"The Good Ol' Hockey Game"

Well, it's three hours to puck drop time and excitement is building in our house. Nope, it's not one of the kids' games, but rather Canada vs. USA at the Olympics. Dane has been diligently watching this week, especially when "his" Sharks are playing ... Thornton, Heatley and Marleau. He was VERY pleased that they accounted for both of Canada's regulation goals in the game against Switzerland on Thursday. Big Joe T. has had some good chances - we just need him to capitalize and Dane will really be cheering. GO CANADA GO!!!

Now for the latest on the kids hockey & ringette. Dane's team went on a good run last week and won the gold medal at an outdoor tournament. The boys were all pumped and proud of their efforts. They've been having a bit of a tougher time in the league though and finished the regular season with a 5-4 loss yesterday. Ashley's team ended the season on a positive note, going 2-0-1 in their last three games. Playoffs begin next weekend for both of them so we'll be running from one rink to another. Many thanks to all their fans who cheered them on yesterday ... your support is much appreciated. I know to some of you we may have seemed a bit over zealous, however hockey is really our best barometer of Dane's energy level. Until yesterday's game he had really been flying the past couple of weeks and this warms both our hearts. When he's flat, it's tough on us because it's a reminder that unlike a "normal" kid (one without leukemia), Dane's system reacts more acutely to fatigue. It's kind of hard to describe to people, but we know instantly whether he's got "zip" in a particular game. When he doesn't, our internal anxiety rises pretty quickly and we just want to see our son skate like we know his body can when it's well. We are not focused on goals or wins, we just love watching him play the game he loves because it helps ease the pain we feel about him having cancer.

Onto something more positive ... we received word that Dane's trip to Vancouver to watch two more NHL games is a go. The Believe in the Goal Foundation has made arrangements for Dirk & Dane to fly to Vancouver in mid-March to watch the Canucks play the Sharks and then the Red Wings. Ashley, Clare and I will be joining them and we are very excited!

Dane's neutrophils have rebounded nicely in the past couple of weeks and at his appointment on Tuesday they were 2.81. I can't remember the last time they were this high and we are hopeful it's a sign he has kicked this winter's cold virus once and for all. He is back on 100% dosages of his chemo medicines and on March 1, he will complete his second 84 day Maintenance treatment cycle. So, two down and about nine more cycles to go!

As always, thanks for tuning into our happenings - Janie & Dirk

"(Trip) Pictures Tell a Thousand Words"

We're back! Our "wish" trip to California last week was amazing. We packed a ton of fun into eight days and trying to capture it all in one written post is a daunting task so I've decided to let our pictures tell most of the story ...If you are 10 and 8, Disneyland is the place to be on a sunny January California day. We managed to get Ashley & Dane to stand still long enough to pose for this photo as we set out to explore the wonderful world of make believe, roller coasters and Disney paraphernalia.

One of the many benefits of being a "wish" family is we received special guest privileges at Disneyland. We had a pass that took us to the front of the line and this enabled us to by-pass any long waits and ride the various roller coasters multiple times. The kids thought this was awesome and they convinced both Dirk and I to accompany them on most of the "great" rides. This is us post-Matterhorn, a "tame" roller coaster in Fantasy land. The fact I'm smiling and my sunglasses are still on is a sign I managed this ride without too much fear! The kids were invincible and their favorites in no particular order were Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain. The Mountain references are a good tip-off there were hills, drops and turns on all these rides and that brought many smiles to their faces.

After eight long hours we managed to convince these two that it was time to call it a wrap. Of course day one at Disney wouldn't have been complete without a couple of sticky lollipops to keep them occupied on the shuttle bus back to our hotel. Thank goodness Clare was too young to join them or we would have been covered head to toe in sugar!

Not to be left out of the action, our Ms. Clare took to the rides on day two at Disney. This was her one-and-only solo trip and as you can see from the smile, she is having a ball!

No trip to California Adventure (adjacent to Disneyland) would be complete without getting absolutely soaked on the "Grizzly River Run". The kids put their guest pass to good use and shot the rapids three times. Good thing this mom was thinking and brought rain coats and a change of pants. Now only if we'd remembered some dry shoes ...

So if you are a "pre-teen" (yikes) who is about to celebrate her 10th birthday on this trip, how do you pass up the chance to pose so elegantly with the letter that starts your name? Ashley looks mighty comfy perched on that "A" and check out the tam - it was a "must" purchase for our accessory gal!

Here is a little test for all you faithful readers. If it's 65 degrees and clear blue sky, what do Winnipegers do every morning in California? If you guessed go for a dip in the outdoor pool/hot tub at the hotel, you would be right. What do native Californians do in those same temps? If you guessed join us, sorry that is the incorrect answer. If you guessed wear mitts, earmuffs, boots and multiple layers, you win the prize. We are sure people thought we were absolutely crazy ... we swam almost every morning in the heated pool (82 degrees or so) and we had the place all to ourselves. Our last day in Anaheim we actually suntanned at 10:30 am and it was heavenly. It's amazing how warm 65 degrees feels when you've had snow for three months! We only had a few hours of rain all week and that was a huge relief as the week before California experienced the "storm of the century".

Of course we had to visit Universal Studios as well. After two full days at Disney we were all pretty tired, but we managed to get on some interesting rides (The Simpsons was the kids' favorite) and see behind the scenes of a major movie/tv studio. Late afternoon rain put an end to our day a little earlier than expected, however that gave us the chance to do some "outlet" shopping (good) and experience our first & only LA traffic jam (bad).

The reason we made the trip of course ... January 28, 2010 - Sharks vs. Blackhawks at the HP Pavillion. An awesome place to watch a hockey game and we couldn't have picked a better match-up, as first place was on the line. You could feel the intensity in the air and our Dane was soooo excited. We had to force him to eat a few bites of his dinner as he didn't want to miss one minute of the action. He was riveted to his seat from the pre-game skate to the final second of OT!

Our "Hockey Day in the USA" started out on a great note ... we were able to sneak into the Blackhawks pre-game practice courtesy of Cam Barker, a Winnipeger and fine young man. We had the rink pretty much to ourselves and after they finished skating, we waited for Cam and he presented Dane with two autographed game sticks. One was his and the other was J. Toews. It was pretty interesting checking these two items on the plane for the ride home. Rest assured they will be featured prominently in our refurbished basement soon (renos are currently in progress).

"Sharky" the SJ mascot paid Dane a special visit midway through the first period and as you can see, he "ate" him up. While waiting for a stop in play, he sat on his lap and gave him a bag of goodies courtesy of the Sharks organization ... included were a Thornton jersey, a new cap and a pennant. We LOVE this picture!

Another surprise for Dane ... the opportunity to ride on the Sharks zamboni between the 2nd & 3rd periods. We figured he would be shy, but given the smile on his face while he's viewing himself on the jumbotron, his tendency toward "stage fright" appears to be gone!

The event Dane has been waiting for this past year ... the chance to meet his idol, Joe Thornton. WOW - what a moment when Joe came into the Sharks' locker room and shook Dane's hand. As his parents we were overcome with happiness for him as we know this is truly his "wish" come true. He never wavered on what he wanted to do with his one chance and we told Joe how thinking of this day helped him fight his leukemia battle. We were very impressed with JT and the special attention he gave Dane.

The big surprise of the evening ... not only did Dane meet Joe T., he also met Patrick Marleau (next to Joe), Dany Heatley (next to Dirk) and Rob Blake (SJ Captain). They were all wonderful and signed every puck, mini-stick, jersey and poster the two kids presented them. Joe, Patrick and Dany will form one line on the Cdn Olympic team so Dane's meeting was pretty "star filled". The comic relief came when Dane asked Joe what line he would be on in the Olympics and Joe said "I'll be playing with Patrick and Dany". Dane said I know but what line ... "1st, 2nd, etc." talk about pressure! Joe laughed and said "I hope we just get to play".

So as captured in these photos, that is our trip in a nutshell. The adjustment to life back at home has been not too bad and we were back at the Clinic yesterday for Dane's monthly IV treatment. His neutrophil count was very, very low before the trip so we had to suspend his chemo pills for the past two weeks (first time for us in Maintenance). He is back on 100% dosages and we'll see how his levels hold-up.

Until next time, take care and enjoy this post. Hopefully it doesn't crash your systems - Janie and Dirk

"Wishes do come true"

Good evening,

I just have time for a quick entry tonight because we are a very busy household these days. Dane's "wish" to watch a San Jose hockey game and meet "big" Joe Thornton has been granted and we are on a plane to California later this week. As you can likely imagine, the excitement factor is kicking into high gear and everyone is really looking forward to this trip (ok, so Clare isn't sure what is going on but that's kind of been the story of her life thus far).

We will be staying in Anaheim for several days (lets hope the torrential rain forecast for this week ends before we arrive) and then we'll move to San Jose. We plan to take in as much of Cali as we can, including Disneyland, Universal Studios, shopping (this is MY part of the trip), hockey, the ocean and general sightseeing. This experience has been a long time coming and it will be very nice for Ashley as we will be away around her birthday.

Dane gets to spend "one-on-one" time with Joe T. and we're pretty sure the Sharks have some neat stuff in store for him. It will truly be a once in a lifetime moment and many photos will be taken to capture it for his "fan base"!

The after effects of his Jan 5 chemo treatment & steroid boost have worn off and he's feeling great. Although his team had a tough outing against a very strong team this past Friday night, he played what was likely his best game of the season. He skated hard and fast and carried the puck more than he has all year. It was wonderful to see. Aside from the pills he takes at home every day, he is "med" free until early February and this bodes well for the trip.

A catch-up item from my last post ... I forgot to include the link from the story that ran on CTV on X-mas Eve re: the Believe in the Goal Foundation. So if you missed the story, please just click the link below and it's the second story.

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/sports/

So, until we return from Cali, take care everyone ... Janie, Dirk, Ashley, Dane & Clare

"365 Days"

Today is the day. January 6, 2009 - Dane's oncologist confirms he has leukemia and our lives would never be the same again. As is the case with most traumatic events, I have been having "flashbacks" to this time last year. Although it has been 365 days, I can still vividly remember meetings, phone calls, procedures, needles, medical explanations, visits from family and friends, and lots and lots of tears. Fortunately I can also remember many tender moments shared with Dane and Ashley - lots of hugs and kisses and reassuring words. So in the spirit of the"glass half full (vs. empty) philosophy", I have compiled the first "top 10" list of Dane's blog. Here goes ...

Top 10 Highlights of the Past 365 Days (in no particular order because that would be way too difficult)

#10 - Dane's oncologist tells us that although Dane has leukemia, it's the "best" kind to get - very common (as common as childhood cancer is) and very treatable.

#9 - Children's Wish Foundation. Everything about this organization is fantastic and our entire family has been treated very well. As of earlier today it seems like some progress is occurring on Dane's request to meet Joe Thornton so we'll keep folks posted (Ashley is sooo looking forward to a warm trip this winter to make-up for cancelling Disney last year).

#8 - Ongoing and amazing support of our family and friends. People in our lives have been outstanding this past year and as we have said many times in this blog - thank you so very much!

#7 - After a mere two weeks of treatment, Dane's body kicks the leukemia's @#*# and he is declared an "Early Rapid Responder". This means he is in remission and his prognosis is even better than when first diagnosed.

#6 - After an eight month hiatus from the sport he loves, Dane steps back on the ice in September for camp. After a slow start, he gains speed, strength and stamina and is successful in his attempt to play 8A1 Hockey. Halfway through the season he is passionate about the game again and asking to go on our backyard outdoor rink on a daily basis.

#5 - CancerCare Manitoba. The doctors, nurses, child life therapists, pharmacists and Foundation staff are wonderful. Our family has been treated with nothing but care and compassion throughout this difficult journey and we are so grateful. We "give back" by agreeing to be the face of the Holiday Appeal campaign and this leads to many great things - CTV Sports Star and NHL Experience.

#4 - Dane's body puts up a very good fight and infection germs are kept at bay all year long. This results in zero re-hospitalizations in 2009 and that is great news for everyone.

#3 - Believe in the Goal Foundation. The surprise news on Christmas Eve that Dane has been chosen for the NHL Experience was an exciting day for our entire family. We are very grateful to Shawn Churchill (CTV), the Believe in the Goal Board and Bob & Barb Davison (Todd's parents).

#2 - The gem amongst the pokes, prods, nausea, blood transfusions, etc. of our visits to the Clinic are our new and dear friends. To the following kids and their families - Hayden, Jessie R., Jessie L., Nick, Zoe and of course our special Kendra - thank you for friendship and kindness.

#1 - May 11, 2009 - Clare Avery Hantscher is born healthy & very happy. Not much more to say about this event as it speaks for itself. It was a real highlight this past year and even though I said at the beginning that these are in no particular order, this one is hard to beat!

Here's to hoping the 2010 highlight reel is filled with many great moments, stories and memories.

Take care - Janie & Dirk

p.s. I just about forgot the darn medical stuff. Dane had his monthly IV chemo yesterday and all went well. His neutrophils are just high enough to stay at 100% of his pill dosages (they were .82 yesterday) and the doctor figures they are borderline because he is fighting yet another cold (he just can't seem to stay away from them right now). His hemoglobin is at 130 and that's great news for energy & attitude!

"Welcome 2010"

Happy New Year! We hope that you enjoyed your evening last night. We celebrated the beginning of this new decade with our very good friends "The Martin 5". It was casual and cozy and just the right pace for our family. One of the highlights was watching Canada beat USA 5-4 in a shootout - it was a very exciting game.

The past holiday week has been filled with lots of activities - special times spent with friends and family and many hockey games. Dane's team ended up coming 5th out of 14 teams in the X-mas tourney and they even won a trophy. The last game featured a tight score and a victory lap by all the players. Dane was a bit behind the pack as he was too busy trying to find his new hockey gloves in the pile in the middle of the ice. It was quite funny to watch him pick up gloves and throw them back into the pile until he found his pair.

The "Believe in the Goal" euphoria has subsided for a bit. I'm sure it will pick up again once the trip planning begins. We are still waiting to hear from the Wish Foundation re: a trip to San Jose ... we are hopeful an answer will come soon because we are hoping to go away later in January. The story that aired X-mas Eve is no longer on CTV's website but I am trying to get an electronic copy soon so I can post it on the blog.

The past few days have been pretty tough. Kendra's funeral was Wednesday and it was very emotional. It was a beautiful service - a fitting tribute to a young woman who was beautiful inside and out. I think I've found it particularly tough because even though it's been 11 years, I can still vividly remember the intense sadness we felt in the days, weeks and months after Cole died. My heart aches that her family has to feel such sadness and I find my mind drifting to them often. Dane's next appt at the Clinic is on Tuesday and it will be hard to see the construction on "Kendra's Room". When it is finished though it will be a wonderful legacy.

The kids are calling because we promised we'd play a game to end what has been a very lazy Jan 1. It is exactly one year ago this week that Dane was diagnosed with leukemia - what a year it has been. It has been filled with many hard and scary moments, but at the same time, much joy (aka Clare of course). As a family we are relieved to say good-bye to 2009 and welcome what we hope and anticipate will be a gentler 2010.

All our best - Janie and Dirk

Dec 24 - "What a Christmas Present!"

The "Believe in the Goal" event went off as planned this morning. Dane had NO idea what was in store for him and wondered why I was rushing him into the shower at 10:00 am. He met Todd's family and friends at 11:00. They are all wonderful people and we are so very grateful for what they are doing for Dane and our entire family. It was evident today was bittersweet for them, as it was three years ago this month that Todd passed away.

CTV captured the entire meeting on camera and there will be a story on the 6:00 pm news tonight. It should run during the sportscast, which generally starts around 6:40 or so. We will of course post a link to it on the blog after it airs.

We are in last minute preparations for Christmas Eve dinner tonight with Dirk's family. The kids are very excited but doing a good job of holding it together.

Until next time, take care - Janie and Dirk

Dec 23, Part II - "Believing is Magic"

Yes, I am still typing tonight. I promise, this entry will be very short compared to Part I but I have some news I must share quickly.

To make a very long story short, we received a phone call today from the President of the "Believe in the Goal" Foundation. This Foundation was created several years ago by Todd Davison. Like Kendra, Todd battled a rare sarcoma. He lost his personal battle with cancer on December 2, 2006 at the age of 20. He created the "Believe" Foundation to make a difference in the lives of those who continue to battle cancer. One element of the Foundation's work is to provide children with cancer an "NHL Experience". I'm sure you can see where this is going ...

For this year, Dane has been selected as the child who will receive the "NHL Experience". There are still many, many details to be sorted out but something exciting is happening tomorrow. Todd's parents want to tell Dane about the "NHL Experience" as a Christmas present so they are coming to our house at 11:00 am to meet him. Shawn Churchill of CTV is on the Foundation's Board and he is the person who nominated Dane. Of course he was introduced to Dane by the CTV Producer who shot the TV commercial for the CCMB Foundation's campaign. So if there was ever a story about "paying it forward", this is it!

Apparently CTV is coming to our house as well tomorrow as they want to feature this great news on the Christmas Eve newscast. So I will post a quick update tomorrow afternoon advising when it should be airing. And when I'm not so sleep deprived, I will provide more details regarding this wonderful opportunity for Dane. He knows NOTHING about it so tomorrow is going to be quite the day!

Merry Christmas - Janie and Dirk

p.s. There was a short story about Dane in the Winnipeg Sun last Saturday. The link is not being cooperative but if you are interested, just go to the Winnipeg Sun website and search under the heading "Unmelancholy Dane". It should come up right away.