I received this from Duane this afternoon.
Dear Onnalee
On February 14 Donnie will have had five years of cancer treatment. It began about 4AM when I checked on her and she was nearly unconscious. I called 911 and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance. The following day the Doctor told her she had cancer. Donnie decided immediately to go to Mayo Clinic and get the best possible treatment and advice. We got a flight out of Wichita and had to change planes at Minneapolis. When we got to Minneapolis Donnie was too sick to walk. Finally getting across the terminal and on board the airplane, it was midnight and the temperature was several degrees below zero. Nobody should fly in North country in the winter. I had a room booked at a hotel that was connected to Mayo Clinic. Donnie was getting pneumonia. There was no heat in the room!!. At 3Am it was not easy to get a room change, but finally did. The next afternoon Donnie met with the Doctor at Mayo to schedule a biopsy. He immediately arranged with the Hospital ER to have Donnie examined by a MD. The ER MD had her admitted to the hospital and put on antibiotics.The next day I moved to a hotel near the hospital. Two weeks later Donnie met with a couple of Mayo Doctor's. They told her she was overweight, diabetic, had a cancerous tumor in the colon and a cancerous mass in the liver. She could have six months to live! . I rented a car to drive back home.
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Since that discouraging beginning Donnie has been getting all of her treatment and advice from Tammy Walker Cancer Center at Salina, She has been on Chemotherapy with breaks ever since. Between valentines day in 2008 and the 2008 Paradise class reunion Donnie had surgery to remove the colon tumor. It was an emergency situation to have the surgery and she was in the hospital at Salina for three weeks. I never reported those early events on the blog because I didn't have those Fairport friends of Donnie's running shot-gun over me to make sure it was reported!!
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I think the important point for readers on the blog that have cancer, is to get the best advice and treatment available, but humans do not determine life span. Donnie has far exceeded expectation . In this time she celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Five grandchildren have been born with the youngest being twins, born last July 2nd. She especially enjoyed the awesome toddler spirit in our house at Christmas.
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Life span is in God's hands. I recommend to those of you with cancer to get all the prayer partners you can. Live a plentiful life like it is not going to end and if it gets you into trouble make sure it was fun!!!! That's how Donnie is doing it!!!!.
Many thanks,
Duane
We also Praise God for giving her the desire and strength to go through this adventure in her life. As unpleasant and undesirable as it has been, Donnie certainly has been living her life to the fullest. She is amazing!
We also have so much admiration for Duane. He has been beside her all these years with much love, concern, care, support and adoration at all times.
Much love and many prayers for Donnie & Duane.
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Donnie is now on facebook, so I posted this tribute to her and Duane today.
Donnie Miller and her husband Duane Miller are the most admired people of the day.
Donnie has had cancer for 5 years and it has been a giant roller coaster for them. I have never heard them complain, they only rejoice at how appreciative they are for Donnie's life. She lives from day to day not knowing what is in store but that something good is going to happen. They don't sit in gloom and discouragement but in hope and thankfulness for what is happening and what is going to happen. Our Love and our Prayers continue to be with Donnie (Martin) and Duane Miller. They would appreciate your prayers too.
You can read more about her on the Paradise Blog.
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