Like father, like daughter… just different types of cancer.

If you know us, you know we try to laugh even when life doesn’t give us much material. Well… the Denny’s definitely got handed a storyline that feels like it came straight out of a bad sitcom.

First, Dad was diagnosed with renal cancer last November. He started chemo in January, then surgery and ER hospital stays until mid-May. After surgery, his lone kidney needed some help while healing, so once out of the hospital, he started dialysis immediately. He goes 3 times a week for 4 hours and he just started immunotherapy last week. His creatinine went from over 7 (7 = kidney failure and hospice) down to… drum roll please… 1.83!!! We did a happy dance. Dad has improved drastically but not enough to stop dialysis just yet. He won’t do it long term if that’s what’s necessary, so please pray with me that he is healed enough to quit dialysis soon.

So that’s the great news - he’s on the upswing and thank GOD! He is just in time because now, in true “like father, like daughter” fashion, I’ve joined the party with my own breast cancer diagnosis (plus my very own painful autoimmune disease - just to spice things up). I have stage 2 Ductal Carcinoma with a high-risk onco score. It’s aggressive. My biggest challenge at the moment is whether to do chemo or not. It’s a risk either way. Anyhow, I’ll share more detailed info about the diagnosis and other bizarre, random stuff that happened all around the same time. But we definitely won’t talk about the toxic relationship I left and the silent battles I’ve fought since… well, for years actually. Through hard, intentional self-work, those struggles become less and less. Truth be told, nobody wants to talk about the heavy stuff, the reality of what it was, the truth of who he is, the realization of how deep the scars actually run. And that’s ok. Point is - it’s been a hell of a year and these are only a few of the interesting situations we’re experiencing.

The cancer is like the bonus; the added sugar in foods… It snuck right in under a disguise then shocked the hell out of us, rocked our world a bit. There is so much that I want to share but much too lengthy to share at the moment. I kept in SO much these last several months, “handling” things myself. I had forgotten that I need my friends and family as I was stubbornly convinced that I had it all under control… I can finally admit that I became overwhelmed and truthfully, I don’t want to do this alone. I will try to organize my story neater so others can better understand. If nothing else, something could be learned. Everything is a lesson or a blessing, or both if you’re lucky.

I mean honestly—what are the odds? Back-to-back cancer? And no, it’s not genetic. Both are negative for the genes. If the Denny family was a bingo card, we’d be winning all the wrong prizes. Two of a kind, but not the kind anyone wants.

In all seriousness, while we’re trying to keep our humor and faith strong, the reality is tough. Dad’s still fighting hard, and I have surgeries and maybe chemo ahead of me; not to mention what part of reconstructive surgery may not be covered. Working full time while juggling all of this is going to be a challenge… it already is as it’s like its own full-time job with so many appointments and tests. Plus, the medical bills and everyday costs add up faster than we’d like to admit. You’d be surprised how much isn’t covered by insurance. Cancer is expensive!

There are people with way worse problems and health concerns than ours. I often compare and at times make things seem like no big deal as not to worry anyone. But the truth is, in my world right now, for me, all this is a lot and I’m ok admitting I need help. I never imagined cancer at this age so I was not financially or emotionally prepared. Like anyone is but you get it. With 4 other family members relying on me, I can’t afford to be stubborn or waste any more time. I’ll definitely lose my hair with the type of chemo my oncologist recommends. — I don’t want to lose my sanity and sense of safety, too. Anything, even just $5, to help reach our goal will lighten the burden of what’s to come, strengthen my confidence in people and allow me to rest and heal properly. Sleeping is hard enough as it is with my crazy brain so any moment spent with a peace of mind is a blessing.

If you’ve followed Dad’s journey before, thank you for the love you’ve already shown. And now, as we face this “double feature” of healing, we’d be grateful for any support you can give—whether that’s a donation, a share, a prayer or just a good laugh at our expense.

At the end of the day, we’ll keep fighting, keep laughing, and keep reminding cancer that it picked the wrong family. ❤️

With love and gratitude,

Dad (Lew) and Jen

At the end of the day, we’re fighters. We’ll keep leaning on faith, finding reasons to smile, and reminding cancer it picked the wrong family to mess with.