Wayne Schlicht 
If this were a normal year, the big day would be the Vikings season opener on Monday Night Football. I am still looking forward to the game and plan to watch it with friends, but my big day this year is my CT scan. I will undergo a CT scan with contrast at Health Partners … Read more
The Enduring Battle This is the hardest update I’ve ever had to write. For four years now, I’ve been battling squamous cell carcinoma. It started in my throat, then moved to the lymph nodes in my neck. Since then, my body has been through 70 rounds of radiation, over 20 chemotherapy infusions, two types of … Read more
It’s been just over a week since my last update, and in that short time, my world has seen some major changes. This road is not easy, but every step I take feels lighter because of the love, prayers, and support so many of you continue to give me. A Whisper of Hope As many … Read more
I am in the fight of my life. Stage four cancer. More than 70 radiation treatments, over 20 chemotherapy infusions, two grueling rounds of immunotherapy, and a five hour radical neck dissection. Now my vocal cords are damaged. For the last decade, I built a career in IT contracts, but I lost my previous job. … Read more
Last week may have been quiet on the medical front, but it was loud in all the ways that matter most. It was good for my soul. It was a week filled with laughter, hugs, and the kind of moments that make life worth living. I got out of the house, out into the world, … Read more
Loss of Speech, But Not My Spirit As I begin my second week of unexpected unemployment, I continue pushing through my daily speech therapy exercises, hoping to regain some strength in my voice. Mornings are the hardest. My throat and lungs are congested, and it takes a good cup of coffee in the morning sun … Read more
Stage 4 cancer damaged my voice, but not my will to survive. I wanted to give you an update from the front lines of this fight. Cancer may have damaged away my voice, but it hasn’t taken my determination, my faith, or my hope. Every day, I wake up ready to battle for more time … Read more
I’m heartbroken to share another heavy update. Just one day after being discharged from the emergency room, still weak and shaken, I received news that hit even harder. The bank I have been contracting with informed me that they are terminating my employment. No warning, no explanation. On Friday, July 19, I received a call … Read more
Thursday night, I was discharged from the emergency room, and honestly, I’m still trying to make sense of it all. The day started like any other. I finished work around 3 p.m., feeling steady enough to head outside and tidy up the garage, as well as clean out the trash bins. But out of nowhere, … Read more
Morning Sunshine Cancer Treatment Some days, healing begins with something as simple as a cup of coffee in the morning sun. Every day, I sit outside for 20 or 30 minutes and let that early light gently touch my skin. It is more than warmth. It is medicine. When the sunlight hits, my body creates … Read more