Because I dont have the time to always update this page please slay the dragon (click) and check out updates at Donnel's caring bridge page.
1 August 2002
Appointment at South San Francisco Kaiser. Saw Dr. Johnston and NP Mullins. Fine Needle Aspiration was preformed.
9 August 2002 We were supposed to leave for vacation today, instead we found out that the mysterious mass on Donnel’s ankle is a malignant tumor. We were told that Dr Johnston wanted to do surgery and that we would be contacted soon about when.
29 August 2002 Donnel’s pre-op appointment was today in South San Francisco. It took forever, he had to have a physical and then had an appointment with the anestisiologist. After all that we went to the Oakland Raiders preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals! We had awesome seats 2 rows from the field! It was really cool! Donnel had a blast!
3 September 2002 We checked into the hospital this morning thinking that it would be an in and out procedure. Donnel’s surgery lasted roughly and hour and a half. Dr. Johnston came out and told me that they had to remove the nerves and main artery in Donnel left foot and that there was a possibility that there could be loss of circulation and if that happened it would require amputation. Later that afternoon Dr. Feng (assisted Dr. Johnston in surgery) came by and explained to both of us about the loss of circulation and possible amputation. Needless to say it was shocking to us, and we really had no one that we could talk to about it. We still didn’t know what Donnel was dealing with yet. Dr. Feng also informed us that our in and out procedure was turning into more than that. He told us then that they would release Donnel in a few days, he had a drain in the incision that ran along his ankle.
4 September 2002 Today was uneventful it was already Wednesday. Dr. Feng came by to see us in the AM and NP Mullins later that afternoon. Donnel had some physical therapy. They tried out crutches and a walker. Donnel opted for the walker as he was more stable with it than the crutches.
5 September 2002 They finally discharged us later this afternoon. Dr. Feng came in to remove the drain from Donnel’s ankle and told us that Dr. Johnston thought that the preliminary biopsy results were Leiomyosarcoma.
10 September 2002 Called South San Francisco to find out if we had a final result. Left a message. Later that afternoon Dr. Feng called and let us know that he had seen the results on 9/9 and that Donnel did in Fact have Leiomyosarcoma. Because I just started this journal I cant really tell you what we were like emotionally except that if you’ve dealt with LMS or any cancer for that matter you can kind of get the feelings we were dealing with.
17 September 2002 Follow up visit in South San Francisco with NP Mullins. Donnel had a slight infection in the incision and Dr. Feng was called in. NP Mullins removed the stitches, and Donnel was given a prescription for an antibiotic. Dr. Feng told us that clear margins were not met, but that he had discussed the case with a colleague and that they thought that the cancer could be killed with radiation therapy.
18 September 2002 Donnel had an abdominal CT scan done today.
9 October 2002 Follow up appointment, with Dr. Johnston who we hadn’t seen or heard from since the surgery more than a month ago. Dr. Johnston was frank and pushed amputation as soon as possible for Donnel. He didn’t even want to give radiation a go. I told him we understood that LMS was pretty unresponsive to Chemo and Radiation but that we would like to try it and see. After that Dr. Johnston found out that the “nearest” radiation therapist was in Modesto about 30 miles from where we live. The told us that they would draw up a referral and fax it and we would hear from them within a week. Donnel still had some inflammation in the incision sight so Dr. Johnston gave him more antibiotics and told us he wanted to see us again the following week to check it out. At that point we’d been to South San Francisco 5 times in 2 months. Since it was a wound check we asked if we could see our PCP in Stockton. They weren’t pleased but went ahead and okayed the appointment with our PCP. I had asked Dr. Johnston about LMS metastasizing to the lungs and possibly the liver and he had told me it was very unlikely. That was the first indication that I had that he had no clue as to what we were dealing with. Upon returning home we scheduled a follow up appointment with our PCP Dr. Jasti.
17 October 2002 We went to see Dr. Jasti for a wound check, she said It was looking good, so we asked if she could refer us over to the oncology department (the surgical oncologist was the only oncologist we’d seen thus far.)
29 October 2002 We had an appointment with Dr. Ow Yong today, to see if we could find a radiologist closer than Modesto. Dr. Ow Yong set up an appointment for us to see Dr. Tepperman @ St. Theresa’s Cancer Center. And suggested that if we weren’t going to go ahead with the amputation at the time then we should also consider that Donnel undergo MAID chemotherapy. MAID is Mesna, Adriamyacin, Ifex and Decarbazine.
5 November 2002 Dr Tepperman wanted to have an MRI done to see what we were up against. He told us that more than likely Donnel would undergo 7 weeks of radiation 5 days a week for 10 minutes a day.
19 November 2002 CT scan Pelvic and Abdominal. Scans came back all clear.
21 November 2002 MRI results posted later.
22 November 2002 Donnel went in today to get his PICC line done. What an ordeal. 26 November 2002 PICC line check, flushed with saline and heprin.
28 November 2002 Thanksgiving 2002 We celebrated at my moms and Dad’s. And despite everything that has been going on we had a really nice time. 30 November 2002 We put up the tree today. The kids decorated the most of it. They had a blast doing it!
2 December 2002 Long day today. We started at 8 am and didn’t get out of treatment till nearly 5 pm. Donnel had Anzamet for 30 minutes, then went on to a 2 hour infuse of Mesna and Ifex, another 2 hour infuse of Mesna and Ifex and then 2 hours worth of Decarbazine. After they d/c ed the Decarbazine they put a 72 hour pump of Adriamycin in. then told us see yaw tomorrow for the same. Donnel was exhausted today but the Raiders were playing on TV tonight so needless to say he stayed up and watched. Raiders WON!!!
3 December 2002 Well same of the day before though we managed to get out around 4:30 this time. It so doesn’t feel like Christmas. There’s just too much going on. Donnel did okay tonight, he had the hiccups pretty bad, but got a milkshake down.
4 December 2002 Donnel had the same kind of day at the infusion clinic, We got to leave around 4 today. Donnel got sick today. Compazine did a little to help out. He isn’t eating a lot but is otherwise doing okay.
5 December 2002 Just went In today to get Adria line D/C ed and the Mesna 24 hour pump going again. He was pretty sick again today.
6 December 2002 We went in to get his Mesna line d/c ed but there was a kink in the line and we got sent home to finish it out.
7 December 2002 Went to get line D/c ed again today. It was finished, so they started to do a flush and his picc line busted. Dr. O changed Donnel meds to Anzamet today. These little bitty pills are ridiculous in price! $24.50 per pill! Its insane! But they do work.
Donnels ankle before sugery.
At a different angle.
Close up.