you accompanied me as a pregnant senior nursing student. Sending you love, prayers and hugs !! ❤️
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Lois, you are so remarkable. Love how you are framing this diagnosis as an adventure. I’m happy to be invited to ride along.
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