Category: Uncategorized
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Fun times and Pressing on!
The last three months have been very full with lots going on and lots to do. Since the last post in August, the Holland family has been on the move. We’ve had friends and family come to visit and have been able to travel to see family as well. Spending time with some of her…
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Quality Time at Duke & New Schedule
The month of August has been a little challenging to say the least. Danelle was in sort of a Catch-22 and has been trying to navigate the different specialists within the Duke Hospital system. In August, Danelle met with the Kidney Doctor to try to determine why her kidneys were “angry”. As mentioned before, this…
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Round 7 and Roller Coasters
From Danelle: I had been receiving chemo monthly from November of last year through April. I took a break from treatments in May and June, so we could go on a family adventure to Europe. Noah was interning with a church in Florida this summer, so the remaining four of us traveled abroad. We had…
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Round Six – Perseverance
During the previous chemo treatment at Duke Hospital, I think we mentioned that it was a long day (really, dayS). So when April 18th rolled around for the next treatment, it was a welcome change to be able to go to an outpatient facility like the Duke Center at Macon Pond. Her treatment this past…
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Round Five, a long day
This past month has been good for Danelle. It didn’t start off that way. From the last post, her infusion went without any issues, until the very end. We were about to leave and her throat started to feel scratchy and her skin was very flushed with hives starting to form. They gave…
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Third Round, Scans, and Starting Round Four
January marked the third round of Chemo for Danelle and everything went well. She has found a rhythm with the Chemo sessions and has had a great deal of courage through this tough procedure. Afterwards, Danelle has had some side effects from the treatment. Individually, they are not severe. But adding them all together can…
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Second Round – Success
I know that this post comes a little late. Some of that has to do with the Holidays. It was great to get together with family and enjoy the Christmas and New Year season. The second round of chemo was December 27th. Danelle (jokingly) said it was the best time of her life. Really, it…
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First round went well
Danelle went for her first chemo treatment on Friday Nov 22nd. The process went well and she had no complications. Going back to the same room, the same chairs, and the same procedures was a little tough. But the benefit was that it was not some new, intimidating experience that she hadn’t seen before. The…
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The Fight Continues…
I often wondered what it would be like to hear the words ‘Your cancer is back,’ when I finished treatment in May of 2023. I went to the ER this past October, thinking I had a kidney stone, but instead I heard the words I had hoped to never hear again. I think the pain…
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Your scans look fantastic!!!!
The words every cancer patient wants to hear at follow up visits. August 25th was my first 3 month follow up since ending treatment in May. The doctor said that everything was looking good, and we would see her back in another 3 months. It has been an interesting past 3 months learning what living…
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And the scans show…..
….no more active disease! This news was met with tears of joy this morning. I am thankful for a break from chemo and all that goes along with it. I am thankful for the chance to go to KY this weekend to see family and friends I have not seen in several years. I am…
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Checking In
The last few weeks have been really enjoyable for our family. We were able to spend some time away for the weekend earlier in the month for Danelle’s Birthday, for Mother’s day, and for LK’s birthday (a little late). The boys were also able to take trips and enjoy time with some friends. Today, Danelle…
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Ringing Cancer’s Bell
Friday was a great day. This girl toughed out her last scheduled chemo session. She was a little tired from a hard day of infusions, but she is very happy to have reached this milestone. We know that life has many twists and turns, and that the road ahead is always uncertain. But Friday, May…
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Fighting Hard
Today is a big day for Danelle. If all goes according to the doctor’s plan, today should be her last round of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy has been effective in reducing the cancer. While the surgery got rid of the largest concentration of the cancer, the chemo has continued to reduce what remains. To give an…
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Staying on the offensive…
It’s been about three weeks since our last update. Following the last treatment, Danelle has fell right back into her typical resourceful and nurturing role in our house. The removal of the tumor has literally (and figuratively) been a weight that has been lifted. Life since the last chemotherapy session has been very full. The…
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Eternal Optimism
It’s been a little over two weeks since the surgery. Danelle has been resting in a recliner to make sure there’s no stress on her abdomen. Over time she has been eating more, and more normal foods. With each day she seems to be moving around better and recently has even driven. On Friday (March…
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Home Again
Hello Friends and Prayer Warriors! Quick update here a day late: Danelle is home with her family! She made it home yesterday afternoon and is glad to be with her family while she recovers. One of these days I’m going to get on here and share all the ways I’ve seen God moving in the…
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Cancer – TKO!
God is good. The surgery was a great success. Both surgeons that were a part of the procedure were very happy with how things went. The chemo had eaten away even more of the cancer than they thought. The main tumor was still there, but what had spread to other areas was much less defined…
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It’s Go Time….
It’s been 14 weeks since we first came to Duke. We initially thought that this cancer was going to be removed right away. But, the folks here at Duke helped us understand that it is ok to wait and shrinking this stuff down is the best way. Well, after weeks of working to shrink this…
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Getting Ready…
On the 3rd of Feb, Danelle had another appointment for chemotherapy infusion. During the visit with the doctors/nurses, they reiterated that the chemo had been doing a great job at reducing the cancer, and the infusion for that day should help even more. At the time, they were not sure if yet another infusion was…
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It’s hard to make a Cancer Surgeon happy…
As was mentioned in the previous post, today was scan day. The appointment was in the morning and was somewhat uneventful. The scan did not take long and the bloodwork was quick as well. Later in the day, the nurse called and told us to prepare for chemotherapy on Friday. This came with mixed emotions…
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From Danelle…
It’s scan week This last round of chemo was the easiest so far. Minimal physical side effects, and I was feeling back to myself about a week later. I had my sweet friend Holly from college come up for the week, and she was a wonderful nurse, cook and chauffeur for the week. We went…
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Round Three – Playing the Long Game
Friday’s schedule was a late start. Arrived for bloodwork around 10:30am and meeting with Nurse/PA/Doctor. Not sure Danelle wants to have that kind of schedule again. Our meeting with the staff went well. They were very pleased that she was feeling so much better. Her bloodwork looked good for proceeding on to Chemotherapy. And they…
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Happy New Year!
The week after the treatment started out similar to the last one. Danelle was hoping that the Christmas Holidays would happen before she became tired when the chemo kicked in. She is a great planner and we were able to have an enjoyable Christmas with family. Afterwards, the fatigue set in and she rested for…
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Round 2 – Let’s Gooooo!!!!
When Danelle arrived this morning, she had her blood drawn and vitals taken, and was ready to see the PA and doctor. Overall, the visits were good. They were pleased that she had been feeling better and that they were hopeful that the chemotherapy was making a positive impact. Her blood tests were good, so…
Danelle Fights Cancer 