Donna Fisher - Cancer Surgery

[rgcraig]

For those of you that know Donna Fisher.

4/23/08
Hello, dear friends –

Donna’s surgery began well, but when removing Aviancor she lost a large amount of blood and her blood pressure dropped drastically. She went into cardiac arrest and was given CPR for 15 minutes before she bounced back. Dr. B. was not finished closing off all the blood vessels and the kidney repair, but needed to end the surgery immediately. She was closed up with packing in her abdomen and a urine tube to her skin, with the plan of going back in to finish the job. That will probably happen tomorrow. An enormous tumor was removed intact, with a portion of a right ureter and a vein inside. The vein had been bypassed successfully before the major abdominal incision was made. Her bladder is fine. There was nothing to indicate cancer anyplace else.

Donna is currently in ICU with a myriad of tubes and equipment keeping everything functioning. Her heart is strong and blood pressure is good without any assistance this morning. She is breathing with a ventilator, and receiving lots of fluids, pain meds, and blood. She has not been consciously awake or aware at all yet, although we get a hand squeeze and movement of the head when we girls speak to her. Her brain function has not been able to be assessed yet. The doctor is “cautiously optimistic,” and tells us to pace ourselves for a long haul. She is not out of the woods yet, by any means, and will be in ICU several more days than projected.

We have been overwhelmed by the amazing skill and personal kindness/attention of all the medical staff at OHSU. We’ve been kept well informed and allowed to visit Mom at our own pleasure, night and day. Thank you for the many generous offers of help. Tomorrow’s surgery is critical, so at this point we can’t tell you anything but continued prayer. We’ve got friends around the world doing just that, and for Donna, we say a very inadequate “thank you.”

Susan, Karissa, and Ronna and our families

4/24:

Things are looking much more positive today! Donna’s lifetime of clean living and taking care of herself is saving her life this week.

The second surgery took place this morning and went like clockwork; the packing was removed and the ureter resection was completed. Her intestines were completely intact and undamaged. She came back from surgery looking great, with no heart or blood pressure troubles at all. Her heart has been strong since it was jump-started in surgery on Tuesday, and hasn’t missed a lick since. She’ll remain under sedation until tomorrow sometime, and is still on a ventilator. There are still the normal post-operative concerns and neurological assessment that will be done after the ventilator is removed, so she’s being very closely monitored in ICU. We are very encouraged by her progress.


5/1 Update:

Here’s the Reader’s Digest version of Donna’s life at OHSU:
· New room – 14A12. Finally out of ICU!
· Still making great progress; no major setbacks/complications/infections, etc.
· Quite weak and eating soft food, as well as supplemental tube feeding to boost her calorie intake and strength.
· Some confusion, but it’s getting better. Her doctors feel like this is due to the incredible trauma to her 70-year-old body rather than cardiac/brain related. She’s still a pretty sharp cookie!
· Probably has a week left in the hospital, then to a rehab facility for some PT/OT before moving back home.
For you local friends, this is the visiting situation as outlined by her team:
· Visitors will help Donna become reoriented, so you are welcome to come.
· Two at a time will be plenty; please give Susan a call to let her know when you plan to visit (360.892.0971-home or 360.936.0880-cell).
· Talk about shared memories and things going on in your lives; avoid asking Donna lots of questions. Her confusion about reality fades in and out, so don’t be alarmed if she starts talking about something totally off the wall!
· Step out or just sit without talking if she seems to be getting tired or wants to rest.
· Know that the nurses are our best friends. J They’ve all been wonderful!

There is a phone in her room, but she can’t reach it if she’s by herself. General OHSU number is 503.494.8311.
Our family is an amazing team who know how to pull together in a crisis. We couldn’t do it without each other!
Grace and peace –

Susan, Karissa, and Ronna

[Rhoni]

Wow. I didn't realize all this was going on. I'll have to contact a few more friends to pray. Thank the girls for keeping us updated.

Rhoni

[Kay B]

Is this Bro Donald Fisher's wife ?
I will be praying for this dear lady.
In the 60's a Donald Fisher was pastor/missionary here and built the building here in Hoonah, AK.
We benefit from so many that were here in the work of the Lord and Praise the Lord for their many sacrifices.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by hnhisle

Is this Bro Donald Fisher's wife ?
I will be praying for this dear lady.
In the 60's a Donald Fisher was pastor/missionary here and built the building here in Hoonah, AK.
We benefit from so many that were here in the work of the Lord and Praise the Lord for their many sacrifices.

Yes, they have both done many things for the kingdom. Thank-you for praying for Sis. Fisher.

Blessings, Rhoni

[StillStanding]

Can I get permission to do a JCM Alumni email blast?

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

Can I get permission to do a JCM Alumni email blast?

I can't see Susan minding that at all.

If you felt better - give Susan a call - her phone # is listed above.

[grace_seeker]

Donna Fisher is a fantastic lady! I will never forget those JCM days! I will be praying for her!

[Sherri]

She was my favorite at JCM!!! We just all loved her, but I haven't seen her in years. So sorry that she's been through such an ordeal.

[rgcraig]

JCM Alumni and Friends,

Many of you have emailed me asking for a recent update on Sis. Donna Fisher. Following is an email update from her daughter, Susan.

Thanks, Joel, for passing this along and also for the call. We’ve already heard from several old JCM’ers.

The last three weeks have been pretty traumatic for Mom (and us), to say the least, but she is making phenomenal progress and may leave the hospital this week for a temporary rehab facility. It looks like you don’t have a lot of the email updates before and after the ones you’ve listed below, but the short version is that she’s her old self and the brain scan showed everything completely normal. Her GI system, which has given her the most trouble in recovery, seems to be stabilized, and she’s gaining strength. She went into surgery a mere 117#, but the healthiest 70-year-old they’d ever seen, and after removing an enormous tumor, she’s been very weak. BTW, “Aviancor” is the name the grandkids came up with in their “name the alien that invaded Grandma” contest! Ronna’s seven-year-old, Henry, came up with that. J We’ve decided our family doesn’t do grim very well!

She welcomes calls, cards, etc. It’s been incredible all the old friends we’ve heard from. God has been faithful, and we’ve witnessed several major miracles and multitudes of little ones all along the way. Her doctor’s comment was, ”Who prayed?!” We’re so thankful to have a mom to celebrate Mother’s Day with the past weekend.

Pass this along, if you wish. Again, thank you to everyone for your prayer and support.

Susan – for Karissa and Ronna and our families

OHSU Hospital – 503.494.8311, Room 14A12

[rgcraig]

From: Skip Paynter <skpp1@comcast.net>
To: Skip Paynter <skpp1@comcast.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 1, 2008 9:34:30 PM
Subject: Home, Sweet Home for Donna


This ends the fam's little e-mail update journal . . . from now on it's up to you and Donna to stay in touch! She came home Thursday morning from the rehab facility with great relief to be back in her own familiar space. She's an incredible picture of health and wellness relative to just a week or two ago, able to carry on her daily activities - a bit slower but without difficulty.

Some amazing, count-your-blessings facts: she is taking zero medication, zero tubes or attachments, zero radiation or chemo projected, has taken zero pain meds since two days after surgery, zero internal organ problems, complete and normal brain function, and a strong, healthy heart. Her doctor was delighted this past week to see the progress she's made in such a short time, and projects she'll be back to normal activity levels and driving by midsummer.

Thanks from all of us for every point of contact and prayer. Feel free to stay in touch! (We've attached a photo from Mother's Day in the hospital of Donna and the sisters.) Mom has added her personal note to you below.

With extreme thankfulness for blessings that just don't quit,

Skip & Susan Paynter, Malerie, & David (Vancouver, WA)

Karissa & Gary Hopkins, & Kagen (Vacaville, CA)

Ronna & Eric Russell, Cody, Emily, Jenny, & Henry (Bellingham, WA)

To all my dear, dear friends--

Yes, indeed, I am home! And I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Truly, I can say that your prayers and support have succored me through these difficult days. And the card, letters, phone calls, and emails have added to that.

I am at my own home now, not up to par yet, but making good progress daily. My handwriting is still illegible, so I won't be trying to write just yet, I wanted to be in touch, and let you know the status quo. God has been so very gracious to me and my family.

My love and deep , deep thanks!

Drf