The Negative Space

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The Negative Space

Our mission is to change the way caregivers of all kinds are seen and supported.

10/16/2026

Big day. Sean just had a chest CT and will have a liver MRI shortly. The MRI will tell us if the immunotherapy and targeted therapy he's now had two doses of is working or not.

What we do know for sure is that the cancer in his jaw that was removed just 4 months ago has returned. The options for dealing with that are not good, but everyone's waiting on these MRI results because if the liver is worse...

It feels like we've been playing the game Tetris for years. In the beginning the pieces fell slowly and we could manage them, but in recent years the pieces are coming more quickly and stacking up higher and higher. We fear we're nearing the end of the "game". Today's scans will be key in understanding if that's true.

There's a tiny chance we'll get any results today. Otherwise, they'll likely show up in the portal next week and we meet with his Oncologist on Thursday.

We're spending next Monday - Thursday at our happiest place: Lake Superior, which will ease the waiting a bit.

Thanks for your continued love and support.❤️

10/15/2026

See you next week!

10/14/2026

Join us for a free virtual support group on Sunday, October 18 from 6-715pm CT. That night we'll talk about the unique challenges of Caregiving in Midlife, the topic of the most recent episode of the "In Sickness" podcast. Listening to the podcast is not a prerequisite. Hope to see you there!

Register here: https://thenegativespace.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/29680

10/13/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!
Episode 137: Caregiving in Midlife

Caregiving can be complicated at any time of life, but in this episode we talk about the challenges specifically related to having this role while being middle-aged. From sandwich caregiving and job stresses to finances and aging bodies, it can feel like the responsibilities are stacking up and there is no end in sight.

Listen, share, and join us for a virtual support group on this topic on Sunday, October 18 from 6-715pm CT.

Episode: www.insickness.care
Register for Support Group: https://thenegativespace.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/29680

10/10/2026

We were honored to be part of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Twin Cities at the Mall of America this morning! The event recognized and supported caregivers with a Caregiver Corner where our table was set up. We love connecting with caregivers in the community!

10/05/2026

Dear friends, last week's MRI has shown a new, large invasive mass in Sean's jaw, near where his major surgery was this summer. We just got home from a CT scan, which will give the team more information about what we're dealing with. But a recurrence after four months is not good. That we're still dealing with cancer in the liver (in two weeks he has a liver MRI to see if treatment is working) is not good. We fear our options are dwindling. We imagine the weeks ahead will be full of hard news and conversations and we ask for your love and support along the way.

Sean says it all much more beautifully here: https://seanbreininger.substack.com/p/after-further-review?utmsource=share&utmmedium=android&r=3gbs3 to

10/01/2026

Back at the clinic (third time this week) for labs, nurse visit, and immunotherapy treatment #2. He's had no side effects so far and we pray that continues.

Initial look at Monday's dental MRI was clear, but we're waiting for the radiologist to read it and confirm.

Feeling weary.

09/30/2026

Join us for a free virtual support group on Tuesday, October 6 from 6-715pm CT at which we'll discuss the topic of the latest episode of the In Sickness podcast: The Aftereffects of Caregiving. The two former caregivers that we interviewed for this episode will join us for the session, but listening to the episode is not required.

Hope to see you there!

Register for support group: https://thenegativespace.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/29507

Podcast episode: www.insickness.care

09/29/2026

EPISODE 136
The Aftereffects of Caregiving: An Interview with Former Caregivers Rodolfo Nieto and Aaron Shipp

Rodolfo Nieto and Aaron Shipp were both spousal caregivers whose roles ended in different ways over the last two years. In this episode, we talk with them about the aftereffects of caregiving on their physical health, emotional wellbeing, nervous system, and sense of identity. This is a powerful conversation you don't want to miss.

Listen, share, and join us for a virtual support group with these two on Tuesday, October 6, from 6-715pm CT.

Listen: www.insickness.care
Register for Support Group: https://thenegativespace.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/29507

09/28/2026

Whackamole. Triage.

Various members of Sean's medical team have used these terms in recent months when describing how we're trying to keep up with all that's popping up and then prioritize care. Today is yet another example of that.

The focus has been on the cancer in Sean's liver, for which he receives treatment number two this Thursday, but we can't ignore the rest of him. So at this moment he's receiving a state of the art dental MRI, brand new technology that will detect cancer in his head and neck.

While we are grateful to receive this technology, I'm terrified of what it may show. If it shows something concerning, a biopsy cannot be done because with his immunotherapy he's also receiving a targeted therapy that impacts blood vessels, so he can't do anything that may cause bleeding. If it shows something, we'll be at another moment of triage: determining which body part to prioritize. There is hope that the immunotherapy may help cancers in all parts of his body, so there's that.

Fortunately we will get the results right away today. So here I sit, at yet another crossroads moment, knowing that by the end of the day, life may be very different.

Please join me in prayer for clean scans, compassionate practitioners, and peaceful minds.

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Saint Paul, MN

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http://www.thenegativespace.life/

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