Author: tinamcfarland

Donnie is very weak.  He had a rough morning.  He was exhausted from taking a shower and putting on his clothes to come to the clinic today.  When Dr. Z evaluated him along with his practitioner, they decided Donnie is too weak to receive chemo today.  Donnie and I are both relieved.  I felt he was too weak to receive chemo as well.  He was lying down in the waiting room, because he was too weak to sit in the chair.

He will receive IV fluids today and IV Zofran (for nausea), which I am very happy about.  He is drinking a bottle of water a day or so, and eating about 2 cups of food a day.  He feels full and bloated all the time (his disease), and he is slightly nauseated, or on the verge of nausea, most of the time.

Dr. Z has decided to change the chemo he will receive.  Instead of getting the 4 medications he got the first time, he will be receiving Abraxane and Gemzar.  Both of those medications infuse over 30 minutes each, and are not quite as hard on him as the first round of chemo he received.  He will get that infusion once a week for 3 weeks, then have a week off.  He will continue to get hydrated with IV fluids in the clinic every week.  He is scheduled to get IV fluids again this Friday.

Thank you for all your prayers.  We certainly are blessed by your requests to God!  Please continue to pray for Donnie’s comfort.  We are seeking God’s will in our lives.

Since Donnie’s white count is good, visitors are welcome to come to our home.  He is best in the mornings and late evenings.  He would like to see his friends and family.  Please come between the hours of 10am-1pm, and then in the evening from 7pm-9pm.  You might be visiting him in the bedroom, as that is the most comfortable place for him to rest.  No visitors this Thursday evening please . . . might be having a head shaving party with the boys 🙂

As always, thank you for your love and support for us and our family 🙂

Today Donnie has had a quiet day.  We got up late (his favorite), had coffee, and awaited for his Mom and sister Lorraine to get here.  His Mom brought potato soup . . . always good healing medicine 🙂

Nanny (Donnie’s Mom) and Lorraine have been here all day, and he seems to be motivated to stay awake (most of the time) to talk about family members and family times . . . great to remember and to laugh.  We will have to keep the rest of it a secret to protect the innocent (or  not so innocent)!  Of course, due to the hugeness of Donnie’s family, I’m still trying to figure out who everyone is attached to!!

Maegan (our niece), brought some chinese food to us today, and that always sits well on Donnie’s stomach.  It’s so nice to have wonderful family around . . . and they are so cute, too!!

Tomorrow is D’s second round of chemo.  It starts at 11:15 am.  Please pray that his body does not react so violently this time.  We are hopeful that he will be able to go home, instead of be hospitalized.  Last time was a doozey.  Please pray for his comfort during this time.  I will keep you posted as soon as I can.

May God bless Donnie and give him the grace and comfort he needs at this challenging time.  Love to all our family and friends and prayer warriors!

Yesterday (Sunday, January 4th) was a pretty good day for Donnie.  Rodger (his baby brother) came to town and stayed with us from Friday night until Sunday night.  Ronnie (Donnie’s twin brother) and his wife Darlene came on Saturday afternoon and stayed until Sunday night.  My brother Don and his wife Elaine came down from Memphis, Tennessee and stayed a few days.  So . . . with our siblings and children around, it was very, very nice for Donnie and for me!

He felt better on Sunday than he has in many weeks.  I fixed him his favorite breakfast . . . scrambled eggs, grits, biscuits, milk gravy, bacon fried crispy, and a bowl of fresh fruit.  He ate about 2/3rd’s of what he normally eats, which is an improvement for him.  He talked with his two brothers for about 3 hours in the morning, took a nap from noon-5pm, then ate a good dinner (baked chicken, yellow squash, blackeyed peas from his Mom and my Dad!) and parmesan noodles.  He talked with his brothers again until 9pm, and then they went home.

This morning he got up feeling okay, but soon was wanting to be back in the bed.  He’s definitely on a rollercoaster with how he feels on a daily basis.  He is quite tired all the time.  Not much of an appetite (things taste weird due to his chemo), and still has nausea and some pain.

He will get his second round of chemo on Wednesday at 11am.  I have family staying with us day and night in case he has a difficulty tolerating the side effects.  Please pray for control of his side effects.  So far, they have been pretty wicked.

Much love,  Tina

Another wonderful victory . . . Donnie is going home today.  We just saw both of his docs, and he is being released to us 🙂  He is weak, but he is much, much better.  He has minimal pain (3 on a scale of 10), and is requiring no short-acting pain medications.  He has only gotten his nausea medication once in the past 3 days. He does have thrush in his mouth and throat, so that is uncomfortable, but getting meds to take care of that.

Keep praying for him!!  Lots of family will be with him at our home today and tomorrow, so please no visitors today or tomorrow.  Everyone wants to see him and be with him while he is “himself “.  What a blessing for us all!!!

Donnie will have his second round of chemo as an outpatient on Wednesday.  He will go to the oncology clinic for 3 hours to start the chemo, then he will wear a pump for the rest of the chemo to infuse over 48 hours.  We have never had it as an outpatient, so pray that he will not have to be rehospitalized for intolerable symptoms.  All our experts here at the hospital say that the first chemo is the worst.  We are praying they are right!!

Thank you for all your prayers and support.  What would we do without all of you having intercessory prayer on our behalf!!!!!!  We are also especially thankful for the personal and professional support we get from Vanessa Warble Stavros and her “posse” on the oncology floor.  What a sweet blessing she has been to us both, for great nursing information, but more importantly, for her sweet loving spirit.  xoxo

Donnie slept well last night, except for a few moments of talking in his sleep.  This morning he ate just a little “Georgia ice cream” for breakfast with scrambled eggs.  He took a shower and shaved.  He was not in pain, and he was not nauseated.  Of course he was worn out, so he took a nap.

For lunch he ate a decent amount of chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes.  Trying to be easy on the stomach, as he has not eaten much in days.  He is sleeping, in no pain, and no nausea at this time.  Wow!  That has not happened since we were admitted 3 weeks ago.  Praise be to the Lord!!!!

His doctors are talking about sending him home today or tomorrow.  Wow again!  His pain medicine escapades seem to be over (that was exhausting for him!).  Dr. Z asked Donnie if he would like to put his next round of chemo off for a few days so he could get to feeling better, and he said yes.  Our next chemo will be this coming Wednesday at the clinic with Dr. Z.

Thank you for all your prayers.  This has been a rollercoaster ride for Donnie and for our whole family.  We appreciate everyone’s love, prayers and help!  We are both encouraged.

So . . . praise be to God . . . the great healer . . . the comforter . . . for guiding and directing Donnie’s caregivers, and for giving him much needed rest.  Donnie is still talking in his sleep just a bit (like 4 or 5 times tonight), but it is just a few words, and he is back to sleep.  He got up around 5 am to go to the restroom, and he was not in any significant pain (his pain level is ALWAYS a 3 on a scale of 10, and it was a 3).  The best part of that is he has received NO short-acting pain medication all night.  That has not happened in 3 weeks.  Please keep praying for him.

Our families are simply amazing!!!  Of course, everyone that knows the “Macs”, realizes they all love each other with fierceness!!  So, Donnie’s brothers Ronnie (and Darlene, too) and Rodger and his sister Lorraine have come over during this difficult time, to help care for him, and love on him.  His favorite Uncle Eddie and Aunt Judy came yesterday, and it was obvious that it lifted his spirits, as this was a difficult few days for him.  Maegan (our niece), brought us food.  I am so grateful to our 4 children, who selflessly plan their schedules to help stay with Donnie and care for him and for me.  My sister Wendy and brother-in-law Robin came to Orlando from Naples to help me for 2 days, and stayed with Donnie on his worst night of “CRAZY”.  They paid my bills, washed my clothes, mowed my lawn, etc.  My brother Don and his wife Elaine came down from Memphis yesterday to help.  Dad helps us and makes food whenever we ask.  Donnie’s Mom came over from Brandon for a couple of days.  This weekend more family is coming to love on him and care for him, which helps me physically and emotionally so much.  We are so BLESSED to have so much family that loves us.  I am overwhelmed and grateful!!!!

Donnie is still not eating much.  He seemed to be a little hungry last night, so hopefully his diet will be able to advance today.  I am hoping he could have some grits for breakfast today, rather than clear ensure, jello or a popsicle.  He will not get chemo until he can recover from these past few days.  He has said that he wants to try another round of chemo, so pray for his recovery so he can receive it.

We are letting Donnie “call the shots”.  It is up to him how he wants to be treated, and we are all in it with him.  We pray you will respect his wishes, and support him in his decisions.  He has always amazed me with his quiet resolve and patience, and even during this storm, even when he was hallucinating, he was still kind, saying please and thank you to anyone caring for him.  He NEVER complains.  We are so grateful for all the caregivers that have touched his life and mine during this time.  We are appreciative of all the staff that “put their heads together” to come up with solutions for him.  We are so grateful, and pray special blessings on you all . . . our angels of hope.

Here’s to an improved day of nutrition . . . Much love, Tina

As most of you know, when you get lots of pain and nausea medications, and you have been in the hospital for almost 3 weeks (a few of those days were at home), craaaaaaaazy things start to happen to your body.  So, that is what happened to Donnie.  Over the last several days, we have been slowly discontinuing medications to see what medications were causing his hallucinations.  At 5pm tonight, he had a lucid conversation with our nurse!  The first REAL conversation that made ANY sense for the past 60 hours.  He still mumbles and “picks” at things, but he is on his way to recovery.  Now we just have to be sure to stay on top of his pain and nausea, as so many medications were stopped.  Praise be to the Lord for answers to prayer!!

He will continue to stay in the hospital until he can eat and drink.  For instance, he ate one saltine cracker, 3 tablespoons of sorbet, and 3 tablespoons of jello for dinner.  He will have to be eating and drinking significantly more than that to go home.  He will also have to be in better shape to get his next round of chemo.  We are just taking it one 12 hour shift at a time with him.  He has been on a rollercoaster ride since it all began 3 weeks ago . . .

Our family is AMAZING!  Our four children (and spouses), Donnie’s siblings, my siblings, and extended family (including Aunt Judy and Uncle Eddie that visited today), have been so supportive and helpful while Donnie was going through this storm!!!!  I am sure I would be locked up in the looney bin without all their love and support.  Can’t hug and kiss them enough!!!

Thank you for your prayers.  We truly cherish them.  I will be able to read the blog to Donnie tomorrow to “catch him up” on his life, since he missed three days!  Thanks for all your prayers and supportive comments.  Please don’t visit yet, as we are battling low white cell counts.  Much love!

Donnie was having many hallucinogenic moments today.  The doctors are trying to figure out which medications to discontinue slowly, to decrease Donnie’s very, very busy side effects.  After 1pm today, his hallucinogenic moments seemed to multiply two fold.  He is telling stories (and mumbling a lot), teaching his imaginary patients, giving report to his co-workers by name, teaching his imaginary orientees in the ICU, talking to rapid response, looking for tape, answering his spectralink phone, tidying up his food tray, tidying up his bed blankets, taking multiple walks up and down the hall . . . he has had crazy, busy energy like this all day (like he is a two year old all over again).  Although it is exhausting for all of us caring for him (our wonderful family), at least he seems to be in very little pain, and has had no nausea or vomiting.  That is truly a big praise and huge relief for all of us.

So . . . I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring.  It seems each day is some sort of a roller coaster ride with him.  Please pray for the wisdom of his doctors to get these symptoms under control if at all possible.  Please be with all of us as we make decisions moving forward.  He is eating very little and drinking very little.  Please no visitors at this time.  It is very important for family to be caring for him when he needs us.  We know you understand.

Donnie’s favorite Bible verse of all time:

Dr Z feels Donnie’s zany activity (like jumping jacks in the military, paperwork in the ICU, answering his phone when the IV pump beeps) is all due to his pain medication. His pain meds have been cut way back, to get him out of his “DT’s” as I call it 🙂  Don’t worry…he’s not in pain.

Dr Z says he will keep Donnie in the hospital until he gets his chemo again this week, especially since he needs IV fluids. He is eating and drinking very little.

Thanks be to the Lord of Heaven and Earth for the amazing care Donnie receives. Even in his crazy drug induced stupor, he still says thank you to everyone, including Dr Z. What a nice guy!!!!!!

Will post again tonight with his progress today. Keep praying for him!! We send our love to you all, and appreciate you keeping up with Donnie through his blog!!

Two of the reasons (pics) Donnie has to fight!!! Keep praying. God has a plan, and we are seeking it!! He is the great healer! The alpha and omega.

Dr. Zehngebot, Donnie’s wonderful and experienced oncologist, had Donnie moved to Winter Park Hospital this evening.  We are happy, as we have received excellent care there.  It is where he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and treated wonderfully by the doctors and nursing staff.  Dr. Z is one of the lead oncologists at Florida Hospital South, quite renowned, and is very involved in cancer research.  He sees patients at Florida Hospital South, Florida Hospital Altamonte, and Florida Hospital Winter Park.

Donnie had a pretty difficult day.  He continues to have challenging side effects from his chemo, plus he was a bit over-sedated today.  We are praying tomorrow is a better day for him, when some of the medications are out of his system.  He is definitely not coherent.

Beau and David stayed with him tonight, as he seems to be a “two man tag team”.  He is hallucinating, moving his hands crazy all over the place, and if he wasn’t so sick, it would be hilarious.  Beau, David, Rachael and Jared all witnessed him tonight.  At first you would cry, and then you would laugh at him.  He mumbles and talks alot, and sounds like Sophia (our 2 year old granddaughter)garbling all her words.  Then he sits straight up in the bed, and acts like he is going to get up.  So…he requires lots of supervision.  I am grateful for all 4 of our children that love him enough to help him in this hour of need.  God bless them!!!!

So…please no visitors again tomorrow.  Not sure what kind of day he will have.  Also, he is running a temperature, so I expect that is going to be something they start to treat.  Dr. Z is not sure if Donnie will get his chemo on Friday as scheduled.  The only thing Donnie ate today was 4 teaspoons of jello and 2 small bites of popsicle.  Please pray for him and for his caregivers, and for all of us that love him so dearly.  Thank you!