Shakopee Mother Battles Lung Cancer With Support Of Family
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Shakopee woman is fighting cancer with help from her family and friends.
Mother-of-five Dawn Temp was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in April 2015. She is just 49 years old and has never smoked.
Lung cancer is most common in the elderly and smokers.
Dawn Temp and her husband Jeff told WCCO how much they appreciate the support of their community.
"We try to have good days, and leave them as such," Jeff Temp said.
These days, Dawn Temp spends most of her time seated comfortably in a recliner in her living room, surrounded by her children.
Life is very different now for the woman who has played competitive volleyball most of her life.
"I played volleyball three nights a week," Dawn Temp said.
During a game last April, Dawn felt out of breath and noticed she had a persistent cough.
"Pneumonia, you know, something like that," Jeff Temp said.
Doctors would reveal it was Stage IV Lung Cancer.
"There is no cancer in my family," Dawn Temp said.
The cancer eventually spread to Dawn's brain and bones by December.
"It is difficult for her to go over to the sink and pour herself a glass of water," Jeff Temp said.
The couple has been married for 25 years. Their children range in age from 10-25 years old.
When she could barely move, Dawn Temp's friends and family sprang into action.
"I honestly didn't realize how many people I knew," Dawn Temp said.
This Saturday, friends will hold a benefit for the Temps at a Shakopee hotel, with proceeds going to help the family with medical costs.
Jeff Temp says they have paid nearly $40,000 out of pocket so far.
"We have had so many people do things for us that you couldn't possibly imagine and we will never forget that," Jeff Temp said.
The American Cancer Society says lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer.
The symptoms are often confused for more common ailments until the cancer has reached later stages.
"You can't live the rest of your life being depressed about her condition, you have to enjoy the good days and good times," Jeff Temp said. "We just tell each other we love each other every night and every morning."
Environmental factors like radon and second-hand smoke can also lead to lung cancer, neither of which were problems for Dawn Temp.
You can donate to the Temp family here, here or by sending checks to Sandy Daugherty, 1053 Dakota Street, Shakopee, MN, 55379.