cancer – Page 22 – St. Joseph's Indian School

Fr. Steve’s updates

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Today the town of Dupree (population 434) celebrated their centennial with a parade. Small town parades are an experience all in themselves. I wanted to get to main street early so I could get a good seat, but there was plenty of room because almost everyone in town was in the parade.

The town was founded on land donated by Fred Dupris, a French and Lakota trader whom the town was named after. He and Scotty Phillips are credited with saving the buffalo when they were almost hunted to extinction. One of the floats included many of his descendants who live in the area.

Another float had all the grandchildren of the Norwegian homesteaders who came to the area in 1910. There were antique tractors, powwow royalty riding in the back of pickups, and politicians positioning themselves for the November elections. All threw candy into the streets as children scrambled for the goodies.

I actually got to see the parade twice. Main street is only 5 blocks long, and the parade went south along the length of the town, then did a U-turn and came back north again.

Just a month ago a tornado went through the heart of town. The elderly manor was hit hard and residents had to be relocated to other area towns. Pioneer Hall – the community center – was damaged beyond repair and had to be bulldozed. In its place stands a large circus tent; the show and the centennial must go on.

It’s very indicative of life on these isolated prairie towns. People face great hardship with weather and life circumstances, but they find it within themselves to rebuild and keep going.

As I walked the sidewalks and stayed at the church for Saturday evening mass, the best part was seeing folks that I spent ten years of my life with. Some of those I remember as children are now parents. We recalled weddings and baptisms, sad funerals and times that made us laugh. So many of these folks have kept me in their prayers these past months and it was wonderful to be able to thank them in person and renew the ties of friendship.

Fr. Steve’s updates

While the foot pain from my nerves is ongoing and bothersome, the hardest part of this stage of recovery is the lethargy, tiredness and lack of drive.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

While the foot pain from my nerves is ongoing and bothersome, the hardest part of this stage of recovery is the lethargy, tiredness and lack of drive. The weekend does bring more time for rest, but I feel worn out from sleeping large chunks of the day away.

Projects I would like to get to are started and left hanging as I lose energy, focus and staying power. What I think will only take a few minutes turns into a much longer production. I did at least catch up with some reading and long overdue letters.

Except for the museum – where we do have a good number of visitors – campus is eerily quiet for the long holiday weekend.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Today I stopped by the high school summer home. The only high school students still on campus are those who are working around town this summer.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Lloyd, one of our houseparents, stopped by the office to give me Star Trek DVD’s. He knew I’d appreciate having something to watch during my resting times. I’ve seen all the episodes many times, but this includes many behind the scenes shots and info. With the way my foot feels, it’s too bad Dr. McCoy couldn’t give me a quick hypo-spray and regenerate my damaged nerves.

Today I stopped by the high school summer home. The only high school students still on campus are those who are working around town this summer. Many had already checked out for the holiday weekend, but Dominic and Shay were still around.

I find the students are more talkative when alone or in small groups, and I had some good conversations with both. Whether summer or school year, it’s important to take some of that face to face time to understand our students and their needs.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I’ve been consistently able to put in three or four hours a day in the office. Even if I don’t accomplish so much, it at least helps me from going stir crazy.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

I’ve been consistently able to put in three or four hours a day in the office. Even if I don’t accomplish so much, it at least helps me from going stir crazy.

Today our business office supervisors all met to check in. We don’t receive as much mail or as many phone calls during the summer months, but that gives everyone more time to take inventory – not just physically, which we do this time of year – but to look at what’s working and what needs improvement.

Sometimes it’s in the quieter times that good ideas crop up and beg to be explored.

I stopped to check in on the progress in the Rooney/Speyer homes. The inside demolition was accomplished quickly after school was out, and our crew is already hard at work building new walls and replacing all the windows with ones that will insulate much better.

I obviously haven’t stopped in as much as when I’m running at full speed, but I know folks appreciate it when I take interest in the work they’re doing. And our staff does a lot of good work, even if much of it is behind the scenes.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I appreciate good staff, grow close to them and hate to see them go. But we always seem to find others who take up the commitment to our mission and help out with their own unique gifts, talents and personalities.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

At afternoon work break, our business office said goodbye to Desiree, who will leave us to work at home on the family ranch. I appreciate good staff, grow close to them and hate to see them go. But we always seem to find others who take up the commitment to our mission and help out with their own unique gifts, talents and personalities.

We have two homes open for our students who need the support of St. Joseph’s summer program. I stopped in for supper in the Summerlee home, and enjoyed the company of a half dozen of our young women, grades 3-8. They have three hours of school each morning, then afternoons filled with recreation or other activities. The favorite activity seems to be the trips into the town pool, and playful interaction with other kids their age.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I went to the clinic for a blood draw and my levels have stabilized, so I don’t have to change the medications. I won’t need a further check for a month.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Our summer day camp is finished, and campus is much quieter … for a few weeks. We still have four homes open for our students who need to be here over the rest of the summer months. However, quieter in one way makes for busier and noisier in other ways.

With fewer children around, our construction and remodeling projects are moving into high gear. I went into the church basement to check on the stabilization project. They are driving pylons 60 feet down to bedrock to keep the church from shifting further – one of the disadvantages of living at the edge of a river.

We’re also shingling the church roof, which is no small project. But it’s all on track to be finished by the start of the school year.

The traffic of folks stopping by increases over summer months, and I spent some time at the museum with donors from Washington and Maryland. It is exciting when folks who’ve known about St. Joseph’s for a long time finally get to come visit. It’s sort of a pilgrimage for them. I enjoy talking and answering questions when I’m able. I’m still not walking too far, so I have to leave it to other staff to conduct the tours.

I went to the clinic for a blood draw and my levels have stabilized, so I don’t have to change the medications. I won’t need a further check for a month.

I took a 3 ½ hour nap in the afternoon, so a) my body must have needed it, and b) it makes it very hard to get anything done with the day. I’ve just had to accept the limits.

Fr. Steve’s updates

Fr. Joe invited me to stay for lunch afterwards and over a bowl of chili we caught up on doings on the Indian reservations and in our SCJ province.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The weekend was slow in one way because I slept a lot. The doctors said I would need extra rest as my body continues to heal.

Saturday night we said goodbye to Juan Carlos, our SCJ seminarian who worked at the day camp and took part in other activities this past month. After some vacation time he’ll begin his novitiate at the end of July.

We had supper at Charley’s restaurant, and there were plenty of towns folk I hadn’t seen since the surgery. My trip to the salad bar took 20 minutes as folks came up to me and got the update on how I’m doing. When we went to pay the bill, it had already been picked up, courtesy of Doc Holland, the retired physician who for many years took care of all the St. Joseph’s students and staff.

Today I did my first driving of any distance, a half hour to Lower Brule where I concelebrated the 11:00 mass. I’ve been on many prayer lists, and I got to thank the parishioners and tell them the good news that so far I’m cancer free.

Fr. Joe invited me to stay for lunch afterwards and over a bowl of chili we caught up on doings on the Indian reservations and in our SCJ province.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I arrived home from Mayo after two days of tests and consultations. On the cancer front, everything looks good. I don’t need any more treatments for now.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I arrived home from the hospital after two days of tests and consultations.

On the cancer front, everything looks good. I don’t need any more treatments for now, and I’ll just go on their regular 3 month checkup interval for this first year.

They were very pleased with how the incision is healing up, and how things look inside after the surgery. They think they were able to get all the cancer.

The nerves in my foot are still in a lot of pain. The doctor said that will take a while to heal, several months or even as long as a year … you just never know with the nerves.

I’m on some pain meds to manage that, but the down side is the medication make me sleepy.

The doctor said I can start pushing myself – doing a little more exercise and activity every day – and try to get back to a normal routine. But, I still may need more rest for a while and have to pay attention to my body.

Fr. Steve’s updates

The Sunday before surgery the good parishioners had their mass said for the intention of my healing, and I got a whole bunch of get well cards that I’ve not yet answered.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Friday and Saturday the other priests and brothers were gone, and with no meetings I soaked up the quiet. I got in lots of much needed sleep, with reading and TV in between.

Today Juan Carlos – our seminarian helping this summer – drove me to church in Kennebec, 30 miles west of St. Joseph’s. I used to be pastor there.

The Sunday before surgery the good parishioners had their mass said for the intention of my healing, and I received a bunch of get well cards that I’ve not yet answered. I wanted to thank them and join them for this week’s mass.

The day was a nice reunion, with some catching up time. Folks have been genuinely worried about the seriousness of my cancer, and were relieved to see me up and about.

I still have trouble standing for a long time, but with Fr. Joe leading mass, I was able to make it through.

After lunch I took another nap, packed my bags for a few days, and now await Fr. Bill. We’ll journey back to the clinic where I have post surgery appointments Monday and Tuesday. I’ll have several tests and scans, and have appointments with the radiologist, oncologist and surgeon to check up on how the recovery is going.

Hopefully the good news and results will continue.

Fr. Steve’s updates

I had my first hair cut in about four months! There wasn’t much hair to cut since it all fell out during chemo, but my neck and around my ears was getting fuzzy.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

I had my first hair cut in about four months! There wasn’t much hair to cut since it all fell out during chemo, but my neck and around my ears was getting fuzzy. So, off to the barber shop I went.

Dad was a part-time barber, and we even had a barber chair in our rec room. I feel so calm and relaxed when I get my hair cut, and it’s nice to feel clean cut.

Since I was downtown, I stopped in at our Thrift Store to say hi to the staff there. Besides the regulars, one of our high school girls is also working there for the summer, gaining some pocket money, and just as importantly, experience working with people and handling responsibilities. She was using her creativity to design a new window display.

Later, I stopped by our museum to say hi to staff there, and again saw one of our high school girls working there. She said she likes getting to meet the visitors that come from all over, answer their questions and show them around.

Since there aren’t always a lot of jobs for youth back home on the Indian reservations, we have several high school students who stay for the summer and work.