In a Tunnel of Grief and Loss
Hello,
If you are here, I have more than likely shared a link with you or a card because it might be hard for me to talk and share the bulk of details of what's been happening in my family. There has been and will be some loss of loved ones.
In May of last year my brother Brian went into the emergency room with some shoulder pain and after doing some thorough scans of his body, the doctors found cancer in several parts of his body. He was eventually diagnosed with a very rare form of kidney cancer and it was stage 4 since it had spread so far.
He has been very strong and had such an incredible can do attitude in the face of his diagnosis and he went to work trying the absolute best treatment options out there for him. Unfortunately, after about 6 months it was clear that chemo was not going to stop the cancer. It continued to spread. He got a tumor on his spine a while ago the stopped his ability to walk and go to the bathroom and he's been declining more rapidly since then.
He's been at home the last several weeks and a few weeks ago went on hospice. We just got word early this morning from his wife that the hospice nurse came out last night and he probably won't last past 24 hours.
It's been almost a year since his initial diagnosis and I wanted to all to know at least something about his health battle and I'm sure we'll reach out about the funeral when it is time.
I'm updating this post because on 3/29/26 Brian is no longer with us, after sleeping for a few days he passed away in the morning peacefully at home surrounded by family and some close friends. Brian has 2 boys in high school, one that has graduated high school. He leaves his wife, Monica and 2 other adult step sons as well.
If this wasn't a lot already.
On January 20th, my sister Rebekah's husband Dan went into the hospital with some problems going to the bathroom and pain and they found a tumor in his intestines and after having surgery to remove it, they sent it off for testing and he came back positive for 2 types of colon cancer. One of the types is a very aggressive type and he was already at stage 4.
Dan has unfortunately been aggressively declining and is currently very weak. He will be moving to hospice in the next couple days.
Dan actually used to play football for UW and when some of his football buddies found out what was happening, they rallied around Dan's family and you can google his name and find a bunch of articles: Dan Milsten
There is a go fund me that has been a support to their family.
I'm updating this blog on the morning of 3/30/26 because I got word that Dan passed as of 11:30pm. Dan and Brian passed away on the same day.
As you can imagine this has been a lot for us and I hope this e-mail gives you some context if you run across me and I just burst into tears or seem really sad and can't talk.
If you have read this, it is an invitation into my world for a bit and thank you for being willing and caring enough to read some details and hold the space for me. Please pray for my family, we are a large family so we are tenderly holding each other as well.
I'll be praying for you and your family as well, I'm so grateful for you.
Love,
Christine
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