Costs mount as Johnson battles cancer
- Details
- Hits: 12328
Benefit Sunday at New Richland City Hall
GRATEFUL — David and Kristine Johnson are grateful the New Richland Lions Club is hosting a pancake breakfast Sunday, Dec. 3 to help the family deal with expenses during David’s battle with cancer.
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Contributing Writer
The New Richland Area Lions Club will be hosting a pancake breakfast and silent auction as a benefit for David Johnson of the Hartland area this Sunday, Dec. 3 from 7 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at New Richland City Hall.
David says he had been feeling tired and worn out for a long time - from Dec. 2015 to Feb. 2016 – before he went to see a doctor. “I really noticed it a month and a half before,” he says. He took a week off of his job at WFS (Now CFS.). “I thought I just needed to get some rest, because I was working long hours.” But even with a vacation from work, David didn’t feel any better. In Feb. of that year, his body filled up with fluid, and he finally decided it was time to see a doctor. David was diagnosed with Stage 4 rectal cancer with extensive liver metastases.
David has undergone a number of medical treatments since his diagnosis. At their first meeting, the Johnsons say the oncologist was “extremely concerned,” and canceled another appointment in order to expedite David’s first treatment. He was down to 130 pounds, but, because David’s liver was compromised, 14.7 pounds of that was excess fluid, which doctors pumped out. A month later, the fluid had accumulated again, and David had another 17.9 pounds of fluid removed from his body. On a third occasion, 6 pounds of fluid were removed, so that David could go on a fishing trip with his brothers.
David had to have a port surgically installed in his chest in preparation for chemotherapy. He says the worst part of having a port in his chest is wearing a seatbelt. “I usually put my arm over the seatbelt,” he says. “Last year it bothered me a lot, but then I had lost a lot of weight.”
Senior season
- Details
- Hits: 9144
Wagner leads Gophers past Lehigh in opener
Carlie Wagner (33), a graduate of NRHEG and a member of the University of Minnesota women's basketball team, gets position for a rebound during the Gophers' season opener against Lehigh at Williams Arena in Minneapolis Saturday, Nov. 11. Wagner, a senior, had 22 points, one steal and one assist in 24 minutes as the Gophers breezed to a 107-73 victory. (Star Eagle photo by Jim Lutgens)
Wearing the crowns
- Details
- Hits: 8452
Benji, Makenzi are 2017 Homecoming royalty
Benji Lundberg, left, and Makenzi Rhoades were crowned 2017 NRHEG Homecoming King and Queen, respectively, during coronation Sunday night in the high school gymnasium in New Richland. The Panthers face GFW in the Homecoming football game Friday at 7 p.m. For more on Homecoming past and present, see Pages 6-7 of the Sept. 21 edition of the Star Eagle. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
Panthers do it again
- Details
- Hits: 8274
Band places second at Waseca Classic
Members of the NRHEG Marching Band perform in the Waseca Marching Classic Saturday, Sept. 23. The Panthers, as usual, earned a trophy at Waseca, taking second place in Class A. (Star Eagle photo by Jessica Lutgens)
Homecoming week kicks off Sunday
- Details
- Hits: 28375
Coronation set for 7 p.m. at NRHEG High School
WHO WILL REIGN? — Homecoming queen and king candidates for 2017 at NRHEG High School. Front from left: Emily Prigge, Lillian Bell, Tali Wayne, Taytum Ihrke, Natalia Galindo and Makenzi Rhoades. Back from left: Cole Broitzman, Landon Johnson, Benji Lundberg, Jerret Utpadel, Perry Peterson and Ben Lewer. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
Homecoming week 2017 at NRHEG High School kicks off Sunday, Sept. 17 when the queen and king are crowned. Coronation is set for 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium in New Richland.
The royalty will be crowned — based on a vote of the grade 9-12 student body — and will reign over Homecoming week.
This year’s candidates, based on vote by their classmates, are:
Queen
• Lillian Bell, daughter of Angela and Alex Bell
• Natalia Galindo, daughter of Ann Arvarez
• Taytum Ihrke, daughter of Amy and Mike Ihrke
• Emily Prigge, daughter of Terry and Carey Prigge
• Makenzi Rhoades, daughter of Shannon Rhoades and Daniel Rhoades
• Tali Wayne, daughter of Kari and Tom Wayne