Categories
Uncategorized

The more frequent roller coaster ride

Thanks for putting up with my more frequent blogging lately.  Donnie is quite fragile, and his changes from good to bad happen during each and every day now.  I want to try to portray an accurate picture of what is going on with him.  I also want to tell you about his difficulties, and follow up when he is better.

Tuesday night he was restful, and had a good night with David (our son that spent the night with him).  I came in Wednesday morning at 6:30 am, and Donnie whispered to me, “I feel so much better . . . I’ve been thinking about some things I would like to do!”  I told him that was great!  Then he sat up on the side of the bed, said he felt nauseated, and his day went downhill in a New York minute.  He  got Ativan for his nausea this time, which made him hallucinate, and the bad news . . . he was still nauseated an hour later (ugh!).  Then he vomited.  Then they gave him Haldol, and he was toast.

Jeff (son) came over from St. Augustine today.  It was great for Donnie, because Jeff gives Donnie a lot of comfort.  He snuggled in the bed with him (this is very comforting to Donnie lately), and talks quietly with him.  When D started feeling better around 3 pm today, Jeff took him for a very slow ride in the wheelchair around the Hospice facility, which gave D a little motion sickness.  He is very, very sensitive to motion.  He did get over it, and eat a very good dinner around 4 pm that Jeff picked up for him from Boston Market.

Jeff left late today (he let me go home and take a nap).  Joyce was here all day with Donnie, too.  Joyce called Uncle Eddie and Aunt Judy (staying in a hotel down the street from us), and they were able to come visit with Donnie for about an hour this evening.  After they left, I came back, and Donnie had a pain level of 6, so he took a boost of Dilaudid on his pump.  He is sleeping now.

Rodger came in to see Donnie for about 30 minutes tonight.  He drove 2 hours from Brandon just to come over and lay eyes on his brother, and see how he is doing.  It is great to have such loving family support at a time like this.

Please continue to pray for pain management and nausea control.  The pain management is very effective.  Pray we find a better solution for his nausea.  We will continue to stay here at the Hospice Inpatient Unit until we find something that is more effective for his nausea.

We are so grateful for all your prayers, and for a mighty God that answers them.

Love,  Donnie & Tina

 

25 replies on “The more frequent roller coaster ride”

Donnie & Tina,

Appreciate the updates. Reading about your son snuggling with Donnie and giving you a break to get some sleep, is an example of a loving family, as God intended. This is indeed special. Praying for comfort, strength and no nausea.

Lynn & Howard Flagg

You are both in our prayers during this most difficult time. I know the Lord is with you both. I am so sorry to hear about the nausea being so bad. I do hope they find the right medication for him. Grateful his pain is under control. Sending love and prayers.    joe and hal

Donnie, you Tina, and the entire family are in our thoughts and prayers every passing day!  Praying especially for Donnie's comfort and relief from pain and nausea!  May God Bless all of you, Brenda & Terry

Tina:

I so much appreciate you speaking with me on Tuesday.  Donnie is loved so much and he was blessed with an Angel as his wife. Thanks for your kind words and as I do everyday, I continue to pray that God blesses Donnie and gives him peace.

Sunny

I wish we were closer to you so we could have a short visit to say hello. We appreciate the updates on Donnie, I feel like I'm with you. We will pray for more comfort and less nauseous days. I remember the roller coaster, the good days and then bad days. I pray and thank God for caring and his love that he spreads daily. We love you. Cheryl and Michael Gorham

 

 

 

Tina and Donny,

I am praying for you both. God knows every moment, of every day of our life, and I thank you for allowing us to be a part of yours.

Robin Bush

Oh Tina, what a lovely picture of Jeff lying next to his Dad. It evokes a vision of lying in the arms of Jesus. Throughout this intimate journey you and Donnie has given so many the greatest gift. You're helping us all to increase our faith unto the Day of His Glorious Appearing! Some day, when and if we get to see one another this side of Heaven, I would love to share how you have impacted my personal walk. Thank you for your witness. Love, Deb

We look forward to reading your posts so you can never post too much. Thank you for the updates. We pray Donnie's nausea and pain goes away quickly. He is lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing people in his life. We love you ALL so much.

Ryan, Lisa and Bella Rankin

Thank you for keeping us involved, Tina. Donnie, you are, and always will be, an awesome guy! Lynne and I wish we could have lived closer to have spent more time with a lot of our Valrico friends over the past years – especially you. God had other plans. And, of course, His plans include an eternity of catching up and moving forward with all He has for us. Really looking forward to that. Our prayers are with both of you. Blessings always! Bill and Lynne Brown

 

 

Thank you so much for your updates Tina. I know I've said this before, but you have no idea how appreciated your blog posts are. No idea. Hoping tomorrow is a better day with no pain, no nausea, and at least 1 big ole hearty meal!!! Sending all my love to the whole family.

-Alicia West

 So glad that you are keeping us up-to-date. You, Donnie and your family are in constant prayer for strength, peace and comfort.

Pat

Dear Donnie and Tina;

I have read this blog since the very beginning, frequently checking in and tailoring my earnest prayers to your requests. Thank you so much for sharing this journey, I know it is intensely private. Hospice of the Comforter does God's work, no doubt. My Nanny needed the facility a mere five weeks after they opened in 2008. They will care for you and your family in such an amazing, Godly way, that you will never forget. I still give thanks for them.

There is a memory I have that I want to share as another testament to Donnie's natural, care-taking, loving self. When Peter couldn't walk before or after the amputation, if Donnie were able to attend church and sing, he would take the time to wheel Peter back from the stage to our place in the congregation. It was poignant for me to watch this incredible man battling for his life, take care of another incredible man battling for his dignity. Those images will stay with me forever. What may seem like a small thing…was in fact a huge thing. Please tell Donnie how much Peter and I have come to love him.

I hope you can feel that same love coming to you both, as well as your children. "I Hope In God" is my Scottish family's motto…and I do. I know that this is not the end, but a beginning. It's just hard to see someone so amazing go, and leave us all behind even if for a short amount of time. I am so grateful that we share the loving God who has this divine plan for all of us. You have so many long-time friends, and so much family that I know you don't want for a thing. But if there is anything, no matter how small, that Peter and I can do to help you. Please, please let us.

In Liberty,

Kelli McNair-Lee

You continue to be in our prays often each day and when we wake in the night. We pray unceasingly and will continue to. We know Go shears our cries. We love you deeply.

Suzie  & Tommy

 

We are so grateful for these updates! Tina , I know this is difficult for everyone butwe do watch diligently for just one word from you. We are lifting everyone up in prayers. We so want to send comfort, love, and peace to each family member. For Donnie we send our Love and prayers for pain and nausea management!! Please know our days are filled with prayers on our lips for all of you!! In Christ's Love, Cindi McNiff 

Hi Donnie and Tina,

We are praying and thinking about you both throughout the day, everyday. Thank you for writing Tina 🙂 We love and admire you both. 

Also, Joe says that your words of encouragement have kept him strong. Thank you for that. 

Sending our love. 

Praying for continued pain relief and hoping they find the right combination for nausea. Y'all are in my thoughts and prayers every day. Thank you Tina for the posts. I know there are so many praying for your family and Donnie. May God watch over y'all. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *