A 40 year-old United Airlines mechanic, Christopher Stoeckler made the drive on Mondays from his home in rural Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to corporate headquarters in Chicago. From there, he flew wherever his mechanical skills were needed to keep the fleet safely on time. On weekends he cocooned with Wendy, his wife of close to 17 years, and their beautiful nine year-old daughter.

Fort Atkinson is a small farming community nestled in picturesque rolling hills, and the Stoecklers love life there. Wendy works for one of the village governments. Their best friends run a 900-head dairy operation dedicated solely to the production of some very fine Wisconsin cheese. Of course, winter in Wisconsin can be a little harsh, if the word "harsh" can adequately describe 60 degrees below with the wind chill. But summer and fall can be beautiful there, and the Stoecklers also got away for vacations to places like Hawaii.

Chris kept fit and trim through grueling motocross competitions. For those unfamiliar with this sport, motocross basically involves a pack of dirt bikes going as fast as they can around a dirt track with limited space and "jumps" which require the willingness to hurtle your machine (and yourself) high into the air to a landing area on a berm some distance away. You might think that a guy nicknamed "Gopher" would have suffered at least a broken bone or two, but through the years Chris suffered only some minor bumps and bruises while bringing home close to 40 trophies, the most recent taken in 1998.

EARLY WARNINGS

Chris presented to his primary physician with severe pain in the area of his rectum. He was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and prostatitis. His primary physician proceeded to examine him internally, felt an abnormality in the area of the liver and ordered CT scans. A CT scan of the abdomen detected the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity. A CT scan of the thorax detected fluids in the pleural space around the right lung.

Chris was referred to a hepatologist at Froedert Lutheran Hospital in Milwaukee for further examination of the liver. Further CT scans and blood work did not reveal the source of the effusions. Chris was referred to a pulmonologist, who took more CT scans, chest films and blood tests. Again, the results from the tests gave no clear indicator of the problem. Two weeks later, Chris returned to the same pulmonologist, who took more chest films. The pulmonologist stated that the new films failed to show any fluid and advised Chris to return if he felt unwell. Over the next two years, Chris continued to suffer occasional problems with his prostate.

In October 2001, Chris developed a "terrible-sounding" cough but had no cold or flu. He decided to start with a new primary physician. This physician took a chest film, which showed the presence of fluid around the right lung. Chris returned to his pulmonologist, who ordered further CT scans, chest films and blood work. Around December 7, his pulmonologist performed a thoracentesis at Froedert Lutheran. The pain was so severe that Chris passed out twice during the procedure. Cytological tests upon fluid removed via the thoracentesis proved negative for malignancy. A needle biopsy performed a week later removed tissue which also showed no abnormalities.

THE AWFUL TRUTH

On December 17, with no results and no solution in sight, Chris underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy with biopsy. The surgeon advised that he could see a profusion of white, "blister-like" cells around the right lung and harvested tissue samples for pathological testing. Chris remained in the hospital for three days with a drainage tube attached. The biopsied tissue was forwarded to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for a second opinion.

On December 31, 2001, at five in the afternoon, the Stoecklers learned that the diagnosis was malignant mesothelioma. The pulmonologist said that Chris had possibly less than one year to live. He further explained that he could run another CT scan of the abdominal cavity to see if there were fluids there, and if there were, a laparoscopy could be performed for diagnostic purposes. He suggested that if these diagnostic tests revealed the presence of tumor activity in the abdomen, there would be no treatment options in Wisconsin and that the Stoecklers should take a vacation to Europe to enjoy the time they had left. If, on the other hand, the tumor had not metastasized to the abdominal cavity, he would recommend consultation with Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

HOPES DASHED, REBUILT

The Stoecklers anxiously awaited the results of the laparoscopy, which were due January 11, 2002. The results of the laparoscopy with biopsy arrived that day, confirming that the tumor had, indeed, spread to the peritoneum. Christopher Stoeckler had a tumor in both his pleural and abdominal cavities. His prognosis was poor.

Wendy and Chris were frantic. Months ago, her husband had been facing nagging aches; now, he was facing a life-ending prognosis. Wendy spoke with Dr. Harvey Pass, who, considering Chris’ situation, recommended that they speak with Dr. Hedy Kindler at the University of Chicago. Additionally, the oncologist they already had recommended they speak with Dr. Nicholas Vogelzang, also at the University of Chicago.

Shortly thereafter, Chris and Wendy consulted with Dr. Kindler, and Chris entered a clinical trial utilizing chemotherapy on February 14. The clinical trial is a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase II Trial of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin with or without the VEGF Inhibitor Bevacizumab (NSC#704865) in patients with malignant mesothelioma.  He underwent a full round of treatment and proceeded directly into a second round of his chemotherapy regimen. He was hospitalized at the end of February for two days due to severe constipation, probably caused by his medicaion and chemotherapy. By the middle of March, he could not function, and he was enduring a migraine headache that had persisted since his initial treatment. Additionally, he was coughing up blood. After a CT scan and a consultation with Dr. Kindler, Chris and Wendy decided to cease chemotherapy. The Stoecklers had mixed emotions: while the CT scan revealed that the chemotherapy had not shrunk the tumor, the tumor had not grown, either.  Dr. Kindler and Chris decided it was best to refrain from treatment for a month to allow his body to recuperate from the taxing therapy. She suggested a gentler treatment for the tumor when his body was once again able to handle stress of that kind.

The Stoecklers returned to Dr. Kindler in late April. She suggested that Chris take another five weeks off from the therapy and scheduled him for a CT scan for June 6. She also scheduled a follow-up visit for June 13, stating that at that time, they should decide how best to combat Chris’ resilient tumor.

Wendy worries about the future. She and Chris have received support from friends and even from people with whom they are merely acquainted. Gestures of kindness are a double-edged sword as they show support, but at the same time serve as a searing reminder of something Chris and Wendy have struggled to accept. Wendy remains apprehensive, and she worries about the original prognosis of less than a year of life left for Chris. With four months already passed since that prognosis, her anxiety grows.  

Additionally, Wendy evinces concern about what kind of life Taylor will have. The three of them are a tight family, used to relying on one another, for they are an unusually small family to begin with.  Chris' parents are deceased, Wendy is an only child, and Chris' brother has no children.  Taylor is the last of the Stoecklers, and now Chris and Wendy dare not try to have another child.

Because Chris’ job took him away from them four days out of the week, time in Wisconsin would find him with his family -- eating meals, playing board games, but most importantly, just being home with his family and friends.  Now, they are faced with losing all of that. They have turned to their faith to cope, but even Wendy admits that does not always soften the blow of what has happened. Their family is young, they had much to look forward to, and Wendy wonders why this has happened to them. She states that it never leaves her mind. We will keep you posted on the progress of this close-knit family as they hold out hope and look for a brighter day.

*** POSTED MAY 6, 2002 ***

An Update -- 6/16/03

From Wendy Stoeckler: