Today is the 5th full day that Donnie has been taking a reduced amount of morphine ER (extended release), 15 mg twice a day. He continues to have some withdrawal symptoms, but we are praying that they subside with time. He is agitated and has insomnia at night. I’m thinking about having him jog around the neighborhood after dinner to wear him out for restful sleep . . .
His cancer markers are down to 8.3 (last one was 9.6), so the chemo seems to be doing its job. The CT is scheduled for this Thursday. It will be interesting to see the results.
Donnie’s cell counts are crazy low today. Due to that, he did not get any of his chemo treatment today. That’s not all bad . . . don’t be worried. The chemo is working, and we don’t want his blood counts to be so low that he would be hospitalized, so its all good. Masks and lots of good hand washing are in store for us this week. Please, no visiting if you are sick or have been exposed to someone that might be sick. Sorry 🙁
Donnie has had a very good week. He has had wonderful visitors, a few outings, and he is eating GREAT . . . his normal big appetite. I have started cooking for him again, and he loves home cookin’, so he mounds his plate up and eats it all. His color is good, and his energy level continues to improve.
Let’s see . . . do you know your 2nd cousins? How about your 3rd cousins? Donnie is close to all of them, involved in their lives, and had many a great time with all his MAC family clan. When he was growing up, fun was being with all his family on the weekends. It was just how they rolled! Di (1st cousin) and Jenny (2nd counsin) came to see Donnie this week. He loves them (they are a hoot!), and they really lifted his spirits!! (I kind of like them, too!)
Please continue to pray for improving withdrawal symptoms from his morphine, and that he will continue to be without pain. What a praise!! Please pray for miraculous results from his CT scan, if that is God’s will. It is such a privilege to know, love and be loved by the God of the universe.
Thanks to our family and friends who continue to pray for Donnie and for our family. You are part of this journey with us, and we cannot being to tell you how much your acts of love have impacted our lives, no matter the outcome here on this earth.
Love, Donnie & Tina
3 replies on “No chemo today: The end of round 4”
Hi Donnie and Tina, it is great to hear that you’re still improving. Hope you guys have a great time in Memphis. I think about you guys many times a day, and I say a prayer every time I do. Ya’ll are such an inspiration to so many people. More than you know, I’m sure. Even some of the people that I work with, after I asked them to add your name to the prayer list at their church, have expressed what an inspiration you guys are. Many follow this blog, and ask me almost daily how you are doing. They asked me to relay to you how inspired they feel by your courage and faith as you fight this battle. I always tell them the same thing, that you are my hero (after my Dad and John Wayne, of course). Enjoy your vacation, you both absolutely deserve it. And I know the family is excited to have you visiting with them. So have fun, and behave yourselves. Hopefully we can make it over to see you guys again soon. We love you guys, and we’re constantly praying for ya. Lots of Love to you both.
Bubba and Tracey
You two continue to be an inspiration. Prayers for good CT results and pain and nausea free. You are both loved and thought very highly of and we will continue to pray for you both.
We are praying for good results on Thursday. We love you all. Stay strong Donnie ❤️