Tag Archives: ana tongen

Adams Story

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(this story originally appeared in a special Cancer Awareness section to the Thief River Falls (Minnesota) Times newspaper-GN) 

 

 

Ana and Adam Tongen spent their first wedding anniversary together. This sounds romantic but is really triumphant and a story from which all can take inspiration.

 

I’ve written previously of Adam Tongen’s fight against cancer. This battle began a few months after he and Ana were married and just prior to Christmas 2011. Adam was diagnosed with germ-cell cancer and underwent a total of two very involved surgeries, numerous procedures, regular chemotherapy, intense chemotherapy, six weeks of infusion therapy and lost his hair twice. His most recent stay at the Mayo Hospital was just under three months during which his pregnant wife, Ana, was able to travel very little.

 

Ana and Adam had just crossed the threshold in their lives that would soon include their new baby when Adam was first diagnosed. We found out about Harper as a sort of Christmas present from Ana and Adam when everyone was pretty down about Adam’s cancer. It is hard to believe that Ana and Adam had probably began their battle with cancer before they took their vows or even gave Harper her start. This isn’t a story about cancer however, cancer can write its own story. Matter of fact, cancer can go ahead a leave the room now. My words are my children and I won’t devote any more of their time to this disease; I will let them linger as long as they want on the Tongens.

 

Ana and Adam traveled a dark path this last year while Adam was sick yet spent their time spreading light for friends and relatives to follow. Adam maintained his typical strong character and didn’t complain or even spend his time buried in despair. Ana was positive and focused as she watched over her new husband and grew their child. We all tried to do little things for them but the weight they bore in this fight was something amazing and educational for all of us.

 

I think we all can learn and find inspiration from the way the Tongens reacted to this unwanted, un-needed test of character. I can see how important it is to maintain a good attitude, both in how it hastens recovery and shutters us from despair. Stress effects us both mentally and physically and a positive, hopeful attitude gives no foothold to stress. I think it is similar to Newton’s Law of Motion in which objects in motion tend to stay in motion. In the Tongen family’s case, people with a good attitude tend to have a good attitude-the more positive your are the more likely you are to stay positive.

 

Anyway, the first year of Ana and Adam Tongen’s life together encompassed a highly-condensed version of what many take years to experience. They accepted the good and the bad with grace and maturity and Adam is now home and looks good. The only proper punctuation to end the sentence of their first year of life together is by saying that Ana and Adam Tongen, one year after they first said “I do”, spent their first year anniversary together.

 

The Rapid Rebounder; in five acts

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Act I Background

Adam Tongen is one of my friends-we also work together. He fits in
well with our group at work and has become an important part of the
office. I liked him right from the start; he is a fellow former radio
broadcaster and likes beer, which are two of my main talking points.
Lisa and I knew he was a good man and were very happy when he married
Ana (Hibbert)-who is also a good friend. They were wedded last October and are
expecting this August. They are what people mean when they try to
describe “a nice young couple.”

Act II A Diagnosis of Cancer

Adam Tongen got sick a few week’s prior to Christmas of 2011. Adam
was freshly married and expecting a child-it should have been the
best of times. Unfortunately, he was eventually diagnosed with
Germ-cell cancer and began his treatment with surgery, soon followed
by four separate five-day sessions of chemotherapy. Adam’s last
chemotherapy treatment was followed by staph infection. The infection
forced him back into the hospital for a stay which included four days
in which he was anesthetized to keep him unconscious while he
received intravenous antibiotics. This was followed by six weeks of
antibiotic infusion therapy which finally ended this week. He was at
the Mayo Hospital Friday to discuss the possibility of
another surgery after a blood test recently revealed bad news.
(note Adam must have another surgery May 11th, the day of his benefit)
Act III Cancer Sucks

I’ve have only watched cancer from the outside. It seems to me that
this disease is unique in that it carries such fear. So much legend
has been built around it that a cure is mostly medical but also
emotional. I catch myself editing out the word “cancer” when I talk
to Adam. Chemotherapy seems most similar to a war of attrition in
which you hope to wear the enemy down and bring him to the table and
eventual armistice. Surgery seems more aggressive with a goal of
cancer’s unconditional surrender. No matter what, I think there is a
horrible vulnerability that comes with the disease, no one is safe.

Act IV What we can do

Friends and family of Adam Tongen have planned a benefit in his
honor. May 11th from 5-9 pm, we will gather at the Eagles Club in Thief River Falls, Minnesota for a free-will pulled-pork meal, silent (and not so silent) auction, bake
sale, cash bar and sale of “the Rapid Rebounder” wrist bands. “The
Rapid Rebounder” is the nickname given Adam by his doctor because he
has typically rebounded strongly after numerous, invasive medical
treatments. Local businesses have responded to our requests of items
for the silent auction with great generosity so there will be a
fantastic selection of items on which to bid. We hope Adam will be
able to attend but if not we’ll just have to take a few pictures to
document this night held in his honor.

Act V Thank-you

So many have acted to our call to help Adam. Some have acted
anonymously and have given in ways I find quite touching. All we can
offer for all of your help is to tell you simply, deeply; thank-you.

For those who would like to donate to the Adam Tongen benefit, please mail your check to:

Pennington County Sheriff’s Office

Attn: Wendy Mattson

Po Box 484

Thief River Falls, Mn   56701

If you have any questions, please leave it in the form of a comment on this blog and I will get right back to you-GN.