The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
David is pictured with his wife, Gina, and daughters, Emily and Libby. (Courtesy photo)
Farmers and others who helped David Young (seated, center) with his harvest included, front row (L-R): JR Marcotte, Joey Irmen, Crew Lies, Rob Marcotte, Young, JC Van Der Merwe, Stephanie Polries, DJ Polries, Jerome Lies and Jay Tweed. Back row: Brent Kurtz, Brad Tweed, Scott Tweed, Dave Richter, Dusty Kost, Todd Grager, Jon Polries, Rhoyd Unruh, Jeanne Unruh, Trent Grager and Riann Van Vurren. Not pictured, but who helped harvest, were: Jadin Riedesel, Brian Schimelfenig, Mark Weiss, Jackson Unruh and Bradley Johnson. (Courtesy photo)
Just one of the many combines and other harvesting equipment were put to good use Monday, October 3, to help rural Sykeston resident and farmer David Young with cutting his 625 acres of crops. The Young farm is visible in the far distance on this photo. Young is currently battling stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma, which was diagnosed in July, and has been traveling back and forth to Bismarck for chemotherapy treatments.
North Dakota, when you think about it, is essentially one big small town spread out over 70,704 square miles.
And for the necessities of everyday life, neighbors are always willing to make life on the prairies and rolling fields easier for each other when one runs into difficulty.
David Young, who farms five miles south of Sykeston with his wife, Gina, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic adenocarcinoma in his liver and bone on July 27.
Their daughter, Emily, said that the primary source of David's cancer has yet to be determined. Following tests in Bismarck, doctors found lesions on his liver and cancer on his sternum, a few of his ribs, his lymph nodes in his chest and T11 vertebrae.
Young started chemotherapy on August 8, undergoing three sessions.
"After his third, he ended up in the hospital on September 1 for five days due to him being so sick and in pain," said Emily.
From that point, another CT scan revealed that David's cancer had grown within his spine and liver. Upon consultation with their oncologist, he decided to try a different type of chemo.
"He's doing this new plan every two weeks," Emily noted. "He meets with Mayo [Clinic] over Zoom on October 18 for a second opinion. Hopefully, we'll know the primary source that caused the cancer, and to see if they can help him."
Because of the cancer and its effects on David's liver, it has caused him to retain "a lot" of fluid in his abdomen, she said.
"Every four to five days he's getting a paracentesis done, and they've been getting seven to 10 pounds each time," Emily added.
With all those health issues, and a field worth of grains needing to be harvested, the Sykeston community and surrounding area stepped up to the plate.
On Monday, October 3, 10 combines, four grain carts and 12 semi trucks came to Young's fields, and took off 625 acres worth of crops for him.
Emily, her sister Libby, David and Gina are forever grateful for the help they have been given.
"The support everyone has given our family is unreal," she says. "As soon as people heard about our dad, everyone asked what they could do to help. People have brought over meals and have donated money to help with travel and medical expenses, and told our dad not to worry about harvest and that it would get done."
"You truly do not fight cancer alone; it takes a village," Emily concluded.
