David McKenna Daisy McKenna

First post: Nov 23, 2020 Latest post: Jun 10, 2021
Hi, this is Tommy McKenna, Daisy's brother, and I have never met a more caring and loving person than my brother; in his 62 years on this earth, I don't believe he has made a single enemy.
 

 

First, I want to thank Tommy Creswell for creating this page for friends and family to post words of love and encouragement during this challenging time.  Tommy has been a member of our family for as long as I can remember.  My dad was transferred with his job when Daisy was a senior in high school, and the Creswell's took him in for the better part of a year until he graduated; no questions asked.

 

For those of you who don't know the story behind the name Daisy, here it is: 

When David and I were young, we hated to go to the barbershop with a passion, so our mother Eloise went out and bought a pair of electric clippers and a medium-sized bowl.  Our hair was straight as an arrow, and Eloise would put the bowl on our head and cut everything hanging out, quick and easy, and everybody was happy.  We didn't have to leave home, and Eloise saved quite a bit of money in the meantime.

Several years later, we outgrew the bowl haircuts and decided to visit a local stylist to upgrade our persona.  When David returned from his first visit to the style shop, his hair was all curled up, and he looked like Shirley Temple.  I don't remember the first person who saw his new look; I think it was Jodie Martin.  Jodie stared at David for a minute and, with an uncontrollable laugh, blurted out "DAISY," and the rest is history.

 


Daisy's Situation:



Daisy noticed a small lump on his neck below his ear in early August and didn't overthink it as these things tend to appear periodically in our lives.  Over the next couple of weeks, the area started getting bigger and causing irritation, so he visited the doctor for an examination.  The doctor performed an evaluation and called for a biopsy, which returned positive for the Parotid Gland Cancer. 

The Parotid glands are two salivary glands that sit in front of the ears on each side of the face.  Salivary glands produce saliva to aid in chewing and digesting food.

Parotid gland - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parotid_gland)



Treating Parotid Cancer typically requires removing the tumor and then administering chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of both, depending on the circumstances.  The surgery to remove the cancer is challenging because the main facial nerve runs through the gland, and the surgery can take as long as fourteen hours with up to four doctors in the room.

Parotid tumors - Overview - Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parotid-tumor/cdc-20388269)

On Monday, October 12th, Daisy met with Dr. James Netterville with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for his evaluation.  Dr. Netterville is known nationally as one of the leading experts in his field, and Daisy is blessed to have him on his side.

James L. Netterville, MD | Vanderbilt Health Nashville, TN (https://search.vanderbilthealth.com/doctors/netterville-james)

Daisy's condition today:

Daisy's evaluation with Dr. Nettervile determined that it would be best to shrink the tumor first before removal because of its size and location.  The action plan includes seven chemotherapy injections, once a week every Monday for seven weeks, and radiation treatment five days a week for seven weeks.  He is in his fourth week of therapy, and as most of you know, this treatment can put a strain on even the healthiest among us.  He has all but lost his appetite and struggles to keep his platelet count high enough to continue on his regime.

Daisy is a fighter, and I have no doubt he will win this battle.  I ask that anyone who visits this site please include Daisy in your prayers and add a note of encouragement.

I love Daisy with all my heart and can't wait for him to kick my butt again  on the golf course as he always does!

Thank you, and God Bless!

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