Donnie has really been feeling good lately.  No “poison” for 4 weeks puts a “hitch in your giddy-up!”  He has been asking to eat at some of our favorite places, and seems to really enjoy the food.  As you know, food has always been a PRIORITY for this southern boy, so having it taste delicious has been very, very encouraging.  It certainly helps the mental battle!!  So, yesterday, we went to Outback on our way to chemo, and enjoyed ourselves!

When we got to the clinic yesterday, all the staff kept telling Donnie . . . Wow! You look really great.  Wow!  You look awesome.  Wow!  You look so good.  It was great to hear all those accolades.  They have not seen him for a month, so there have been lots of improvements 🙂

It was so nice having Beau join us at the clinic.  It’s hard for him to come much, as he is in nursing school now, but classes let out early today.  He gets some in-depth education at the clinic with us, plus he gets to advocate for Donnie.  We both like him being there with us!!

When the clinic nurse tried to access Donnie’s PICC line yesterday, it was not functioning well enough to draw blood or give chemo.  The decision was made to remove it.  Since D was having nerve pain from the PICC up and down his entire arm, we both felt this was a big relief.  They placed a peripheral IV, drew his blood, gave his chemo through it, and removed it when his infusion was complete.  Although it is disappointing that the PICC did not last long enough to give him chemotherapy even once, at least he had it for his IV antibiotics that he was able to finish at home.  The plan going forward is that Donnie will get a peripheral IV at the clinic every other week to have blood drawn and get his chemo.  We are both truly happy about that at this point!

Here are the BIG praises for the day:

1.  Port is out, and site is healing (its still painful, though).
2. PICC is out, and D has no IV access to protect.  That’s really nice!
3. His tumor markers remain in normal range (they are drawn every 4 weeks).
4. He weighed 168 pounds at the clinic.  That’s really good!
5. Donnie has no pain.
6.  Dr. Z said we will continue to get Gemzar every other week for about 2 months, then we will re-evaluate the treatment plan.  We loved hearing that!

Donnie was exhausted after our busy day with lots of decisions and changes.  Also, his body taking a hit from chemo after being off of it for a month is certainly a factor.  He was just slightly nauseated as well 🙁  

Please continue to pray for the chemo to be effective, for the undesirable side effects to go away, for the port site to completely heal and the pain to go away, and for continued strength and improvement.

I don’t really know God’s plan, but he is revealing it to us little by little.  We are walking with Him, trusting in Him, and grateful for the amazing time we continue to have with our friends and family!!  Thank you for your continued prayers!  We are humbled by your love.

Love,  Donnie & Tina