On July 29th, 2025, we got the confirmation no one wants to hear—Dawn has small cell lung cancer.

This journey started in June when Dawn started to feel sick. She was getting tired, out of breath, and not able to do the simple things she enjoys. On July 3rd, we went to see her pulmonologist in Watertown. A chest X-ray, labs, and a sleep study were done to monitor her breathing. Results came back, and the pulmonologist didn't see anything, so he sent her to her primary care physician. The PCP ordered repeat labs and another chest X-ray. Dawn was then diagnosed with pneumonia. Two days later, while grocery shopping, Dawn almost passed out, called Shawna, and felt she needed to go to the emergency room. While in the emergency room, a third chest X-ray was done, more labs, and finally a chest CT. The chest CT showed our biggest fear—a mass in her lung. Dawn had a PET scan and lung biopsy done the following week. On August 4th, she was supposed to have an MRI of her brain, and on August 7th, she was supposed to meet with her oncologist. Dawn wasn't able to make it to that appointment because her pain was getting worse and worse to the point of not being able to perform her daily functions. On 7/29, Dawn called to ask Shawna if she could call the doctor and get her pain medication increased. Her PCP wanted to see her again to adjust the medication as it's a controlled substance. More labs were done, and Dawn went to the doctor. To our frustration, her PCP essentially said she couldn't do anything, but we could have another chest X-ray done to possibly find a reason to have Dawn admitted. We said no, loaded Dawn up in the vehicle, and got her to the Avera emergency room. They quickly assessed her, did an EKG and a chest CT, along with a full evaluation. Dawn was then admitted to inpatient oncology in the Prairie Center. Lots of tests were done very fast. In the span of five days, Dawn went to the ER, got checked into inpatient oncology, received her diagnosis, had a brain MRI (no cancer has traveled to her brain—yay!), got a biopsy of a second lymph node, received three days of chemo—completing her first round, got her first wig, and so many more things!

Unfortunately, with Dawn's small cell lung cancer, it is not curable. Her treatment plan is palliative care, to shrink the tumor, giving her comfort and more time to spend with all of those she loves most.

This treatment is going to be extremely hard on Dawn and Steve. Dawn had to retire due to her rheumatoid arthritis in both hands in recent years, leaving Steve to be the sole provider.

Dawn will continue with chemotherapy every three weeks for three days at the Prairie Center in Sioux Falls. In three months, they will re-scan to determine how chemo has affected her cancer. This means time traveling to Sioux Falls and stays there to make sure Dawn has the best treatment available to her.

Please help us in supporting Dawn (our mama) and Steve in this cancer journey. If you are unable to donate, sharing this story or sending a prayer up is more than we will ever be able to thank you for.