Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Because Donna has such a large family, and so many loving friends, there have been a lot of phone calls which is wearing her out quite a bit. We thought that by having this CaringBridge it would be an easier way to share information. Donna asked me to tell you all how much she loves you and truly gives thanks for all the love, prayers, and support you have shown her.
As many have heard Donna was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 gastroesophageal cancer. As a family we decided that we would give updates on appointments and such as often as we can.
For about 6 months Donna has been battling a significant amount of acid reflux and indigestion, doctors have been giving her an array of medications to help control her symptoms and finally after the 6 months they gave her a pill to see if it passes at all and it did not so the doctors agreed that a endoscopy would be needed to determine what the blockage was. On June 28th she then went in for a endoscopy when they found some polyps and did a biopsy. On July 3rd she received a call to come in for the results of the biopsy which came back as malignant (cancer). They then recommend more test to figure out exactly where they think it started, if it is anywhere else, and figure out the plan of treatment. On July 5th she went in for a CAT scan which showed that the cancer indeed was in the esophagus and stomach and also they seen some spots on the spleen but they couldn't tell for sure if the spots were cancer or just an infection. They then recommended a PET scan which was completed on July 12th which then confirmed the cancer and named it gastroesophageal cancer and stated that there was a chance that it was in the bones as well. On July 19th she met with Oncology who confirmed that the cancer is in the bones. In August after her biopsy of her bones it was shown that there was no cancer in her bones so they will just treat her gastroesophageal cancer unless there is more reason to believe that the cancer is elsewhere. At this time they are planning aggressive chemotherapy and possible radiation. As a family we ask for prayers.
Many Blessings,
Donna, Steve, Dan, Treina, Marley (17yrs), Joe, Sheena, Elijah (7yrs), Dominic (5yrs), Ashley, Jim, Rylan (11yrs), Olivia (10yrs), Violet (8yrs), and baby James (1yr).
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