Maria J. Jensen Memorial Scholarship

Our family is proud to announce the creation of the Maria J. Jensen Memorial Scholarship at Waukesha County Technical College. The scholarship honors Maria’s enthusiasm for learning, her dedication to success, and her wish to inspire other women to improve themselves through education, no matter what stage of life they are in.

Women over the age of 35 who have financial need and a GPA of 2.0 will be eligible to receive $250 per semester in direct financial support.

Maria enjoyed her time at WCTC so much. She decided to return to school in her 50s to study accounting because she always loved mathematics and handling our family’s finances and investing. During her time at WCTC, she formed strong relationships with her teachers and mentors and forged friendships with students in her classes, even those many years younger than her. She carried a 4.0 GPA in her classes and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, an achievement we know made her proud for the rest of her life. We have vivid memories of her nights of studying at the dining room table, poring over her notes and textbooks in preparation for her class meetings.

We are grateful to WCTC for the impact it had on Maria’s life and her self-esteem and hope that through this scholarship, we are able to inspire more women to succeed both in education and in the fulfillment of their goals. Thank you for helping us honor her memory and her passion.

To support the scholarship through an online donation, visit this page. Scroll down to “Named Scholarship” and click “Donate.” A new window or tab for PayPal will open. Enter the amount you’d like to give and click “Update Total.” You may be asked to log into PayPal at this point. Once you’ve made it to the “Review Your Donation” page, click on the link that says “Add special instructions to the seller.” Enter “Maria J. Jensen Memorial Fund” in the box that appears and click ahead to complete your transaction.

If you’d prefer to send a check, you can make it payable to “Maria J. Jensen Memorial Fund—WCTC Foundation” and send it to WCTC Foundation, Room C-213, 800 Main St, Pewaukee, WI 53072.

In Memoriam

Although Maria made amazing progress with her fight against cancer, we are sad to update this blog with the news of her passing.

Maria Jensen, 67, died June 24 in Sun City West. She was born December 24, 1943, in Bornem, Belgium, moving to the United States at age 9. Her family settled in St. Clair Shores, MI, where she attended high school.

In 1962, she worked at the Seattle World’s Fair, where she helped introduce the Belgian waffle to the American public, including Elvis Presley.

Maria worked as a secretary for the automotive industry until she married her husband Don in 1964. The pair lived in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Maria was active in her community by helping to found an athletic booster club for the high school her three sons attended. She received an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Waukesha County Technical College in 1997 at age 54.

Don and Maria retired to Arizona in 2004 to be closer to family. In the Corte Bella community near Sun City West, she was an accomplished cook, active golfer, and was passionate about fitness, greeting card making, and spending time with her many friends there.

She is survived by her husband Don; her mother Caroline; her brother Henri (Fran); her sons Gary (Diane), Dennis (Velvet), and Charles (Beau); and her grandchildren Sophie and Ben.

A memorial gathering for friends will be held in November.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her memory can send donations to “WCTC Foundation for the Maria J. Jensen Memorial Fund” at Waukesha County Technical College, Room C-213, 800 Main St, Pewaukee, WI 53072.

GREAT NEWS

I passed all three specimen tests for the C-Def. It's very difficult to get rid of. Talk to anyone who has been in the hospital on 24 hour antibiotics.

Now I'm able to have a couple of friends in once in a while. I've lost the art of conversation since
I've been "sequestered" for so long.

Our son, Charlie has moved here from D.C., actually he's moving to the U of A area as soon as he finds a place in Tucson.

I'm keeping it short so I can get this good news out to everyone.

Playing Catch up again

When I saw my primary doctor to discuss the high heart rate and the disappointing response from from the stool sample, she made two changes: she doubled my beta blocker for the heart rate and put me on an intense 14 day drug regime to hopefully get rid of that horrible infection in my intestines. I still have a week to go on the infection drug and another week after that before I can test the stool sample.

It's with a big smile on my face that I say the high heart rate is finally down below 100 so we've progress on that. It's so nice NOT to feel like I'm constantly running a race. It also tired me out.

I called my Pulmonary specialist because both my home nurse and my primary doctor found a place by my right lower lung that was suspect and the first thing I had to do was a chest X-ray for the doctor to examine. She called me the next day to say I had to make an immediate appointment at the hospital for an urgent fluid drainage on the left lung area. I may have told you last time they drained my (right) lung area it wasn't at all painful. This time it was just the opposite. They took a liter off and it was very painful. At one point they suspected that the lung was collapsing on the bottom so I had to stay at the hospital for hours in case they had to do surgery. They X-rayed and had it read by a the radiation doctor each time. Finally hours later and 2 more X-rays the hospital released me.

I've been feeling a little better every day since coming home. The drug for the intestine infection does take the edge off my appetite but I try to clean my plate knowing that it does me more good.

Dennis is coming for Easter weekend and we're looking forward to that. He'll be surprised by the heat since he was here last. It does seem like it came early this year. Whatever the heat we'll have a great time while he's here.

Some News

I called my primary doctor to get the results of the stool specimen and received some disappointing news. I still have the infection. I have an appointment to see her in a couple of days so she'll discuss the best treatment then. I also have to talk with her about my high heart rate which has been 110 for the last 4 weeks. Gary will be going to my appointment with me and will take notes so we'll know what was discussed.

I also received a call from the trial doctor's office and they're wondering if I'm interested in getting in the cancer drug trial that he discussed with me on my last visit. I told them the sad news about the infection and also the heart rate and said I would discuss if it was a good idea to start the trial with my primary doctor and call them back.

I do worry about my lung cancer not being in any kind of treatment but at the same time I can't see how I can handle any side effects.

Hope the news gets better when I post again.

April 1 post

Lately the posting on the blog has been negative news which I hope will soon change. The latest thing is that I caught that flu that keeps you running to the bathroom from both sides with horrible cramps which I was treated to during the night. I feel a little better each day but now I'm contagious and had to cancel some lunch plans that I was looking forward to. I planned to make more lunch plans before this latest ailment hit but didn't have a chance once it did.

For the last three weeks my heart rate has stayed at 110 even on the medication so I have an appointment with my primary doctor to look into changing the dosage or something. With my heart rate that high I feel like I'm running all day long and it wears me out.

We need to get all these things healed so I can look into a lung cancer treatment. I haven't been in treatment since I entered the hospital for the pneumonia in January and it's April already. I wish the cancer just got bored from lack of attention and just left. Now that's something to pray for.

Thanks to all for all the cards that still cheer me up every day. Let's hope I'll soon be able to see you all in person.

While I was in the hospital as well as once I was home being treated with antibiotics for the pneumonia the stage was being set for my next problem. It was an infection in my intestines because all the working bacteria had been killed by the antibiotics.

The first prescription for that problem caused a another serious problem so I had to stop using it. That was okay with me because those pills made me feel under the weather. I was able to get a new more expensive prescription and so far it's not causing any of the problems the first prescription did.

Our visit with Charlie worked was wonderful. Charlie was able to spend every day with us because he invited his friends to get together on the same evening. I thought that was a wonderful way to see everyone. Don drove him to the airport at 4 a.m. on Friday.

Dennis, our middle son, will be coming in a few days. He comes more often but can only stay a few days. Velvet may be coming in the day after he arrives if she's over that 10 day nasty cold that's been going around. We're hoping they'll both be here.

I still have lots of accounting type work ahead of me. I need to gather all my tax papers so I'll be busy with that for the next few days.

Thank you to all of you who left messages on my answering machine. I made a pact with myself to focus what little energy I have on Charlie since he lives so far away and hasn't been able to get to Arizona for a long time. Please understand talking takes lung power and mine is in short supply.

Pulmonary Doctor second visit

Yesterday I saw the Lung doctor and things must have improved because she changed my oxygen to night time only. They walked me in circles around the office to prove I wasn't ready to give up the oxygen completely. Also I don't have to see her again for 2 months. I see that as a sure sign that my recovery is going according to plan.

I've been able to have some lunches out with friends and that's been liberating. I hope to set up a few more. Now that I'm able to talk on the phone it's a breeze to make plans. My son, Charlie, who lives east is coming to visit in a few days so I won't be making any lunch dates while he's here. He'll be here for a week. It's been a long time since we were together so I'll treasure these moments.

Dennis is also planning a visit with us and he's planning to come late March. It'll be great to spend time with them separately now that I feel better.

I've been walking with Don around our little neighborhood and I'm working towards walking the 2 mile circle with the long range goal to get back to the gym and Spinning classes. I've been able to gain a little weight and my eating is getting better although how a chocolataholic like me can have a pantry full of dark chocolate even I can't understand. I don't crave it and I guess that's the difference. Look out when my appetite for chocolate comes back.

Thanks again for all your good wishes for my recovery. I just had to let you know your wishes are working.

It's Me this time!

I want to thank everyone who sent those beautiful cards throughout my current illnesses. They were welcomed every day and helped me deal with being housebound.

My Pulmonary doctor was my lastest appointment and she ordered oxygen, inhaler and more drugs to get the pneumonia out of my system. For the 2 week cold that's going around and caused me a heap of trouble I'm eating oranges and Vitamin C. She added that the pneumonia recovery would be about 12 weeks. That'll make it a full year that I've been sick.

Since I've been on the oxygen my voice is stronger and I'm able to talk although I've forgotten a lot of words so the "Maria Charades" lives on. I'm eating 3 meals a day but my love of food hasn't come back yet. I eat to gain some weight but it's not happening yet. When the weather is nice I try to walk outside sometimes it's just the cul-de-sac and sometimes I can get to the end of the street.

I'm no longer in the cancer drug trial because the drug no longer kept the cancer from growing. Once I've recovered from all my current ailments we'll research where we'll go next. My hope is that I'll be able to post on the blog more often. I'm sorry but the email was impossible--I can't sit at the computer that long.

Change in Direction

Gary here, pitch-hitting for Mom again on the blog today. We just got back from her appointment and she is going to discontinue the drug trial. The drug hasn't been as effective lately and the side effects are too difficult to manage during Mom's recovery. She is going to spend her time getting her strength back and looking for a new treatment. The doctors offered several drug options to consider and some have the reputation for being easier on the body, so that's good news.

Needless to say, Mom is happy with the news that there might be something better out there for her. It will take time for the current drug to totally leave her system (before she can start another therapy) so Mom is looking forward to the down time from the constant demands of cancer treatment so she can concentrate on recovering from surgery.

In the meantime, Mom has a full week of "other" appointments ahead to check her progress on recovering from surgery and pneumonia and right now, that's our primary concern. Fighting cancer is hard enough but it's almost impossible when you have pneumonia.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, cards and gifts. I can't tell you what a difference it makes for Mom knowing that she has you in her corner. Keep up the great work!

UP and Down

I've been home from the hospital for a week but I've had little improvement. People who've experienced pneumonia say that the recovery takes a long time. I'm inclined to believe them now since I'm not seeing much improvement at all. I'm still having trouble talking for any length of time even though my voice is stronger now so I just keep the talking to a minimum.

While I was in the hospital I received so many cards daily that kept my spirits up and helped with my positive attitude. I want to thank everyone who sent cards and flowers, candy and Belgian cookies.

I met with my Oncologist from the drug trial and since I'd been off the drug for 15 days he decided that I shouldn't go back on them. He wants me to have a CT Scan tomorrow so he can make a decision on whether I should go back on the trial drug. He'll get the results of the CT test on Monday which co-incidentally is also the 21st day of being off the pill. If I miss 21 days of taking the pill the trial would bounce me out. So if he decides I should stay I would take the pill at the office and still be in the trial. If he decides the other way I could research another lung cancer drug trial.

I'm focusing on improving my eating so I can get some strength back. I figure my stomach is about the size of a walnut so try to eat something every two hours if I can.

Don has been a great caregiver and actually WOWed me with his ability to cook, wash clothes, and keep me fed and warm. It's been a fantastic surprise.

Live from the Hospital

I'm sitting next to Mom at the hospital and she is doing well a day after her second procedure. Yesterday, they used a scope to check the lung for infection. Then they helped the lung expand to the chest wall and used a medicine to help it stay in place. This should prevent any fluid buildup in the future. In the meantime, the remaining fluid is still draining from her lung but we're looking for that to finally finish up soon. The doctors are keeping an eye on things but so far they say everything is going really well.

As you can imagine, she's pretty tired today. But she's looking forward to getting back home to her normal routine.

That's all for the moment. We'll update the blog as soon as we have more information.

Mom is in the Hospital

This is Gary, pinch-hitting for Mom on this post. To quickly bring you up to date, Mom's lung collapsed suddenly and Dad rushed Mom to the hospital on Monday. Doctors reviewed her tests and elected to do an emergency procedure to help drain the fluid from her lung that caused the collapse. Immediately, she began to feel some relief and there has been continued progress since Monday. She is still dealing with a stubborn infection from her case of Pneumonia but she is on antibiotics and they are watching it carefully. We are hoping she can be moved out of the Critical Care unit in the next day or so. She continues to make progress and her spirits are up and we are looking forward to her recovery.

I know many of you have asked what you can do for Mom to help her through this difficult time. I know Mom can't speak much and isn't ready for visitors but she really enjoys receiving cards from friends and well-wishers. You'd be surprised at how well those cards can lift her spirits knowing that you are thinking of her. She reads them over and over and they really make a difference.

All the best to your and your families. Please watch this blog for continued updates on her condition.

Thanks,

Gary