March 7, 2026: For Dennis Greenawalt and his wife, Terry, their journey from Nevis to Lakewood Health System started before the word “cancer” ever entered the conversation.
In the fall of 2024, Dennis was referred to Dr. Andrew Jahoda in Urology at Lakewood. After receiving what he describes as “excellent care,” he underwent a successful laser surgery just before Christmas.
But then life shifted unexpectedly just months later.
In the spring of 2025, a CT scan revealed a spot on Dennis’ lung. Further testing confirmed Stage 4 non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma with a solitary metastasis on his liver.
His primary provider in Park Rapids recommended oncologist Dr. Wade Swenson at Lakewood.
“We had already had such a good experience here,” Terry said. “That’s where we wanted to go.”
Though they live about an hour north of Staples by Nevis, the drive has not felt like a burden. But what makes Lakewood worth the drive isn’t just access to oncology care. It’s how they feel during their appointments here.
A welcoming, serene environment
The first time they walked through the doors, Terry remembers being struck by the environment.
“It was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s gorgeous. Everything is top-notch.’ ”
Dennis, who previously worked in a much larger metropolitan area during his years at John Deere in Iowa, doesn’t hesitate in his comparison.
“I’ve been in hospitals serving communities of 400,000 people. None of them compared to Lakewood. This is better.”
When Terry describes why it feels different at Lakewood, she said it doesn’t matter where you go, from check-in to pharmacy to infusion, “there’s an infectious, welcoming sense.”
Their two daughters, who initially encouraged them to consider larger metro facilities, accompanied them to infusion appointments to meet the team themselves.
“They were received graciously,” Dennis said. “Their questions were answered thoroughly. They were impressed with the entire oncology team and the facility.”
Infusion days that feel different
Dennis and Terry have found something unexpected in Infusion Therapy. Strange as it may sound, infusion days have become, in their words, something they almost look forward to.
“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Dennis said with a smile. “But we actually kind of look forward to these infusions.”
Once the needle pokes and IV starts, they relax.
Part of that is the environment, they said. Like the heated reclining chairs, warm blankets, and hot meals. But what stands out most is the people.
“The sense of humor here makes such a difference,” Dennis said. “It’s fun to laugh. If you have to be here, laughing really helps.”
When Dennis sees the oncology team for his appointments, he said their whole focus is on him and they are genuinely concerned about his health.
"Dr. Swenson, Jessica Nybakken and Mariah Couture are extremely knowledgeable as well as very compassionate. We never feel rushed at my appointments – they all take time to listen to us, and they explain things very thoroughly," he said.
They speak warmly of Lakewood’s Oncology Social Worker Kali Pachan, who offers them guidance, listens to concerns, and follows up with calls in between treatments. They also share appreciation for the entire Infusion team who helps them navigate both the medical and emotional realities of treatment.
“We’re treated as a team,” Terry said. “There’s a commitment to excellence in every person we encounter.”
A life built together
Dennis, 74, and Terry, 72, have been married for more than five decades. Their story includes honeymooning at Dennis’ family cabin in Nevis, raising three children, splitting firewood together in retirement, and building a home filled with grandchildren, laughter and lake life.
“We thought retirement would look one way,” Dennis said. “And now it looks different.”
The diagnosis has flipped everything upside down.
“It’s like the ultimate Fear Factor,” he said with a quiet chuckle. “[But] there’s no million-dollar prize at the end.”
Terry clearly remembers the early days after the diagnosis.
“I couldn’t stop crying. Your mind goes back to every cancer you’ve ever experienced in your family,” she said.
They have both lost loved ones to cancer — Dennis’ brother at 38, his mother at 58, and Terry’s mother at 69. That history makes this journey very personal.
But instead of letting fear define the road ahead, they’ve chosen a different route.
“We’re not in command anymore. So, we take it one day at a time,” Dennis said.
The lullaby
There is one moment at Lakewood that affects Dennis in a way few others do. When a baby is born at Lakewood, a lullaby plays over the intercom. For Dennis, sitting in Infusion Therapy, that sound carries profound meaning.
“That lullaby makes my heart leap for joy,” he said. “Since I am nearing the end of life on earth, I truly believe some fresh soul will be carrying on for me.”
He said it’s not a statement of defeat, but rather, one of perspective.
Hope is a word that both Dennis and Terry return to often. And Dennis’ advice to others facing a cancer diagnosis is simple: “Stay positive. Pray. Be thankful you’re receiving world-class care at Lakewood.”
For Terry, as the wife and caregiver, hope is not limited to a cure. It sounds like this, she said:
“I hope … we find joy in each and every day.
I hope … the next PET scan brings good news.
I hope … we hear the lullaby during the next infusion.
I hope … and I pray, that God will be with our Lakewood providers and all of their patients.”
Living for HOPE
Their hour-long drives to and from Staples have become their sacred time: reviewing questions on the way in, reflecting on conversations on the way home, and sometimes a quick stop for a favorite treat, a Dairy Queen blizzard in Motley.
They are realistic. They are faithful. They are deeply grateful.
“We feel so fortunate to have a state-of-the-art facility with a superb staff so close to home,” said Dennis.
In spite of the uncertainty, Dennis and Terry have chosen to define their journey not by diagnosis, but by hope.
To learn more about Lakewood's oncology care, go to: https://www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com/care-services/oncology-cancer-care/
Special thanks to Dennis and Terry Greenawalt for sharing their story and family photos.