Fundraiser set for pastor fighting cancer

By: 
Chuck Kajer, The New Prague Times

Diane Goulson has been put in a very different position the last few months.

The longtime New Prague resident and pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church near Belle Plaine, Goulson was diagnosed in November with pancreatic cancer. She’s facing a series of chemotherapy treatments and surgery, but she’s not facing it alone. She has her family (husband Daryl and daughters Meredith, Rebecca and Erica) along with friends and people from her church who continue to be supportive throughout the process.

“I’ve always been the giver,” said Goulson. “To be on the receiving end is difficult, but very much appreciated.”

Friends and family are holding a fundraiser on Friday, Jan. 25, to help the Goulson family with expenses not covered by insurance as well as show a sign of support for Diane. The event will be held at Ridges at Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan, and will include a pasta bar dinner, live music, silent auction, live auction, raffles and more.

Goulson said she had been having a pain on her left side. “It reminded me of a sharp gas pain, but it would never move.” Then, she started to lose weight, so she went to her doctor.

“The doctor took my concerns seriously,” she said. “He did a CT scan and found something on the pancreas. They later verified it was cancer with an MRI and biopsy.”

She said doctors believe they caught it early. “We’re hoping after five chemo treatments, they can do surgery, and then have seven more chemos after that. They think that will take care of it.”

Goulson has been working with doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. “I feel fortunate,” she said. “Numbers show about 80 percent of people who get this diagnosis are dead within a year, but by catching it early, they say my prognosis is good.”

She finished her third chemo treatment last week. “I go in on a Wednesday for seven hours, then come home with a pump for 56 hours. I do this every other week,” she said.

“I’m fortunate I’ve been able to get the treatments locally (at Mayo Clinic Health System in New Prague). It’s three minutes from my home, with people I know and trust… that means everything.”

Meanwhile, Goulson continues with her duties at the small Lutheran Church west of New Prague and south of Belle Plaine on Highway 19.

“The congregation has been incredibly supportive, and I’ve actually.....

To see more on this story pick up the January 10, 2019 print edition of The New Prague Times. 

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