"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4: 6-7
Hi, my name is Dan Reichley. My wife Tina and I have been married for 34 years. We have four adult children and two grandchildren. I am in my 25th year of teaching at Seton Catholic High School. We have been members of Seton Catholic Parish (St. Andrew, St. Mary, Holy Family) since moving to Richmond, Indiana in 1996. I’ve been given an opportunity for spiritual growth and I am being asked to share the opportunity for spiritual growth. I was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. You can read about the diagnosis below but don't miss out on the opportunity for spiritual growth. Take time to reflect on an invitation to prayer, redemptive suffering, the great cloud of witnesses, and intercessory prayer. You can also send us a message.
8/12/26 This is Tina. I will share a little of the medical information for those that are interested. Dan had a very vague cough that began in May. In July, he had a trial of antibiotics, steroids, and inhalers, but unfortunately, none of these treatments made a significant difference.
A chest X-ray was ordered on 7/10/26 and showed an area of concern in his right lung. This led to a CT scan on 7/16, followed by a PET scan on 7/28 and a lung biopsy on 7/29. The PET scan showed some small abnormalities in the bone that raised concern for possible oligometastasis.
The lung biopsy came back positive for poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma. Because Dan was otherwise healthy and a nonsmoker, his doctors felt there was a good possibility that the cancer was being driven by a specific genetic mutation. The next step was to identify whether a “driver mutation” was present so that the most appropriate and targeted treatment could be started.
Our first oncology appointment at Reid Oncology was on 7/30/26. Blood testing was ordered to look for a driver mutation in the blood while we waited for the more definitive results from the lung tissue.
On 8/5/26, we received both good and bad news from the blood test. The good news was that there were not enough cancer cells circulating in the blood to detect a mutation. The bad news was that, because there were so few cancer cells, the test was unable to identify a driver mutation. So, we continued to wait for the tissue results.
On 8/7/26, we met with an OSU thoracic oncologist. At that appointment, we learned that the initial lung biopsy tissue might not have been sufficient for the additional testing needed to identify a mutation. After discussing our options, we decided to proceed with another lung biopsy.
Dan underwent his second lung biopsy on 8/12/26. Surprisingly, that same afternoon, we received some unexpected and incredibly important news: the tissue from the first biopsy was actually sufficient after all. We do believe this was a prayer answered. The testing showed that Dan has an EGFR driver mutation, which means there is a targeted and very treatable option available to him including chemo and targeted therapy with osimertinib.
After a whirlwind few weeks of uncertainty, testing, waiting, and more waiting, we finally have an answer that gives us a clear direction. We thank all of the Doctors and staff from Reid, Hancock Regional Hospital, and The James at OSU who have helped us thus far. Now, we begin the next chapter of this journey—treatment. Please continue to keep Dan in your prayers.
8/17. Thanks especially today for prayers and fasting for me and the prayer intention. The first chemo cycle at the James at OSU started today. I feel very well and hope to be at school the rest of the week.
8/18 & 8/19 Thanks for continued prayers for the Youth of Wayne County and for my health. Feeling well. There was a special Seton all-school mass today at St. Mary's Church for everyone affected by the flooding.
8/20 through 8/23. Thanks for your continued prayers for the Youth of the Wayne County area and for my health! For the past five days, I have felt some effects of the 8/17 chemo treatment. Family, friends, students, and staff have been very supportive and I know that there are many people offering prayer. Let us all continue to offer our daily sacrifices in love for God and neighbor.
8/26/26 So this is Tina again. For all the medical geeks on the site, here’s the latest update on Dan from my perspective. 😊He completed his first round of chemo last Monday, August 17th which included carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta). To help offset any nausea, he was also given Aloxi and Cinvanti, which typically help control nausea for the first 3–5 days. Very interesting medications. Thankfully, he really fared well, and we strongly believe all of your prayers played a huge part in that. By the end of the week, he was definitely more tired, and his appetite wasn’t quite as strong, but he kept pressing on (of course). Now, 10 days post-chemo, he is pretty much back to his normal energy level and appetite. 🙏
We also got some exciting news today: the medication targeting his specific driver mutation was approved! He will be starting osimertinib (Tagrisso), hopefully within the next few days. Since this medication can affect the heart at times, he has already had an EKG and echocardiogram done as baseline tests.
His next chemo treatment is scheduled for September 14th which again will include Carboplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta), so we’ll be asking for some double prayers that day that he tolerates this round as well as he did the first one. ❤️
After his second cycle, and before the third which is scheduled for Oct 5th, our goal is that he’ll have repeat scans to see how the cancer is responding to the treatment. We’re taking this one step at a time and are so incredibly grateful for everyone who continues to pray, encourage, and walk alongside us through this journey. Thank you all! 🙏❤️ - Tina
9/3 On my sixth day of taking Tarisso. Feeling well and my labs look good. Thanks for the continued prayers! And I continue to be thankful for everyone who is helping to make this journey light. Family, friends, doctors, my students and co-workers, and people I don't know, including nurses, staff, health insurance workers, pharmacists, and many more.
9/13 Dan is getting his second round of chemo tomorrow, Monday, 9/14/26. As we prepare for this next step, we just returned from a beautiful week filled with rest, education, prayer, and meaningful relationships.
Earlier this past week, we had the blessing of visiting Julia’s future in-laws in San Jose, California. We were so grateful for their Persian hospitality and for the time we were able to spend with Hessam and Zohreh Rajaee.
While in San Jose, we also visited Father Joe Kramer’s mission in Santa Clara. Unfortunately, Father Joe was out of town evangelizing, but we were still able to spend a little time at the mission in prayer.
The latter part of the week took us to Phoenix for the annual educational conference of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA). We were especially blessed to attend the conference with my cousin Kim (a pediatrician) and Ray. The theme this year was Mysteries and Miracles: Restoring the Practice of Medicine to Heal the Whole Person. Given where we are in our own journey, the theme felt incredibly fitting.
There were so many unexpected blessings throughout the week. Just 20 minutes from our hotel was the Shrine of St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer victims. We were able to spend time in adoration there, which was deeply peaceful.
The CMA chaplain, Father Kubat, also gave Dan three sacraments in one day: Communion, Confession, and the Anointing of the Sick. He also had a first-class relic of St. Gianna, who, as some of you know, is the namesake of my FertilityCare Center in Richmond, where I have the privilege of assisting women and couples in their reproductive journey. Receiving a blessing with this relic was especially meaningful to us.
Throughout the conference, we heard beautiful stories of miracles through the intercession of St. Charbel (Sharbel). We were given a rosary and holy oil—a third-class relic. We received holy water from Lourdes. Dan met one of the presenter from Our Lady of San Juan, who shared wonderful stories of miraculous healing through the intercession of Our Lady. Dan was given a piece of cotton used in the cleaning of the healing statue, as well as rose petals and a scapular from the shrine.
It is impossible to put into words how this week has provided us with peace and hope. What a beautiful and unexpected journey this has been.
We can’t begin to thank God for all the intricate pieces, places, prayers, and people He has woven into our journey of healing. We continue to be humbled by the love, faith, and support surrounding us, and we carry all of you with us as Dan begins his second round of treatment.
With gratitude and love, Tina
But don't stop here. View the rest of the Google Site. You also have an opportunity for spiritual growth!
Excerpts from notes written while preparing to tell our children and family members.
A Gift
I’ve been given an opportunity for spiritual growth.
And I am being asked to share the opportunity for spiritual growth.
I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. But I am feeling very well! And pretty much asymptomatic. Just a little persistent cough.
It has been an interesting gift.
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry.
(Mom/Tina is being amazing, of course.) (The kids have been wonderful.)
We have a lot to discuss, but we don’t have to come up with the answers right now.
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry.
We can discuss the medical side, the spiritual side, informing people, logistics and lots of other things.
Our prayer life is good and getting better, and we are moving forward quickly with doctors to get a treatment in place.
Let’s discuss the spiritual side. We want this experience to be for redemptive suffering and also healing. We can offer up our sufferings for the benefit of others. Let’s pray for the youth of the area as we also pray for a complete healing.
So, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.” (Padre Pio in his letters to friends) The third item is difficult.
Your job is to do just that “Pray, hope and don’t worry.”
This is an opportunity for spiritual growth.
“Lean into it.” Lean into what God gives us. Where he puts us. Our challenges, our gifts, our stations. We need to continue with our stations in life. Some little things will get rearranged. Some big things may get rearranged, but we continue with our calling, our work.
There are special prayers to pray. The Surrender Novena, Padre Pio Novena, St. Peregrine Novena, petitions to the great cloud of witnesses, the Communion of Saints; St. Peregrin, St. Andre Bessette, St. Pier-Giorgio Frassati, Blessed Solanus Casey, Servant of God Clare Crockett, and I sense most especially Servant of God Michelle Duppong
In the July issue of the Magnificat, was this excerpt on page 385 from The Mystery of Suffering by Dom Hubert van Zeller.
If divine Providence means anything at all, there can be nothing haphazard about the allocation of human sufferings. If not a bird falls to the ground that God does not know all about (Matthew 10:29), not a human being suffers an affliction with which God is unconcerned. Even those afflictions we bring down upon ourselves by our stupidity, obstinacy, failure to respond to His light…. Can be used to his greater glory.
It is a mistake to look upon every unpleasant thing that happens to us as a deserved and God-sent punishment; far better to look upon it as a God-sent opportunity, whether, deserved or not. What may well be consequences of sin can be pressed into the service of sanctity…
People who allow the evil [evil, pain, suffering] which is in the world to dominate their horizon either become fascinated by it and plunge in or are disgusted by it and made miserable. The horizon does not have to be crowded with evils, and though it would be absurd to pretend that sin was really not very widespread after all, it would be equally absurd to see it everywhere and to conclude that there was no longer any good. Sin, temptation, suffering, disaster, cruelty, war: these things hit the headlines because they possess greater sensation-content than generosity, justice, order, kindness, truth, peace. It is for the Christian to look squarely at the first list in a spirit of faith and penitence, and confidently at the second in the knowledge that he can make his own contribution to the sum of good represented there.
Dom Hubert Van Zeller O.S.B
Again, we need to continue with our stations in life. Decades ago, my dad transcribed this poem on a piece of paper and kept it in his garage.
The Mission of My Life
St John Henry Cardinal Newman
God has created me to do Him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission.
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good; I shall do His work.
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.
Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am,
I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him,
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him
He does nothing in vain.
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends.
He may throw me among strangers.
He may make me feel desolate,
make my spirits sink,
hide my future from me.
Still, He knows what He is about.
Going forward. There are lots of people praying for the youth of the area and for me. There are many priests specifically praying and saying masses for me. I received the Annointing of the Sick. There are some great stories so far over the past weeks, both spiritual and humorous. I will try to journal them and share later.
Some of the above excerpts were used when talking to our children, family, friends, colleagues, and students.
What do you want to talk about? (Our inconvenient and rude acquaintance.)
Tina and I cherish our walks. Whether on a country road or green space of Richmond, we enjoy the time together, the conversations about the workday, family, the calendar, the get-aways, all the good stuff.
But since being diagnosed with lung cancer, my joke as we start our walk is “What do you want to talk about?” With all of the appointments, test results, insurance updates, phone calls, MyChart messages, communication with family and friends, etc., there is an obvious topic to discuss.
A good family friend, and a cancer survivor, after hearing about my diagnosis said “cancer is inconvenient and rude”. So, our walks have been accompanied by this inconvenient and rude acquaintance.
We are all at risk of being subjugated by chronic or acute afflictions and just by the “tyranny of the moment”. But truly, this is where prayer is the key. From Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 12:
love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Allow the inconvenient and rude acquaintance to become an “opportunity for spiritual growth”.
