TRANSPLANT DAY (maybe)

The scheduled "day of rest" on Monday was actually very busy preparing for the transplant...not the best day by any means but Donna's faith and the prayers of so many have brought great comfort.

As of yesterday afternoon, the bone marrow had not arrived at Duke. The transplant is tentatively scheduled for late tonight (Tuesday) or possibly early Wednesday morning.

Donna continues to be doing better than expected and wanted everyone to know how thankful she has been for the prayers of family, friends, and even those she has never met, and is thankful for all the blessings God has bestowed every day.

As we head towards the transplant we are praying God will continue to sustain Donna and Joel, and that her body will fully accept the transplant and her complete healing will begin. We also praise God again for providing a donor, and for his willingness to sacrifice for a sister he's never met. Only through God are all these things possible!

Sunday, Dec 7

From Jan: Just talked to Donna and she is doing just amazingly well. She is very antsy because she wanted to go to the exercise room and walk on the treadmill but was a little too shaky. She also continues to fight the nausea which is frustrating but still better than anticipated. Just hearing her say "I really wanted to go to the workout room today..." was a blessing to me. Her vision is blurred which is a side effect of the chemo, it should clear in a few days. Tomorrow is a "day of rest" before Tuesday - Transplant Day!

To all the faithful family and friends on the blog, please continue to pray for Donna and Joel, God has certainly heard our prayers and provided much!

Short Update

From Bev: I spoke to Donna for a few minutes last night. She was very tired, but all in all doing well. In fact, she said some of the nurses told her that she has done better with radiation than many people. Chemotherapy starts today (Saturday).

I have no doubt God is hearing and answering all your prayers for Donna and Joel. I can't thank Him enough for giving Donna and Joel the strength they need!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

December 5, 2008

There isn't a whole lot to report today, just that Donna sends her love and says she is "hanging tough!" One more day of radiation!!

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

DAY #3

From Jan:

I got to talk to Donna tonight!!! She was up when I called and doing very well. I asked her if things had been about what she expected and she said things overall have been BETTER than she expected. She does have some nausea but it is controlled very well with the meds, she said the medicine they give her is stronger...she is a little more tired than she expected but thinks that might be the meds. Rash is gone but skin a little itchy. Mostly she wanted everyone to know she is doing just fine.

December 2, 2008

Talked to Joel just a bit ago. Donna had her 2 rounds of radiation today. It went a little faster each time today, about an hour and a half each session. Per Joel - Donna had said that she doesn't have any discomfort at all during the radiation but it is making her tired and nauseous (sp?) -- She's sleeping alot ( a blessing ) and has better meds than the ones she was taking in Roanoke. Joel says the hospital people are wonderful.

CLICK HERE!

December 1, 2008

As many already know, Donna has been in North Carolina since Friday for her palifermin injections. Palifermin is a growth hormone that she was given to hopefully help reduce mucositis that forms when receiving high doses of chemo/radiation. She started at 7 this morning with insertion of a catheter and then she will begin treatment, which will start with radiation for a number of days, followed by some chemotherapy, and finally the transplant next Tuesday, 12/08/08.

In addition to posting messages here, you can send letters/cards to the apartment where Joel and other caregivers will be staying over the next few months. Since this is a public site, I'm a little leery of putting the address here. If you'd like to send her some mail, you can contact me (Bev) by email and I'll send you the address. My email is baw2b@comcast.net.

Below is a message from Jan (Donna's sister)

As we ask God to sustain her and Joel for the next weeks, we also offer praise to God for the young man donor and all he has been willing to give. We will be talking to Joel every day and keeping the blog going for Donna until she can pick it up in a few weeks. Thanks to ALL of YOU for keeping Donna and Joel in your thoughts and prayers!


Thanks to everyone who "visits" Donna here and leaves her some comments. She loves them!

Bev