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| | From:  Monette922 (Original Message) | Sent: 6/20/2006 6:04 AM |
Some of you may not know about Don Dale. He was a Senior in high school when I was a Freshman. (Back in the early 50's.) He loved the trombone and played in the band. He was very tall and well built. Don is 75 now and has emphysema. Yes, he is a "smoker". He and his family lived in Pascagoula, Mississippi when Hurricane Katrina hit and they lost nearly everything they had including clothes, computer, his treasured trombone and so much more. They had to stay in a dumpy motel room with only one bed for 8 months. Don slept in a chair and walked back and forth to a nearby cafe to get all their meals and take them back to the motel. In January, another high school friend, Zach, called me and asked if I would meet him and another friend, Odell, in Coushatta, Louisiana and help find a place for Don and his family there near his wife's sister so I did. We looked at several places but nothing suitable. I left coming home and Zach and Odell stopped to visit Don's sister-in-law. She told them about some friends of hers who were moving soon and they had a lovely home they were going to sell. It took awhile but eventually Zach and Don got all the technicalities worked out and Don bought the house sight unseen! They finally got moved in after Easter. Don's wife Sandy is not in good shape mentally or physically and their 40-something daughter, Shannon, is bedridden and has many problems requiring constant care. On top of that, their son was murdered just 2 years ago this month. Can you imagine going through all that? Well, guess what has happened now? Don found out last week that he has lung cancer! He was put in the hospital for some tests and he weighed only 119 pounds! He is very worried about what will happen to Sandy and Shannon. He has always been right there to care for them. My heart just breaks for him so I hope you will keep Don, Sandy and Shannon in your prayers. Thank you and may God richly bless you. |
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| | | From: Kat | Sent: 6/27/2006 6:55 PM |
Monette, have you called the 700 Club? They are so wonderful in lifting people up in prayere. Their number is; 1-800-759-0700. I will pray for them too. Kat. |
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No Kat, I hadn't thought of calling the 700 Club. I'll do that. Thank you for posting their number. I've been so concerned about Don and his wife and daughter. It's really a bad situation. Thanks to all who are praying for them.   |
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This was posted on Don's message board on July 1, 2006 ... Here I am with the latest info. And there will probably be little more upcoming.
Tuesday last I spent the day haveing various kinds of scans ... PETscan, MRI, CATscan. My wonderful nephew drove from Shreveport to Coushatta to get me and take me back to S/port for the scans. Then Friday (yesterday) he again drove from Sport to get me to go to Natchitoches for a consult with the oncologist. First, I have dropped my weight to 114, with my "normal" being about 220. The results of the scans were not good. Massive cancer in the ight light with lymph node involvement. My physical condition precludes any surgery ...lung removal ... and radiation. So they will begin mild chemo next Thursday in attempt to shrink the cancer but it is only a holding action to put off the end for awhile. But do not despair. I know how things end and rest calmy in the loving arms of THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The doctor would not let me return home but wanted to put me in the hospital. My nephew ... BUTCH ... stood up and said NO ... aint' gonna happen. I'm taking him home with me. Butch's wife, Regina, is a RN who has retired and starting yesterday is handling the feeding tube, etc. very well. Yesterday I could not walk more thn 3 steps without feeling faint. After her adminstering several cans thru the feeding tube in my stomach and a midnite dinner of Pizza!!! and lunch today of CHINESE!!! YEH! I was able to walk by myself to the computer room. God had a place for me setup before I came from Katrina. Can't beat that with a stick. So ... I'm in Shreveport and last night I had the first peaceful, deep restful sleep in many month. Home Health Care had oxygen set up here befroe Butch & I arrived so everything will be great.
Please remember me, Sandy, Shannon, Butch & Regina in your prayers.
Love to you all,
Bubba/dip/Don |
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| | | From: Kat | Sent: 7/9/2006 2:00 AM |
Thanks for the update. Will keep them in my prayers. |
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| Another Update from Don himself! Donald's message. They gave me my first chemo yesterday (Thursday). It went well and took about 1.5 hours. I will go once a wwek for 3 weeks, skip a week and then another 3 weeks, etc. Before the treatment Mike, the nephew, and I spent some time with the doc and saw the cat scan showing the big black thing. Dr. Dhwan spoke to us for about 20 minutes, staring at me pretty much the whole time. He said he could not imagine that I would be so strong after seeing me so weak last Friday. While I was getting the treatiment Mike spoke to him outside and asked him his prognosis. Dr. Dhwan said last Friday he would have given the "stock" time, for the kind of cancer, as about 9 months tops. Mike said he would have guessed about 2 weeks and Dr. Dhwan said that would have been realistic. But now, seing my recovery and strength after this short while all bets are off and he will have to monitor it week by week before giving a prognosis. He told Mike he had never seen this before and that I was a "winner" and sometihng going that he didn't understand. And .. I have the Great Physician on my side. How's that for a majority??? 
I am so thankful, too, for Mike and Regina, taking me in and riding herd on my care ... so patient and loving.. YES!
Glory to God! Don, may God continue to bless you and your family and may Jesus always walk beside you and give you strength and complete healing. Love, Monette922 |
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| | | From: Kat | Sent: 7/10/2006 5:29 PM |
Yes, Praise the Lord! Thanks-you Jesus. you can feel the Holy Spirit moving. Will keep the prayers going Don't way.  |
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 Don's health is failing fast. He has been taken to the hospital twice this past week. I'm not sure, but I think it was to have his lungs drained of fluid. His kidneys are now affected too. He has already made all of his final arrangements and called and talked to all his loved ones. A final "get-together" to honor Don was being planned for Oct. 28 but, regretfully, has been canceled. I am deeply sad about Don but so thankful that he has a deep and strong faith and is prepared to meet his Lord and Saviour. He has been through so much and still exhibits strength and courage in his final days. I truly admire him. Please remember Don and his family in your prayers. Thank you. This brings back a lot of memories of my dad and my husband when they both died with cancer in 2003. It is so heartbreaking. I hope I can be strong in the days ahead. |
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 In Memory of Donald Dale A Hero Has Passed By
Heroes come in many shapes and sizes. He was a hero to his family sacrificing his retirement years to the care of his family at home. Message boards were his passport to his many friends that loved him.
I received this message tonight from his friend Reverend Tom Smith of Coushatta who spent so much time and effort getting the Dale family safely settled in Coushatta after their terrible Katrina experience. I know he will continue to assist Donald's family in the future. Zach
Good evening, Zach:
Didn't know if anyone had called you or not, but Donald passed away early this evening. I'd been in to see him right before lunch today and he was laboring to breathe, but was coherent enough to wake up and talk with me
a bit. Even had prayer with him and told him that I loved him and he said he loved me too. Anyway, don't know any other details right now, but thought you'd like to know. Thanks so much for all you've done in helping them.
I'm in revival in Shreveport [Louisiana] through tomorrow night & then I'll be touching base with Sandy [Donald's wife] on Thursday morning.
I still hope to get to meet you one of these days. Just know we love you and thank the Lord for all you've done to help this dear family. God bless you, Zach.
In Jesus' Precious Love,
Bro. Tom |
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