Funeral Arrangements

THE NEXT STAGE OF

"DONNA'S HEROIC TREK"

PRAYER SERVICE
Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
7:30pm - St. Augustine R.C. Church
On Highway #5 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan

FUNERAL MASS
Easter Monday, March 24, 2008
10:00am - St. Augustine R.C. Church
On Highway #5 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan

INTERMENT
Following the Funeral Mass at

St. Augustine R.C. Cemetery

Arrangements are in the care of:
Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel Humboldt, Saskatchewan

HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS
Rooms have been blocked for Sunday, March 23, 2008

Bella Vista Inn - Phone (306) 682-2686

On Highway #5 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan

Rate $75.95 per/night

St. Patrick's Day - March 17,2008

Donna's Heroic Trek ended Peacefully this morning at 9:12am.

Will post arrangements later today or tomorrow.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Hello Kelly updating from Yorkton

There has been nothing to report the last 2 days.

Donna's pulse is over 100 and breathing is shallow at times but mom says she looks very restful.

Darren brought Junell was up to visit today, she put her head beside Donna's, said "mama, mama", gave her 2 kisses on the cheek, a head rub and tried to open her eyes. Donna got out a groan so she definitely knew that Junell was there.

We would like to thank those people that have brought food, you know who you are ... it was a nice change from hospital food.

We greatly appreciate the kind comments on the blog and I'm sure if it was your family member you too would be able to do what we have done ... it's times like this when families show there strength and we all have it in us.

March 13, 2008

Sorry for not updating yesterday ... but there was not really anything to report and today is the same.

Yesterday around 1:30pm they changed her position and she really took a slide for 2 hours, only to prove everyone wrong again ... her pulse dropped from 126 to 44 yesterday and is now stabled back out at 84 ... yesterday after the incident she was down to 4 gasping breaths per/minute and now is breathing normally again with no gasping.

She continually shows signs of going off to the place of peace since Friday and then they stop. She has turned cold 2 times then warmed up again ... her pulse was at 126 for 4 days then dropped ... her feet and hands are motteling.

We are not sure what she is waiting for ... we have read her all the comments on this blog, have put the phone to her ear when family calls ... and yes, we have given her permission to take her journey.

Just to ensure we were not missing anything and knowing the obsession she had with the phone, her life line to all, Terry placed a phone calling card in her hand and told her she could call whenever and whoever ... we all know the importance of the phone to her then mom followed this up by putting the phone in her hand. She then went into total relaxation and had a very comfortable night.

You may think that this is not right but without some humor during these past 2 weeks we would not be able to endure this challenge, and watch her suffering even though she is heavily sedated and the nurses say she is in no pain, there are times we have our doubts.

March 11, 2008

Good Morning this is Kelly & Brenda

Yet another amazing evening of scares and with Donna still fighting onward with her Heroic Trek , she is such a fighter but is tired and we are praying for her to be at peace.

She is resting comfortably with her breathing being vary shallow throughout the night and into this morning with Mom & Dad Hendriks, Darren, Kelly & Terry, Brenda and Colleen constantly by her side and Sheree actually spent time sitting with her last night ... what a trooper, we all know how difficult this was for her.

The most difficult times for her is when the nurses come in to turn her ... the staff is great and yesterday waited till we all had showers before turning her ... just in case.

There are continually birds on her window ledge ready to take her home but she is just ignoring them, Donna has always done what she wanted to do and she is not ready to fly off with them just yet.

There have been masses for her in Humboldt, Kenaston, Yorkton, Cudworth and we are sure other communities that we are not aware of.

Today will be a rest day for Donna and only Family members will be in her room.

Any friends wishing to visit and be near her we have left a signature sheet outside her hospital room door, please sign the sheet and share time with each other in the waiting room off the elevators where the family will keep you posted. The time that you share with each other in support of the family is truly something that touches Donna very deeply to know that all the people she loves are together and supporting each other.

We please ask that you respect the wishes of the family and allow Donna this time to soar with her family to that special place where Roxanne, Ted, Tootsie, Darlene, Cornellia, Lorne, Marlene, Rosie, Grandparents, and those that have preceded her from the Sorotski Family are waiting to take her on the next leg of her Heroic Trek.

March 10, 2008

Morning

Kelly here in the family room with Dad & Terry while Mom, Brenda and Colleen are in with Donna.

There is no change as of this morning, here heart is very strong with her breathing periodically labored and sometimes very relaxed.

Donna is really a fighter even some of the nurses were shocked when they returned for their night shift last night that she was still here fighting.

We continue to stay with her around the clock.

Kelly

March 9, 2008

Good Morning

It was another long night with family and friends gathering to pray the rosary through out the day and provided comfort to each other.

Donna's eyes were very responsive when we put the phone to ear to hear from her brother Myron and her Godparents Maurice and Rosemarie.

She is resting comfortable with no pain that we can tell of and laboured breathing as she continues to fight for yet another day.

Your thoughts, prayers and comments on the blog are of great comfort to us ... Donna is definately a rich women with love that surround her from near and far.

Kelly

March 8, 2008

Hello Everyone this is Kelly and Brenda

At this time Donna is still resting comfortably.

Donna has been read the comments that have been left on the blog, we know that she is aware that they are being read to her by her facial expressions.

The family continues to be with her around the clock and pray, we invite you to pray with us.

E-MAIL SENT TO RUH WELL WISHES

"Hi to all, just a quick note to let Donna and Darren (And all of the family) know that we are thinking and praying for you. Give her a smile a hug and a hello from us!"

Reg, Joni, Keley, Taryn & Chase Zdunich (Kenaston)

March 7, 2008

The last couple of days have been the real test as we gather with Donna tonight.

Brenda, Colleen and I (Kelly) called Mom, Dad and Darren to the hospital last night at 2:30am and had a priest come in to conduct Last Rights ... it was a difficult night for Donna.

We were all called back to the hospital at 5:30pm tonight when her vital signs started to fade.

She is still continuing to fight her Heroic Trek but it is just a matter of time before her heart cannot take the stress, as one kidney shut down yesterday and the other is failing it is only a matter of time.

Family members and some close friends have gathered at the hospital, those family members unable to be here with us tonight have phoned and talked to Donna, she is still responding to the calls with facial signs.

We ask you to pray with her family for a Peaceful Ending & Everlasting Life.

Should you leave a posting we will make sure that Donna is aware of your caring.

March 3, 2008

Colleen & Kelly here reporting from RUH while Brenda is with the patient.

The last few days have definately been a real whirlwind with family and friends sitting with Donna around the clock to get her through a very difficult weekend.

This morning she had another 3 litres tapped from her abdomen ... all looked normal.

This after noon family met with Dr. Ahmad & Miriam (social worker) to discuss options at this point. The 24/7 cylinder of Chemo that we thought was the full cause of Donna's vomiting was actually doing it's job and started shrinking the cancer cells that are splattered in throughout her abdomen ... liver and kidneys are fine but kidneys have some pressure on them from the cancer's location and the fluid build up.

Option One - to continue with the 24/7 cylinder Chemo and to treat the symptoms as they occur ... the first thing we should notice from the chemo positively working on the cancer is that the vomiting and diaharea should be decreased because these symptoms are actually started by the cancer itself ... should Donna choose to go back to start chemo again. Even though her energy is not up to par without chemo her energy will continue to deteriorate and only make it more diffucult to start treatments later on should she choose that route.

Option Two - would be to not continue with chemo and choose the route of comfort care which would include pain management and treating the symptons as they occur.

As of this time Donna is weighing her options and will decide on her course of treatment tomorrow ... the families will support Donna in which ever decision she chooses.

On a lighter note us 3 sisters along with 2 porters took her to her X-ray department for the fluid tap ... as we got in the elevator and the doors began to close, Donna with her eyes closed said to the porters, "that's good we got rid of them" only to open her eyes and see the 3 of us looking at her in total shock as she was referring to us .... I guess there really can be too much of a good thing.

After the procedure we were hemming and hawwing if we should take her back to her room on our own or call the porters ... too late porters were called but we never stuck around it was time to take Donna on an adventure. We were off and running
..."Donna do you want to do some ramps"
... "oh shit we hit that wall"
... "watch out for the soiled laundry baskets"
up the elevator past her room, past the nuring station
... "run we have her records for you Barb" and off to the family room
whew we made it for the 3:30 family meeting. All this with a little more than a few giggles, oh well if you can't have fun with your sisters why have them.

On that note we are signing off from the Family Room at the RUH ... we think we hear Brenda calling.

Check me out ... the cute one!!!!

Thanks Auntie Colleen and Alison,

for my photo shoot and DVD of my pictures for my mommy ... if you visit my mommy at the hospital you will see that I have filled her room with my everyday antics.