#20725 07-17-2006 08:38 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Dear OCF forum members, it is with tremendous pain and sadness that I have to tell you of Danny Boys passing. Danny was one of the most courageous and compassionate persons I have ever met. In spite of his extreme trials with his cancer and recurrence, he was always there to lend a helping hand and an encouraging word. He touched many lives on the forum and I am sure elsewhere as well. He was a rare person in the modern world. He certainly touched me and will always remain in my heart. He had a rare gift of mercy and will be sorely missed from the forum. Danny and I had become close friends in the past 3 years as I was a mere 6 months ahead of him and one of the first to reach out to him. But I can tell you, that I learned far more from Danny than anything I could have taught him. If he was frightened by it, he never showed it. He fought the good fight with an acceptance, integrity and quality that we can all learn from. He sent me all of his scan reports and we knew from the beginning that was going to be an uphill fight. He rarely ever mentioned the pain and quality of life issues or complained about it in private and never publicly. He leaves behind a beautiful and loving family of which my wife, I and many others of you, had the pleasure to meet in Las Vegas. He deeply loved his family and fought with all his might to be with them as long as he could. He was equally and unselfishly concerned for their quality of life as well. Another light, in our lives, has been extinguished by this horrible disease. I am sure that he is in heaven now praying for all of us. Here is a link to his memorial page: http://obit.wichmannfuneralhomes.com/
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#20726 07-18-2006 01:23 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | I am speechless at this time, but so sorry to hear about Danny Boy's passing. I was wondering if any other members would like to contribute to a memorial fund for OCF in honor of Dan. Brian, is there something special we can do on this site in his memory? Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#20727 07-18-2006 02:54 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 99 | Gary...I am so sorry to hear this sad news and I am sorry for your loss of a friend. I will say a prayer that he is at peace and know that he is in a better place...Kerry
Kerry/wife of stephenm
StageIV - Base of Tongue T4N0M0
XRT x42 / Taxol and Carboplatin x4
Tx. Finished 5/08/06
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#20728 07-18-2006 03:42 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 | Thank you Gary for the link. I as well am speechless like Carol. I only found this website at the beginning of this year but have read so many of Danny Boy's post. His words were of great inspiration and comfort to me and my family.
I will also pray for his family during this great time of sorrow - $%#&*!! this horrible disease!
Caregiver to Father:Stage III unknown primary; modified left side neck dissection 2/2006; 8 wk trmts of Erbitux 3/2006 with-37 radition treatments; 11.2010; biopsy of base of tongue results questionable. 9.2013 tumor on left side of tongue; squamous cell cancer. 10.2.2013 Hemiglossectomy(1/2 tongue removed) with reconstruct tongue using left thigh tissue;surgery included IORT.
25 additional IMRT radiation trtmts & 5 wks/chemo. Carbo & Taxol combo.NPO;100% PEG depend;aspiration pneumonia 3/2014
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#20729 07-18-2006 06:02 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Danny set a phenomenal example of perseverence, good humor, and grace over the past several years here, while faced with some really tough battles. My heartfelt condolences to his family at this time.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#20730 07-18-2006 06:10 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Sorry I posted somewhere else before I noticed this thread.
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It is so horrible to hear of Danny's passing. I know the time was getting closer and closer but nothing prepares you for the pain you feel in your heart at the moment you hear of someone as precious as Danny succumbing to this dreaded disease. Danny was one of the greatest people I have had the honor of knowing in my life and certainly touched everyone is such a heartfelt way.
For those who haven't met him in person, he was quite THE character. I remember back in 2004 in Las Vegas at our first OCF get-together, Danny was swiftly darting from blackjack table to blackjack table using his self-developed "system". Based on the wad of money in his pocket, it sure must have been fine-tuned.
I will always remember his daughter telling a story about one Halloween as they were getting ready for trick-and-treaters, Danny snuck outside and got a ladder he used to sneak up to her bedroom window. When she turned around he hollerd BOO at her. The twinkle in her eyes as she told the story was so filled with love that it would have brought a tear to your eye. He was surely a prankster.
Good bye my dear friend, the little hayseed from Wisconsin who truly lived life large! I know my life will never be the same without you yet my life has been different from the moment we met.
I pray for comfort and peace for that large circle of family and friends that you have amassed around you.
God bless you.
With Love,
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#20731 07-18-2006 06:19 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Carol,
Danny would have wanted contibutions to OCF (in his name of course) as part of his memorial for that I am positive. He worked tirelessly to support OCF. He was one of the 3 key people who organized our Las Vegas adventure. Of the other 2, we lost Dinah last year and sadly she was too ill to attend. Only Bob (jetagehobo) remains healthy.
Other things I don't think Danny would mind me sharing was his terrific sense of humor -right up until the end. One of the hospice people asked him "What does it feel like to be dying?" and he responded "I don't know - I've never died before".
Some of you may wonder why I posted the notice here, but this was Danny's baby. He loved the introduction topic and opportunity to welcome others. There will be some huge shoes to fill here -if ever...
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#20732 07-18-2006 07:04 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Oh Gary, trust me I know how awesome Danny was. I met him in Virginia Beach at the first OCF Walk, we emailed each other occasionally. I will definitely make a donation to OCF in his name, I was just asking Brian about something special for him. Thank you for your post....Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#20733 07-18-2006 09:30 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | Danny was an inspiration to me and we will miss him dearly. Hopefully he can continue his inspiration to us in different ways now. The website with is bio also has a guest book you can leave your messages for his wonderfull family.
SCC R-Tonsil T2 NO MO Dec 2003. Completed IMRT Radiation only to tonsils(72Gy) and neck(55Gy)March 04. Detected at age 50.
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#20734 07-18-2006 12:23 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 | I hope this is ok to post here, this is taken from his obituary.
I
Was Primary caregiver to my mom who had stage IV, SCC, Supraglottic with Mets to 4 nodes. Diagnosed Feb 04, died unexpectedly from complications from treatment December 17, 2004.
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