Thursday Night Update on Daddy (5)

Sorry I have neglected to update my blog with updates for my Daddy (Jim or Richard McDonald).

Short explanation on his name. He grew up as Richard McDonald so childhood friends & family call him Richard. When he joined the Army, he became Jim (because his first name is James). Also, at Oscar Mayer where he worked as a supervisor for 20 years, he was known as Jim. So depending on where or when people met him determined which name he went by. =0)

Short summary:

Daddy came home from the hospital on Sunday morning, and he's been doing great since!

He has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins, B-Cell Lymphoma. This is actually an aggressive type of cancer, so that isn't great news. However, the doctors seem hopeful that he will respond well to treatment.

The e-mail update I sent out tonight:

Thursday, July 30^th

^{Main Prayer Requests:}

For Daddy’s complete healing.

For the Lord to give Daddy strength to REMAIN SMOKE-FREE!

For Daddy’s appointment Friday morning.

For an accurate diagnosis of the type of lymphoma.

For a treatment plan that will STOP the cancer and not cause suffering on Daddy’s part.

For Daddy to make healthy choices to aid in his healing (food, exercise, not smoking, etc.).

Answered prayers:

Daddy’s pain has gotten less every day!

Saturday night when he was still in the hospital, I asked if he was glad he’d had the surgery… and he said, “YES!” (but maybe not that loudly). At that time while I was looking at him & seeing the pain he was in, I was wondering if he had regretted it, but he said he didn’t. As a matter of fact, he said he could breathe easier and talking was easier even that soon after surgery. He even said then that each day the pain was getting better. He even surprised us by coming to Olivia’s birthday party Sunday night! (Olivia is my oldest daughter.)

This week Daddy has continued improving. He is healing wonderfully. It is kind of misleading, because we think… ahhhhhhhhh, it’s over, & Daddy is doing great. But then we realize that this surgery is not the end; instead, it marks the beginning of this journey. So please don’t stop praying. Please let this just be the beginning of our prayer journey for Daddy.

Today (Thursday) was Daddy’s follow up appointment with his ENT, Dr. DeMoville. The doctor said Daddy was doing great & healing wonderfully. He will follow up with him 3 weeks from today. He said the “swelling” Daddy had was actually air that was forced under his skin from coughing that Daddy was doing as a result of the tracheotomy. This has gone down dramatically!

The doctor said if Daddy hadn’t done the surgery, that the mass “would have gotten him.” Basically, he was saying that Daddy would have died from suffocation because the mass was growing so quickly. Praise the Lord that Daddy went to the ER when he did (2.5 weeks ago)!

Tomorrow (Friday) morning is Daddy’s first appointment with his oncologist, Dr. Shipley. From what I understand, we’ll find out his complete diagnosis at that appointment. Right now we know he has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins, B-Cell Lymphoma. Even though it is “non,” this is NOT what we had hoped for. Hodgkins Lymphoma is considered curable. Non-Hodgkins is not curable; however, they can put it into remission with treatments. Also, B-Cell is an aggressive type of Lymphoma. I don’t say this to sound like a downer or to say we have no hope; instead, I share this to say… we DO HAVE HOPE! Our HOPE is in the LORD! God can do ANYTHING!! He can heal Daddy totally & completely! We hope that you will pray for this.

The doctors thus far have also been full of hope.

I plan to send out an update tomorrow after we meet with Dr. Shipley. Not only should we find out the complete diagnosis (meaning we’ll find out the stage); we’ll also find out the suggested treatment plan. Please pray for us all to have wisdom and discernment… the doctor, Daddy, and the family. As of now, we don’t know if radiation will be involved or not.

Dr. DeMoville said even though this cancer is aggressive, often aggressive cancers respond more quickly to treatment!

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

Father, I pray that you would heal Daddy completely and wholly. Father, I pray that you would renew his strength. Our hope is in you. Father, enable him to run and not grow weary; walk and not be faint. Give us faith to believe. You ARE God and able to do all things. Father, may your will be done, and may you receive all the glory. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen

Blessings,

Melinda for Richard & family