Dave’s Story

Site created on February 5, 2018

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your love, support, prayers, and words of hope and encouragement. 


In early January, Dave saw his family physician, Dr. Terryberry,  to find out what could be causing what Lola called "drastic personality changes".  Thank God Dr. Terryberry is a great doctor and wonderful  listener! On the same day, he sent Dave for a CATScan at the Outer Banks Hospital (affiliated with Greenville Medical Center). .  Within an hour, we learned that Dave had a tumor on his brain and according to the Radialogist, it was a Glioblastoma. This is a  word we had never heard until that day, Jan 3, 2018. We were in shock, to say the least! At the same time, a snow storm was moving closer to the coast and by the next morning we were blanketed by  several inches of the white stuff and the entire Outer Banks was shut down.


There are miracles all along the way in this story of Dave's diagnosis, treatment plan and recovery.  God led the way and is still the leader of Team Hilton.  Our family and friends have been amazing supporters from Day One. We are so grateful!

Again we were blessed to be accepted at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, where there is HOPE.  Dave's doctor was world renown Neurosurgeon, Dr. Allan Friedman.  On Monday, Jan 22, Dave a had successful surgery to remove as much of the Glioblastoma cancer as possible.  We learned that the Glioblastoma is Grade 4 (contained in the brain) and the cancer cells that remain behind are fast growing.  The surgery was on Monday and Dr. Friedman was ready to release Dave on Tuesday.  Dave's blood  platelet, however, were very low, so it was Thursday evening when we checked out of ICU.  Radiation and Chemotherapy plan already in the works.


Everyone we came in contact with during this time was absolutely the best! Professional, talented, compassionate, kind and the best of the best that "Team Hilton" could imagine.  Upon leaving the hospital, we  stayed in the area at a wonderful "family" hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, for a few days to ensure he was ready to travel.  On Saturday, January 27, we headed home.  


During the time we were at Duke, there were many family and friend "angels" who prayed, visited, called, sent text messages and cards to love on us and begin the healing process.  We are so grateful! 


We had a few days at home before heading back to Durham on Thursday, Feb 1, by way of the Outer Banks Hospital for CBC blood work that was faxed ahead and in Dave's record  by the time we arrived at Duke to met his Neuro Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist Teams (Dr. Maggie Johnson and Dr. John P. Kirkpatrick).  We were originally scheduled to see another Oncologist but he was out sick (a rare occurrence, we're told).  And wouldn't you know it.....Dr. Maggie Johnson is the perfect replacement (we believe sent by God).  Each physician truly has an entire team that is working with us from Clinical Nurses, Clinical Pharmacists, Social Workers, Neuropsychology Physicians, Financial Advisors, and a Research contingent (in case there are any clinical studies that might apply).  And this was another day when our family rallied to support us as well as our church family.


In the meantime, Duke wanted us to get an appointment with Dave's heart doctor in Norfolk.  So, on Wednesday of this week, we drove to VA.  We learned during his pacemaker interrogation that he has been in Afib since the day after his cancer surgery, Jan 23. Another complication that is worrisome.  Dr. Bernstein talked to Dr. Johnson about putting Dave on blood thinner but it was decided that this would need to wait until after the radiation/chemotherapy is complete.  Evidently, if he starts on Coumadin and then goes off during his cancer treatments, it could cause him to have a stroke.  We don't want any part of that so....blood thinner is on hold.


On the road again Thursday of this week... back to Durham for his stitches to come out and a CATScan (used to build a mold/mask for his face to be used during radiation therapy.  On Friday morning he had another MRI (mapping for radiation).  I'm understanding that the MRI will be used like a GPS for targeting (as possible) the radiation to the right place in his brain.


The Plan: We go back to Durham on Sunday, Feb 18 and Dave's Radiation and Chemotherapy (Temodar) will start on Monday, Feb.19.  If all goes well, this will be a three week (5 days a week) plan at the Duke Cancer Center.  


We are staying at an Extended Stay Hotel near Duke so that we will have a kitchen and I can cook healthy meals during our stay.  We are also allowed to bring out sweet Labradoodle, Cammie.  Believe it or not, she really knows something is going on and hasn't left Dave's side (and she's my dog). And one of the other benefits is that they have a shuttle bus that will take us for the treatments each day.


So, that it for now.  PLEASE PRAY that Dave will soon regain strength and his pain will subside.  He is a courageous man.  The love of my life.  My best friend.  And is at peace with God for how this will all work out.  We love you all and I'll try to make updates as we have new information.


Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Lola Hilton

December 16, 2019

We are so grateful to God for the last two years of time, love and adventure with Dave.  His horrific disease of Glioblastoma IV is a fast-growing type of cancer of the central nervous system that forms from supportive tissue in the brain. There is no cure! 

 

Early this summer, a second tumor was detected in another area of his brain and we learned he was eligible for the Gamma Knife procedure at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.  Once again a very professional and dedicated team worked on Dave to eradicate this new tumor. They did it!

 

Then to continue to build his immune system and reinforce the integrative care he received last summer, we made another trip to Alpharetta, GA to The Center for Advanced Medicine. When we left a month later, Dave was feeling better than ever and had reconnected with the professional and caring doctors and nurses we fell in love with last year.

 

Unfortunately, in the early fall, a third tumor was detected in the empty tumor bed of his first tumor. That left only one medical option, a new chemo medicine that would more than likely bring on side effects worse than any he had experienced to date plus Avastin infusions. Dave rejected this option.

 

On November 12, 2019 Dave opted to enter the Dare County Home Health and Hospice Program on the Outer Banks, our Island Home.  He is now in his own surroundings with 24-hour availability of nurses and our long time physician who is now an Integrative Oncologist and also a Christian sister who is leading this Hospice Team.  And his family, long time friends, church members and neighbors have surrounded him and he has enjoyed their fellowship.  

 

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our entire family (plus some extended family from our Navy days 30 years ago) and as Dave said, “it was the best ever”! 

 

The goal now is to make him as comfortable as possible.

 

Are there more challenges ahead? Yes!  

Are we sad to watch the daily changes of less and less mobility and strength, an increase of headaches, loss of peripheral vision, more confusion and less of him? Yes, we are!

 

Dave, however, remains steadfast in his belief that God is the ultimate Cure Giver.

 

When his last breath on earth is taken away day or night (and only God knows when that will be), we will have great heartache from the loss of a very special man on earth but we are assured by Jesus that his new home in Heaven will be even better and he’ll be totally cured.

 

May God Bless each and every one of you in this Season of Advent.  Our nativity is front and center in our home. And we still believe in miracles.

 

Psalm 91: 1-2, 14-16

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “ I will rescue him, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me and I will answer him.  I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

 

Love, Peace and Joy, Team Hilton

 

PS: It is never too late to accept Jesus as your Savior! 

 

 

 

 

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