For Dave and Bev Thompson, these were supposed to be the golden years — a retirement they had long dreamed of and carefully planned for: days spent side by side, making memories and running their small fishing resort together on scenic Battle Lake in west-central Minnesota.
But after Dave’s diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, a life-threatening cancer of the blood and bone marrow, the couple’s plans quickly changed.
For Dave and Bev, it was the beginning of a long and difficult road. But thanks to expert care from the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, along with programs and services made possible thanks to philanthropy, Dave found strength, hope and healing on the path to remission.
Today, Dave and Bev are sharing their story to raise awareness, inspire support and remind us all that a cancer journey isn’t just about medicine — it’s about the people, places and compassion that make a difference every step of the way.
A Daily Marathon
For three months following the diagnosis, Dave and Bev woke early each morning to begin a marathon-like commute for treatment, driving over 160 miles round-trip to reach the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo.
At more than 3,200 miles each month, it was a huge strain on their time, finances and emotional well-being.
Then came his bone marrow transplant — the most critical stage of his fight. Following his transplant, Dave and Bev were required to stay within 20 minutes of the Roger Maris campus. In total, they were in Fargo for 101 days.
“That was the hardest part for me — learning I would need to be gone that long,” Dave said.
Bev agreed.
“Where do we stay? Where do we find a short-term rental? Finding a place to live is right up there with a cancer diagnosis in terms of stress levels,” she said.
“It worked out okay for us, but it certainly would have been a huge psychological factor we would not have had to worry about had there been lodging available,” Dave said.
The Peltier Lodge: A Home Away From Home
Today, growing numbers of patients from further distances are turning to the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center for lifesaving care, including leading-edge treatments and therapies offered through the state’s only blood and bone marrow transplant program.
“As more patients turn to us, the needs increase. Today, nearly half of our patients travel more than 60 miles to receive care,” said Tiffany Lawrence, president and CEO of Sanford Health, Fargo. “Treatment, outpatient care and lodging concerns only add to the existing burden of our patients who are far from home.”
A Once-in-a-Generation Project
The Peltier Lodge, the new center for patient lodging, is designed to help ease these burdens. Located near the Roger Maris campus, it will serve as a home away from home for cancer patients and their loved ones, offering a peaceful, healing environment for rest and recovery.
Made possible thanks to a lead gift from local philanthropist Norma Peltier, the Peltier Lodge will extend care beyond the walls of Roger Maris to surround cancer patients and their loved ones with all the good they need, every step of the way. Learn more about the Peltier Lodge.
Dr. Seth Maliske specializes in hematology, oncology and blood and bone marrow transplants at the Roger Maris Cancer Center. He has witnessed how difficult a cancer journey can be for patients who are far from home.
“They get uprooted from their day-to-day life. They get uprooted from their jobs. That emotional toll starts to mount. A place like the Peltier Lodge will be a huge benefit for patients like Dave who are far from home,” he said. “It will be an environment where patients and families can support each other — where they can rally around a common goal. It will be the biggest game-changer for our cancer program.”
Reflecting on the Journey
As he reflects on his own journey, Dave is grateful for the care he received.
“Dr. Maliske’s staff and the nurses on the seventh floor are just incredible. They made the whole thing much easier. The one thing I can say about the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center is … I’m not really a touchy-feely kind of guy, but these are the best of the best. I get a little emotional about it. All of them are incredible.”
He hopes his story will inspire support for the Peltier Lodge — a place he believes would have been a major benefit to him and his family.
“To have a place like that right across the street — that would’ve been huge,” Dave said.
Bev agreed.
“It would’ve made all the difference in the world,” she said.
Give for Good
100% of your gift through the Sanford Health Foundation will accelerate our work on the Peltier Lodge. Together, we can bring hope and strength to cancer patients and their families.