Prayer Warriors Needed
October 3rd: Please see newest blog entry, Prayer Warrior Update, for the latest information.
Below, you’ll find the piece on the Foss’ that aired during 6 News at 7:00.
http://rtv6blogs.com/rtv6_toddandtrisha/files/2008/09/DonFossPKG.flvDON’S STORY
If you’re the type who prays, or believes in sending good “thoughts and energy” someone’s way, there’s a family close to our hearts here at RTV6 who could use all they can get right now.
In case you haven’t been following this situation until now, our production photographer and editor Don Foss is in the middle of a serious fight with colorectal cancer. Thankfully Don and his wife Susan have 2 great kids, and lots and lots of family and friends supporting them. He’s one of the nicest people you could possibly ask to work with, the kind of person that rarely shows up to work without a smile on his face and something positive to say. Even in his hospital room when Todd and I visited, he was thinking positively, and cracking jokes with us. I was encouraged by Don’s and Susan’s attitude and strength.
In watching this amazing family go through such a challenge, my own small struggles seem much less stressful to me now, and my family even more precious.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If any of you have positive and encouraging messages to share, please do so here. The Foss’s are checking regularly and are very encouraged by all the uplifting messages! Many, many thanks to all of you who have already written in. Specifically, the family is also asking for people to pray at 12:35pm each day.
PLEASE GET CHECKED!!!
This is Don’s #1 message to everyone. Colonoscopies are reccommended for everyone 50 and over. He is 39, but has a family history, and has now learned he should have been checked earlier.
His doctor, Dr. Bhatia with Community North, says if you notice ANY blood in your stools - do NOT ignore it, get checked. He says many curable cancers are missed because people dismiss it or chalk it up to something relatively harmless like hemmorhoids.
Here’s a great link to info from the American Cancer Society on the other symptoms that may be warning signs of colorectal cancer:
Colorectal Cancer - Early Detection
KEEP THE FAITH
It’s clear that Don and Susan have found a tremendous amount of strength in their faith. They say they can feel your prayers, and that at a few moments they’ve actually felt like someone is standing next to them with a comforting hand on their shoulders. The outpouring they’ve received has also shown them a side of humankind very few of us get to see. Don and Susan say this has been a true gift.
I also consider their story a true gift. Thanks, you two, for giving me the privilege of sharing your story. Keep up the fight!
Trish
Thank you for your continued support.
Susan Foss
Trisha,
Don’s family is in my prayers. There’s nothing more upsetting than battling cancer. We have to remain optomistic throughout life’s challenges and how we deal with them.(that was also the sermon from my church today too)
I thought that I would share my own struggles. Just before I lost my mother back in 2006, she said that we have to enjoy life’s pleasures and that we shouldn’t mourn too long of loss and heartache. She simply put it asn this quote, ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning.’ Those were her last words to me. (She went into a diabetic coma that night and passed on) After she died, I remember crying for 3 days non stop, not interested in high school graduation, prom and college, I also blamed myself for unplugging her life support, but her words kept playing through my head and soon, I got through those emotions and I know that she lives in spirit. She always loved giving back and now I’ve took on that part as I volunteer with foster care agencies (I was a former foster youth), taking part in 500 Festival activities, and getting involved in college and church activites too. I learned how to apprciate life and not take it for granted because tomorrow may not be promised.
Blessings to you.
Don Your in my prayers. Thanks for all you do at RTV6! Without people like you WRTV wound’t be the success it is today! I will pray for you and your family at 12:35pm. God Bless You, and be sure stay rested while the rest of us pray you!
You’ve helped deliver a tremendous newscast for our enjoyment and information.
Thanks You so Much!
-Cameron
Thank you, Renee.
I certainly prefer to believe that every tragic and difficult situation has some kind of positive and important impact, even if it isn’t apparent at the time. What you’re doing by carrying on your mother’s spirit of caring and generosity is wonderful.
Thanks for sharing your story and your prayers!
Trish
Don and his family are in my prayers. Prayers do work & I will lift him up every day at 12:15. Every day we have with our loved ones is an extreme blessing from above.
I am with you on cancer being wiped outin our lifetime! God bless you for doing this for Don. With friends like you, that is half the battle for him & his loved ones!
Hi Todd & Trisha,
Thank you for supporting Don & Susan.
Virtual Hugs,
Susan’s Little Sister, Melissa
Theresa and Cameron,
Thank you, thank you. I know Don and his family are reading this and really appreciate your caring. He is back in the hospital with fever and doctors are deciding about the next round of chemo.
Keep up the positive thoughts and prayers!
Trisha
Hey this is the guy from Chad’s little rock band. I just wanted to let you know that your in my thoughts and prayers. Strength, Love and Peace Don.
-c
Thank you for this great medium for us to shower Don with our love. He is a great inspiration to us everyday and we keep on praying. Love you, Don.
One of your puppet buddies.
Don is keeping the faith and fighting the fight. Please keep praying the Prayer Warriors Unite at 12:35pm daily. Please also pray for Nick, Tim B and David three other individuals all battling cancer. Please keep Tina in your prayers as well as she begins college after returning later in life. Please pray for Don’s medical team, we know they are doing their best and working overtime to help Don. We just love our Chemo Doctor who has helped make this journey easier for us and his Nurse Practioner with her famous pouty smile that makes Don’s day. Don is still in the hospital fighting the fight. We pray for healing for Don and these other men but most of all God’s will. Thanks for everyone’s support. We love to read the comments. Thanks Trisha for creating this for Don.
I am so glad to hear so many encouraging words here for you, Susan and Don.
I will keep updates coming on this page even as we add new blog entries. I am also really looking forward to the Sept 5th (next Friday night) TV special “Stand Up to Cancer” airing on ABC, CBS, and NBC. I hope it has incredible results in raising money and awareness to help researchers unlock cures!
Trish
Dont Give up and i am Praying for you and your family. I Hope the Doctors someday find the Cure and save these Lives of people fighting Cancer and i hope we find a cure and help people Live longer and Happier Lives I am Praying for you and Be strong and Possitive.
Hi Don and Susan,
I was just asking Paul for an update on you a couple of nights ago.
As always, you and your family are in my prayers each day.
Be strong, and know that God will take care of you!
We all hope to see you around the station again soon.
Thank you Trisha for creating this for my little brother I still call “Donnie”. He means the world to me and our family!! He is the nicest and funniest person you could ever meet. He brings so much joy to our hearts. We believe in the power of prayer and a BIG THANK YOU to Susan for taking such great care of her husband and to the Prayer Warriors!!!! Sincerly, Jan Foss Vogt
Our daughter, Jennifer, works at WRTV and told us about Don. Our prayers are with your family during this difficult time. As a believer, we have the GREATEST PHYSICIAN in control of the situation. Our prayer is that God will heal the cancer, but we never know His reasons, but just trust that He is in control. God Bless your family as you go through this stressful time.
Brett & Marcia Riggs
Granger, In.
Thank you for the update, even though the news isn’t the good news we all had hoped (yet) I’m firmly believing that God’d gonna do great wonders to Don and his family. Every day ay 12:35, I’ve been praying and listening to a song called ‘Optomistic,’ by one of my all time favorite groups, Sounds of Blackness. We all just ‘gotta keep our head to the sky,’ because God is gonna bless and do something big.
God Bless Everybody!!!!
Correction to my prior note Ray B. not Tim B. praying for cancer.
Please also pray for our Medical team Dr. Bhatia and Trica Yoder have been such a huge blessing to us through this journey as have Dr. Narayanan and Dr Weed and their staff as well as the nursing staff at Community North and Hendricks ER. We have been truly blessed through since 4/22/2008 on this journey by the kindness of others.
Don and I are taking it one day at a time and placing our trust in God and God’s will. God has provided from the beginning when Don learned of the rectal cancer due to a Mission trip to Mexico with our Puppet Team and many steps through this path has shown God’s hand guiding the way. Two of the individuals from the 19 who went on the Mission trip to Mexico were quickly diagnosed after the trip, not because of Mexico, but because of the response Mexico has on bowel movements. This was a blessing the other gentleme had surgery and is back to work with no chemo or radiation his was caught very early thanks to the Mexico trip. Prevention and early detection is key this is one way we hope this journey will help others. Thanks for everyone’s prayers - we will be praying at 12:35pm.
This is such an awesome blog! Scott and I have really enjoyed reading it. Thanks Trisha for posting it. We are praying everyday, and we are so thankful to have people like Don and Susan in our lives. They are usually the ones to come to the rescue when others are in need of prayers and comfort, it’s our turn now and we won’t let you down.
I want to thank everyone for all the prayers For Don and Susan and their entire family. I have known Don nearly all my life. He is such a great friend whom I would do anyting for and I look forward to getting out on a bike ride with him again. “Bike Left!” (private joke)
Don and Susan, you are in mine and Keri’s prayers daily and we want to help in any way that we can. Call us anytime even for the smallest details. I beleive that God is watching over you through all of this and he has a plan for your lives.
I love you guys and look forward to many more years as friends.
God Bless You
Susan and Don,I will be praying for you and your family. I am a 15 year survivor of ovarian sarcoma. My doctors said I had about 6 months to live, but God had other plans. He is so good. You are so blessed to have family and friends to help you through this trial. My family and I received so much help from our family, our Church family, and our co-workers. I believe we would have had a much different outcome without them. They had people all over the country praying for us. When my faith was weak, I could count on the faith of someone else to lift me up. 1993 was a very difficult year for our family, but we have such precious memories of the blessings we received that year.
May the Lord bless you.
Hi Uncle Donnie!!! Hang in there you have hundreds of people praying for you….
love you,
Randa
Thank you for everyone’s prayers and support. Today was a day of ups and downs just a lot going on. Sometimes the medical world can be a lot of hurry up and wait as one nurse mentioned today. We are working on making sure everything is in place for Don to go home once the doctor agrees.
We appreciate all the support in every way everyone has done especially the Prayer Warriors.
Thanks Dave S. for leading us in our 12:35pm prayer today and Tim from PCC stopped by later to pray with us. Please pray for Tim from PCC, his Mother in Law Eddie who is also fighting cancer.
Don, you are an inspiration. Always positive, trusting in God’s will even when it doesn’t seem fair. Keep the faith.
Susan, your love and strength are amazing. It’s comforting to me to know that you are there for Don.
For anyone reading this that doesn’t personally know this special family…trust me, they deserve your prayer support.
Thank you, God, for the Foss family.
Hi Don and Trisha, My name is Steve Smith. I live in Salem near Jan and Randy Vogt. I’ve know Donnie’s family forever. A great bunch of people. One of my best friends in life was Donnie’s brother Joe. We taught at Altamont Grade School years ago. Having met Donnie after Joe’s funeral, I enjoyed our talk as I do with Don and Norma at Wendy’s Rest. on Sundays. You’ve all been in our prayers for a long time now. Y’all hang in there and know that a lot of people are praying hard. You are on a lot of prayer chains and just trust that God is in charge and He hears our prayers and our thoughts. It says in Deut. 29-29 that,”God knows the secret things…” All of the cancers and illnesses people have is a mystery to us, but HE knows and He loves and HE heals. Put your trust in HIM and He will be with you. I am passing the words to my friends and prayer warriors about Donnie’s plight. Just trust…
Thank you for everyone’s prayers. We will be staying a few more days at the Community North room away from home. We agreed with the doctor this is the place to be in FIGHT MODE right now. We are working hard to surround ourselves with individuals who realize Don is in FIGHT MODE. We want to focus on those PRAYERS AND PRAYER WARRIORS and living and healing and GOD’s PLAN. Please do not send emails or come to see us if you do not have the FIGHT mode mentality right now - a positive attitude means so much in this journey as well as our daily time in prayer, our Faith, family and friends and knowing God’s word.
Prayer warriors, you are awesome!! Thanks so very much to everyone who has left wonderful messages for Don and his family. As Susan says, he is fighting hard and needs lots of encouraging words and prayers.
We miss you at work, Don - stay strong for us, okay? (and eat plenty of cheeseburgers if they’ll let you)
Hugs,
Trisha
Don & Family,
We miss you Don at the station. Keep doing what the doctors say and listen to your wife!!!! We are all praying for you. You are actively in our churches prayers also.
Love,
Shea, Robin, Vanna, Spencer, & Gracie
Hi, Donnie -
“Pammie Sue”, from Salem, here - an old high school friend of Jannie’s. She and I also worked together at the swimming pool, and I have very fond memories of her bringing you to the pool for a swim on her days off when you were little. You always brought smiles to our faces when you were a little tyke, and you still do as a grown man. I don’t think I’ve met a nicer guy - well, maybe with the exception of your Dad (talk about a chip off the old block). So, you have a special place in my heart.
You have a lot of people praying for you, and God has put you in the hearts of many. You are deep in my heart. I watch my e-mails daily, waiting for updates from Jannie. Although I might not always hit the 12:35 mark, I find myself praying for you several times a day. Trust in the Lord and stand strong in the power of His might. You have many people standing with you.
Over the years I have seen several instances of very serious health situations turn around because many people were praying and trusting the Lord to answer. In some cases the doctors and nurses actually told the person that we had been praying for that their healing was a miracle. In the Bible Jesus healed everyone who asked for healing - saying, “according to your faith, so be it”. A large portion of His ministry was teaching and explaining the Word of God to the people, and the other portion of His ministry was healing and delivering the people. He said that He only did and said what God the Father told Him to do and say; and, He sent His disciples out to heal the sick. Our faith must be founded upon what He says and shows us in His Word; and, His actions and his words show us that the will of Jesus and the will of God the Father is to bring healing to His people. He asks us to trust Him when we pray; so, I am expecting to see positive changes in your health. Love you, Donnie!
Susan, you don’t know how much we appreciate your updates. Jannie forwards them to me, and I forward them to the friends that I believe will pray. And, I know that at the very least some of them have been forwarding them on to their friends and have been asking their churches, prayer groups and bible studies to pray for Don. Thanks for keeping us notified. Know that we are also praying for you and the rest of the Foss family.
Todd and Trisha, it is very evident that you guys love Donnie very much. Of course, as you know, that is very easy to do! Thank you so much for notifying your viewers of Donnie’s situation, for putting out the word for prayer and for setting up this blog. Hope you don’t mind, but I “stole” the photo of Donnie off of your website, and am now using it as my Facebook profile picture as a reminder to my Facebook friends to keep Donnie up in prayer.
With my love and prayers - Pam Harrington
Thank you for everyone’s kind words, emails, cards and encouragement. Your encouragment continues to feed our positive attitude and continues to encourage Don to fight. Don and I know God’s plan will be evident. Don continues to pray for the Super Size effect of the chemo medication on the tumors.
We are blessed to know so many Christians sharing their faith, positive attitude, and willingness to help in many ways. Thanks to Grace Trahan and WRTV6 for organizing their own blood drive this week at the station. We encourage others to donate blood at a location near you and we encourage each of you to watch STANDUP2CANCER 9/5 on ABC.
Pam - Of course we don’t mind your using that great photo of Don, especially if it reminds others to keep him and Susan in their thoughts and prayers. You are right - it’s hard not to love a guy so positive and generous. I was very happy today to see his smiling face today, and see how much care and compassion has been heaped upon him and his family. We’re all better for knowing people like them!
Trisha
Congrats on the successful blood drive at WRTV6 today. THANK YOU Grace for coordinating this.
Thank you Trisha for all your work on Cancer awareness I realize yesterday was a long day for you, we can’t wait to see this on the air Friday between 8-9 pm Indiana time. I have been told this will get posted to the website http://www.TheIndyChannel.com and the blog here (THANKS SETH).
Thank you for everyone’s prayers and support. We have felt the presence of those prayers and we have seen all the support thank you. We are amazed with all the outpouring of support from even a little Church in another state, family, neightbors, co-workers, strangers, or friends of friends and friends of family. Thank you to each one of you for supporting us in this journey.
The saying about it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a community to help a person on the journey of cancer. THANK YOU
Especially thank you to some of our nurses and staff at the hospital and supervisors and such who have worked to make this journey a little easier. They even provided a White Grape Juice chilled with chilled glass glasses and a cake last night for our Anniversary. THANKS that was a bright spot in our day.
Thanks Dr. Bhatia, Dr. Narayanan and Dr. Weed and all of Don’s medical team who have worked over and above to help Don on this journey. We knew early on this was an aggressive cancer and the doctors have worked very hard to quickly implement any and all treatments needed. Thank you. I know their office staffs worked very hard to make all this happen as well.
Don really recommends Dr. Narayanan for colonoscopies for those of you who have asked.
We are home at last 9/4 around 5:30pm we made it home from a long inpatient stay.
At this time the plan of action is to have chemo next Monday. We are working hard for Don’s appetite to increase and his endurance to increase. His blood counts were better 9/4 than they had been for several days some numbers are still low, although high enough for him to go home and plan the next chemo treatment.
Thanks for everyone’s support we have received a lot of cards, emails, gift cards, groceries and a lot of help. THANKS TO EVERYONE.
Thanks to Plainfield Christian Church Generations class for your generous card, food and your help and your friends who have also sent cards and gas cards and such. THANK YOU
Susan, Don & Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. You are two of the most inspiring people we know and we love you very much! Keep the faith and know that your friends are praying for you. If there is anything we can do for you or you need a listening ear, we are just a phone call away.
Emily says to tell the kids hello!
Love ya! Jennifer J. (one of your Puppet buddies)
Although I do not know Don as well as most of you, I do know that Don has a great advocate and partner in Susan! I have prayed for the Foss family since the very first email. I have encouraged friends, friends and co workers to continue to pray for Don and his family as well.
“If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” Anon
Hey Guys ~
You have always been in my prayers, I am making sure to hit the kneelers in church a bit longer each week for you. I know you have the fight in you - you have to to survive the heat we did in band camp :oD Loved seeing you guys on the web. What a wonderful family !! Love Tric
To Todd & Trisha -
Thanks for helping out a fellow Friend / Co-worker / Christian / Cancer fighter / Family Man /Husband. You are doing what needs to be done - waking everyone up to the fact no one is imune to getting cancer. Pay attetntion to your body - it tells you more than you think. You are helping Don with his life as well as saving others. God Bless !
Tricia
Don and Susan and kids,
We watched your story tonight and we want you to know that we think about you and pray about you every day. Art saw himself in one of the pictures and he felt so blessed (we both do) that we were with you on the mission trip. As of now, Art is cancer-free and he is so grateful that he had the colonoscopy done. It saved his life. Your faith in God on this journey has been an inspiration to us. We KNOW that God can heal.
God is an awesome God and He hears your prayers and holds you in the palm of His hand. We hope to see the whole family back in puppets soon.
Hello Don,
It’s Beverly Piazza. In the 6 yrs I worked @RTV I always enjoyed chatting with you. As you know, we never know what’s around that corner. I know you have all you need which are: faith, support, love, good medical and THE FIGHT! I am praying for you Don and your family. I know you are a fighter.
Bevery
Thank you for all the blogs, emails, cards and support. We appreciate how beautifully Trisha and WRTV6 passed on Don’s journey with Cancer. For those looking for an update. Today is Saturday Don’s breathing is a little harder, he is still very fatigued.
We have added some medical equipment to help him get around and navigate his upstairs apartment. We have turned our master bedroom into a self sufficient apartment with fridge, microwave, bed, couch, Laz-y-boy recliner (thanks Godby Furniture for your help), master bathroom, food, medical supplies and more. Although Don would like to be downstairs visiting he is being a good patient and tolerating being confined to the upstairs for now.
Don has been enjoying his parents and sister visiting and helping out the last few days.
Don is resting up and working to regain strength so he will have his chemo on Monday FOLFIRI with Avastin. We appreciate all the hard work from Dr. Bhatia and the medical teams.
Darrell (Don’s big brother) and I were so moved by the rtv6 video for StandUp2Cancer. We want to thank Todd and Trisha and all the other Channel 6 folks who made this inspiring piece possible . . . and for all their other kindnesses to Don and Susan, as well. Distance has meant that we have not spent as much time as we would like in Indianapolis the past six months. It is wonderful to know that they and the kids have such a devoted extended family to help them in their time of need.
Don and Susan, you are continually in our prayers and thoughts, and we will see you again very soon! Until then, just know we are sending you oceans of loving, healing energy.
Dear Don and Susan,
I saw the story on Channel 6 last night and want to thank you for sharing your story to help others. I also want to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. As a cancer survivor I know that prayers do work! Also, I want to tell you that all your friends at Autism Advocates are praying for you and will be thinking of you next Saturday at the Answers for Autism Walk. We will always be greatful for all the help that you gave us in the past and hopefully you will beat this and will be back to help us again next year. Keep fighting!
Patty
Hi Don and Susan,
I just heard from Patty about your fight. I missed last night’s broadcast but just watched your story. You both told it beautifully and no doubt will save lives from the telling. I am praying for you and know that God will embrace you all through this. Keep up the fight, Don! You have more prayer warriors everyday!
Dawn
Thank you so much for this wonderful blog! It’s great to see how much support my Uncle is getting from his work family and friends. Thank you for posting the video clip for those of us who are not in the area.
Donnie and Susan, it was great to get to visit with you both and to see Megan and Zach. I wish I was closer so I could visit more often. You both are an amazing inspiration and my heroes. Love ya, Candice
Regarding the interview… WOW. It’s absolutely beautiful. I want a copy on DVD for our “photo
album”. Both Don and Susan’s faith and attitudes are inspiring. I’m lucky to be their little sis.
Thank you for supporting their story and helping them spread the word, a true mission they feel God has given them.
Blessings,
Melissa
Hang in there, Uncle Donnie! Lynn and the kids send their love and thoughts. We’ll be praying for you.
I LOVE YOU!
Don and Susan,
I heard about your story through Teresa Wilson. I don’t know if you remember me from high school band… (Oh, those were the days!) Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Take care and God Bless!
Dawn
Don is very weak. Please pray for the doctor’s appointment Monday that he is able to receive his chemo and that God’s healing touch will make the chemo substantially more effective.
We are fortunate to be able to spend this time together. Megan watched a movie with Don this weekend and then Megan and I made some bracelets in the master bedroom while Don dozed on and off and made comments. Megan with with Grandma Gloria to pick out some long sleeve school shirts today.
Zach read the funnies next to Don this morning and watched racing on TV while Don dozed on and off. Zach went with Grandpa John to pick out an algae eater for his fish tank then was invited to go with the Royers to an apple orchard to get apples and raspberries which are very good.
Thanks for everyone’s help and support we feel everyone’s support and appreciate all the great blogs and emails.
Don is not able to make phone calls at this time, his voice is very faint even I had a hard time hearing him right beside him today, please just blog or email.
God Bless each and every one of your for supporting us during this time. Please let us know how we can pray for you and your family.
We truly believe in “Paying it Forward” I believe that is the correct title of the movie and a concept we believe in.
Don, Susan and family: You are all in our thoughts and prayers. I pray that Don will be able to have his treatment tomorrow.
Sheila
Don and Susan:
Your story was so moving. You are so inspiring to us all and we thank you for being so open. Keep up the fight. Loved the shirt, Don.
Love, Linda C.
Don:
I just wanted to send a note to let you know that I have been sending up lots of prayers for you and your family. I work with Susan’s Aunt Nancy and she shares with me the daily updates that Susan sends. I think that it is awesome that they showed your story on tv and that you and Susan were able to share what part your strong faith plays in your lives. I will continue to pray for you. Blessings, Terri Minick
A miracle or blessing whichever - we are pleased to announce DON IS GETTING HIS CHEMO TODAY. This is a huge praise.
The next two weeks are critical and each day is very important to control side effects and allow the chemo to work. We pray the chemo effects will be super sized and work quickly and be very effective if this is God’s will.
Thanks for all the blogs, emails and comments we appreciate your support. Please know God is giving Don the strength to fight on this journey and helping him along the way. We said our 12:35pm prayer today with some medicines going into the IV prior to the heavy hitter medications.
Thanks again for your continued support.
Please keep Emily in your prayers as she is competing at the Paralympics today in Beijing (Kurt’s daughter from WRTV6).
Thanks to all of those helping with Don’s medical care at Dr. Bhatia’s office and Community North and those that helped before.
I was just surfing the website and watched the broadcast about Don and his family. I don’t know you all, but I do know and serve a God who is more than ABLE to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or even think. He is a healer. Continue to speak healing over yourself (Don) and over your husband. By FAITH, believe that he is healed. Also, I pray for Susan’s strength as a wife and a mother during this time. I will be standing by you, by faith, every day in prayer at 12:35 p.m.
Thanks for everyone’s support and comments.
I can’t count how many times I have watched the interview of Don I am very impressed with how this was put together, thanks WRTV6 and Trisha. Don and I get positive comments every day from individuals offline from the blog and in person Thanks.
Don is at home, he has 4 days of trips across town for treatments this week. He has some swelling issues we are working through this week. Only some nausea from the Chemo not too bad, the blurry vision was frustrating for him the first day but has resolved since then. He still has a lot of fatigue but woke up in a wonderful mood this morning this was an answered prayer. Getting chemo on Monday was an answered prayer.
We continue to pray at 12:35pm daily and if Don is asleep I pray for both of us.
We continue to be blessed by Angels on Earth as we go through this journey today’s appointment everyone really worked hard to minimize the amount of time we had to be there which we appreciated.
More medical equipment arrived today and our home nurse came today which was a blessing as usual.
The weather this week has been beautiful to drive back and forth across town.
Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Susan,
Thank you for the updated post. Our family is keeping yours in our prayers. I’ve also enlisted the officers and staff here at The Salvation Army. May God continue to bless Don and help you both through this journey. Love ya!
Jennifer J. (puppets)
Trisha, Todd, and everyone at RTV6, Thank you so much for the wonderful story that you put together about my brother Don. Mom, Dad, Susan, Megan, Zach, and I were so very proud of Don as we watched it last Friday night! We Believe he is going to beat this battle and inspire others with his story!
Thanks for the posts we do appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Our 12:35pm prayer was a little late as Don’s favorite “Pouty Face” person was in the room.
Today Don had 3 medications at the oncology office plus another unit of blood transfusion. He will have the second unit of blood transfusion Friday after the ultrasound guided paracentesis. The office was kind enough to break this into two days to prevent us being at North until 8:30pm tonight and back there at 6:30am for tomorrow’s procedure plus the hour trip each way it would have been a very short night. That is an answered prayer to have this split up.
Items we are living by:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
One day at a time.
God provides
Don keeps repeating “I am getting better every day in every way” from Joel Olsteen’s CD’s.
Don and Susan,
What a testimony to see this report and the words of encouragement from so many friends. Your story is inspiring. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Brad
The paracentesis was not needed today, there was only a small amount of fluid. Don was very excited by this and we feel this is yet another answered prayer.
Don is receiving his second unit of red blood cells to help his low hemoglobin.
The Daybed area of Community North is very nice as we were told it would be and they have been very helpful and nice today which made today much easier at the end of a long week.
Our continued prayers are for the Chemo to be working and for minimal side effects from the chemo and treatments.
Thanks for the continued support. We are enjoying seeing comments from those we have lost contact with over the years.
Dear Susan and Donnie,
I just heard about all of this yesterday from my cousin Brad. I want you to know I’m praying for you right now and will continue to do so.
What an inspiring attitude you’ve embraced as well as an incredible witness to God’s strength.
Gina
I just opened the blog, and I need to tell you the story of true faith. My husband had open heart surgery in Jan. Just a few weeks ago his dr. called and ask how he was doing. He told him he was doing everything he had been doing. He said this time last year I didn,t expect you to be here to do anything. That’s when I realized real faith because I had never had a doubt that he would be anything but o.k. Prayers yes, but true faith. Everyone thank God now for Don’s healing.
Thanks for everyone’s support Don has true faith he will beat this cancer.
NOTE: *******
We would like to just remind everyone please do not send flowers - flowers tend to aggravate or flair up Susan’s asthma. Thank you for your understanding, most people know this about us.
Thanks for the prayers.
JUST AN FYI:
Don’s voice is not strong enough to make phone calls at this time or have lengthy visitors. We are protective of Don’s strength and energy trying to keep his good days and hours to be with our children who really need their Dad as much as they can, as well as close family, close friends etc. If you want to visit please send an email to Susan but please understand if this is not a good time. Emails are easier for us to return than phone calls. If you have left your phone number we apologize.
Susan pretty much stays with Don 24/7 and Don is generally within ear range.
Thanks for all the help and support for our children as well. I know our daughter has figured out how to get on this link and read the posts.
Our children are doing as well as can be expected with all that has changed in their lives, constantly having extra adults in the house 24 hours a day to help with their care to free Susan up to be with Don and/or work remotely and an ever changing schedule.
Don,
Trisha sent an e-mail to me concerning you and your family. I want to let you know that my wife and I, our life group and my church will be praying for you. Your an amazing person. God is using you and this affliction to draw others closer to Him. May God bless you and your family.
Don,
Trisha sent an email to me sharing about your story. Your truly an inspiration to me and to many others. I want to let you know that my wife and I, our life group and church will be praying for you. With God all things our possible!
Your Brother in Christ,
Steven
To the Foss Family, I don’t know you personally but I admire your strength during this crisis that you are going through. Just know that God is able to bring you through this make you stronger than before. I will be praying for you at 12:35 daily.
I’ll be praying and believing for a complete healing for Don. I do truly believe in miracles. A song by Dottie Rambo has helped me in trying times. Here are some of the words:
It’s dark as a dungeon
And the sun seldom shines
And I question, “Lord why must this be?”
Then He tells me there’s strength in my sorrow
And there’s victory in trials for me
He leads me beside still water
Somewhere in the valley below
Then He draws me aside
To be tested and tried
But in the valley He restoreth my soul
Thank you for everyone’s continued prayers and support.
We are taking it one day at a time and saying our 12:35pm prayer. Today we said our 12:35pm prayer with Don’s parents and sister who are here helping out for a few days.
We are thankful Don has been able to get his treatments this week as scheduled.
Don and Susan,
We are thinking of you and your family. Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration to everyone. Please get well soon.
We are thankful for all the good days you have.
Nancy D
Allison D
Jennifer D
Tim D
Barbara B
Hi Don,
I just read your wife’s update.
It’s good to hear you’re at home. Hopefully those comforts are giving you an extra lift.
I got a note from Ray Cortopassi today asking about you. He said he’d like to visit.
If you or Susan would like to drop me a line at work, I’ll get his email for you.
Take care, and may God bless you and your family.
Jennifer
This is my comment for the day from an email I received.
It’s faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love. … He has faith-that is evident and it has helped so many on this journey. He may be kind of stuck on hope- its just so strong a motivator . The greatest of these is love. It’s the reaching outside yourself, the sharing and the caring. These things survive no matter what else happens. Sorrow is part of love but it is often just a measure of how deeply we care.
God provides us all faith hope and love and the greatest of these is love.
Don has been fighting valiantly for a miracle and like brother Darrell says where there is life there is hope.
At this time Don needs a rest from the chemo and some of the treatments, we realize God has a plan and we will see God’s plan in God’s time. We know that God loves us unconditionally regardless of what Good’s plan may be.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Jennifer R please pass along our contact info to Ray C, although Don is not up to visitors or phone calls at this time.
My prayers are with you, Don and Susan. I send my encouragement to you and hope that the wishes of all of your family and friends will come true. The congregation of the Federated Church in Sycamore, IL has added the family to the prayer list and we hope knowing this will bring you strength for the journey ahead. Fondly, Mary and Jeff, friends of Darrell and Flora
Dear Don and Susan and the children too,
You stay in our prayers. Still asking God to give you the miracle you requested.
Love,
Aunt Delores Jean and Uncle Bobby
Hi!
Finally got in and read the comments. Hope I’m doing this correctly.
Love and prayers for all of you,
Aunt Delores Jean
Thank you for your wise words today, Don, and for your incredible web of support for Don, Susan. We feel blessed we have you for brother and sister.
Before we go to bed tonight we will say a special prayer (praying harder!) for that God will grant you all (four) peace that passes understanding, joy in your love for each other and time together, and special healing grace.
Love you,
Flora and Darrell
Thank you for the continued prayers, blogs and emails we appreciate your continued support.
God is providing each and every step of the journey.
Thanks, Susan
Dear Don, Susan, Megan and Zach,
Our lives are touched by many people and when God brings our circles together, we are blessed to share his gifts. You are leaving big footprints for many to jump into and continue their journey. I feel this account of your journey has given hope to many who had previously lifted their feet from the sand, thus leaving no path for others to follow in.
Thank you for letting God lead you along your paths; the talents you share in Christian ministry are changing lives. The seeds you sow God will cultivate.
He has abundantly blessed your love as a family; may he abundantly grace you with peace.
With love, your friends in puppet ministry,
Denny, Juanita, Heather, Angela and Kyle
Hi Susan, Don, Megan and Zach,
Sending my love, hugs and God\’s Peace.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Your faith and strength are inspiring and I am so proud of you guys!
Love ya!
Jan
An Email I received and just read tonight. THANKS AUNT NANCY
Subject: Paul’s Prayer for You
I thought I should share this prayer of Paul’s from Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT.
Claim the promises for you here.
“When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
AMEN!
I pray His blessings upon you!
Thank you for your kind emails and scripture they are comforting to us in this time of living day by day and watching as God’s Plan seems to be revealing to us a little at a time.
Our strength and faith is bolstered by your support, prayers and faith as well, thank you for continuing to lift us up in prayer.
We still feel very blessed for a WRTV6 and their support in keeping this blog going and for allowing this faith journey to be aired and shared with so many. Thank you each for reading and sharing in our journey. We pray for each of you to find comfort and peace with the journey and path of life you are currently on.
Take time to enjoy what is most important and try very hard to think of your daily praises. Each of us has a journey we are on which may be easy or difficult depending on many factors we can only try to be a little more patient with each other and understanding.
God bless
John Thamm’s funeral message spoke of Psalm 23 and how it is always around when we’re in a time of trial. The minister told a tale of a Sunday school class where the teacher asked if anyone had the special Psalm memorized and little Annie raised her hand and said “I DO! I DO!” The teacher was doubtful, but after no one else raised their hands said “Ok Annie, come on up.”
Annie walked dutifully up to the front of the Sunday School class and puffed her chest up with purpose. She drew a breath and said “THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD - that’s all I need!!!”
John’s minsiter spoke to how Annie got it exactly right. The Lord is our Shepard indeed, and that is exactly all we need. We are His sheep, and we have to rely on Him to lead us. He will provide our food, shelter, comfort, life, death, and eventual peace.
Susan & Don - I am so proud of the faith you have shown during this trial. I love you and I know that God’s arms are carrying you through this journey - your faith is strong, and you are not alone. “Where two or three are gathered, I too am there”.
All my love,
Lil’ Sis Melissa & Family
Don and Susan,
I just found out what was going on with you from our High School reunion web site. Its been many years since we have seen each other and I hate this had to happen to make contact again. I wish I had some words that would bring comfort to you, but all I can say is that I was impressed with your outlook and courage through this hard time in your life. Keep your family and your faith close and you can beat this. I will be keeping you in my thoughts daily.
Jeff Bahrns
Our family will also be praying and believing for a complete healing for you. I am so thankful to Stacey Maxey from SCHS Class of 87 that posted this link on our class reunion website so we could make contact with you. Don & Susan I so agree that I am also so impressed with your outlook & courage thru all of this. I lost my Mom to colon cancer in Sept 1998 & agree with youin your urging everyone to have a colonoscopy. It sure could have saved her life.
Thinking of all of you! Amy Strong & family
Don, Susan and family,
We’ve been hearing about your journey through the AAI folks and just wanted to drop you a note to tell you that we’re thinking of you. You are blessed with a wonderful family and we hope that you are able to rest and enjoy them as you are surrounded by their love.
All the best,
Sara, Kip, Julie and Kevin Neal