5/17/26 Update
Dear Singers -
I saw Donna this morning and she was a little more alert. She was able to respond with simple one-word answers or by simply nodding her head. I told her that her work here on earth was done - she had lived a good life with Don, and she played such an important part in building the Grand Singers, but it was time for her to stop trying to fight. She nodded that she knew. I said that Grand Singers might hit a bump or two, but that we would find our way without her. I told her that Mark Hutton was already scheduled to meet with Kathy Head and Norma Lucas tomorrow morning, and that Ruthann said we would just have to think 'What would Donna Do' and probably we'd figure it out! (Our new Mantra!)
Her cousin has arrived and she has the Medical Power of Attorney, so we talked with the cancer doctor and he showed the MRI and where it showed cancer cells all over - he said she isn't strong enough to even tolerate one round of chemo, and it wouldn't do anything to help with the situation anyway. He recommended that we get Hospice - he said he would recommend that we use inpatient hospice. She really couldn't be moved. After some prompting questions, he said that based on her blood pressure and her ability to breathe on her own, it could happen at any time, but his best guess was 4 days to one week. They will keep her comfortable, make sure she isn't in any pain (which she isn't in right now) and just give her care until she makes the trip to be with her husband again.
There will be no funeral once she passes - neither Don nor Donna wanted a funeral! We will, however, coordinate a date when everyone is back where her cousin will come again, the choir will sing a few songs, and we'll share a few words together. I said this in front of Donna and she smiled. I said, 'Donna, if you are mad, you can blame it on me, and since you'll be right there with God, you can send a little thunder down our way!' She gave a great big smile!
I think she is at peace and now ready.
That's all for today....
((hugs))
Pamela
5/16/26
All -
I wish I had some good news, but today's news is not good. There were all kinds of doctors and health professionals in today, most while Marv and Loydine were there and a few while I was there. It has been determined that Donna has liver cancer that has spread to her other organs and to other parts of her body. There is no coming back from this. Her kidneys have failed, her liver is failing and she has internal bleeding. In fact, it doesn't seem like she has much time left. It sounds like she might have been sick for quite some time, she may have not known there was anything wrong because she's basically not been sick at all her entire life! I spent this afternoon sitting beside her, and other than about 1 minute, she was asleep and unaware the entire time. She doesn't appear to be in any pain or discomfort.
I kept reassuring her that Don would be waiting for her, that she had a good life with him and how loved she has been by so many people. I told her that while we would fumble without her, and I can't right this moment even imagine it without her, but we would all rally together and keep Grand Singers strong and healthy in her name. I told her that so many of you wish you were the ones sitting by her side but that I am representing you in love. She has loved the Grand Singers since she first arrived.
Tough update and I don't expect the next email will be any easier but wanted to update you all.
((hugs))
Pamela
Dear Choir -
I don't have a great email here today. Donna is in need of IMMEDIATE prayers! She is currently in Intensive Care at Del Webb Hospital but PLEASE do not go see her. Here's what I know:
She had her annual physical a couple weeks ago and everything seemed fine except her GFR was significantly lower than it had been the year before. She hadn't been feeling great, so Marv & Loydine Myhre took her to see a kidney doctor on April 20th. The doctor didn't seem to be too concerned. Over the next few days, she was having increased abdominal pains, fatigue and just feeling yucky. They took her to the ER and they admitted her for additional testing and treatment. She was getting worse, but yesterday afternoon seemed to rally and things looked better. They had, however, found a mass on her liver through an MRI. This morning Marv got a call from the hospital saying that things had gotten much worse and that there were significant problems with her major organs and they moved her into Intensive Care. Donna told Marv I could come, so I went right over at about 11 today. I stayed with her for about 4 hours, just sitting by her side. She's having trouble keeping her oxygen level up, so I kept having her do Grand Singers pre-concert breathing and it seemed to help.
She said she is not ready to die yet, so for them to do anything, they have to first put her through dialysis. She's not strong enough to even have a biopsy, so this has to be the first step.
Marv will be keeping me updated, and I'll run up any time he and Loydine are in need of a break or food or if anything changes. I will keep you all updated. Please, do not even think about going to see her - she's pretty adamant about that! I didn't even know she was in the hospital until the call this morning from Marv! I knew she was grieving....remember, she just lost her husband on the 24th of April!
Please, PLEASE pray for her! She's in need of prayers and positive and hopeful thoughts right now more than cards. (She showed me with her hands the stack of cards she received following Don's passing - they all mean so much to her!)
Stay well.
Pamela |