The big day yesterday:  Off to surgery with his happy self (a little anxious, too, of course, to find out the results on the other side)!

Lets be honest, last night was really rough.  Poor pain control, muscle spasms at his surgical site causing its own pain, and add nausea to the mix (along with a tube down your nose).   He was very, very miserable.  Beau was with him, taking care of business.

The surgical fellows came in at 5 am this morning.  They ordered an IV muscle relaxer for Donnie and changed some pain medications around.  Dr. de la Fuente came in at 11 am today.  He took the tube out of Donnie’s nose, evaluated the surgical site (looking good), ordered a fentanyl patch along with his Dilaudid PCA pump, and talked with Donnie about his surgery.  He explained he took biopsies which showed no metastatic disease, so he removed the tail of the pancreas with clean margins.  He removed the very enlarged spleen.  He also removed other tissue, that was sent to pathology.  We are awaiting the results of those reports over the next few days.  Once we get those reports, we will know whether Donnie will need any further chemo (maintenance or otherwise).  We are praying for clean margins.

What an AWESOME report!!  We are elated!

Donnie’s beside nurse today in PCU is a nurse that Donnie precepted (taught) in the ICU at Altamonte:  Daniel.  Daniel did not recognize Donnie without his goatee or mustache!  They reminisced for about 20 minutes, so happy to reconnect.  Daniel just finished nurse practitioner school, and is waiting to sit for his boards.  Daniel told Donnie, “I’m glad I get to give back to you a little of what you gave to me.” What a God thing.  It’s gonna be a good day today!!

Maegan came by to see her Uncle Donnie for just a few minutes after volunteering at Florida Hospital (she is 25 years old now).  She therapeutically plays with sick children and their siblings.  She drew her Uncle Donnie a picture while the child she was working with drew one, too.  We hung it in his room.  It made his day!!

Donnie will be getting up to walk later today, the beginning of the healing process, and the journey to get home.  Please pray for a rapid recovery and no complications from surgery.   It has been an uplifting and encouraging day!  We give all the glory to you, God.  We are awed by what you are doing in Donnie’s life.  Sweet tears of joy.

xoxoxo,  Donnie & Tina