Go. Fight. Win.

Donnie Clements is the epitome of a "family man." He is a father of five children (Tyler, Kyleigh, Caitlynn, Bella, and Jacob) and never misses a recital, soccer game, or award ceremony- and even stays awake and cheering! If you get the chance to watch him next to his wife, Corrie, you can see how much they love each other and how much he values her as his backbone. But, when they were married seven years ago, they never could have imagined the fight they would be facing now. In September, after constant abdominal pain on Donnie's part, Corrie scheduled an appointment with a doctor where labs unveiled the Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer that he has been unknowingly battling. He did his first round of chemo on September 12.

Donnie is in the construction industry and had to immediately stop working, leaving their family facing unexpected medical bills with no health insurance and now only one income. The cancer treatment journey will bring light to not only medical bills and expenses related to get Donnie better but will also make demands on his family's limited budget to meet day-to-day expenses that come with raising a loving family. Corrie is his backbone, but this family could use all the extra support they can get right now and I can't think of anyone that deserves it more than them. 

Please keep Donnie, Corrie, and their family in your thoughts and prayers.
We have a battle to win.

*Jacob being cute while Donnie sets up the tree for the family to decorate. 

Updates:
October 23. We were told that Donnie's labs looked good. His body was handling his chemotherapy well although his abdominal pain had increased even more. We were given a new prescription to pick up to aid in this pain. The following day, October 24, Donnie did another chemo treatment and we celebrated Halloween as a family. The doctors will be ordering  another PET scan which will show if the cancer is responding to treatment.

November 6. Due to his labs, doctors are concerned about Donnie's liver so chemotherapy was cancelled this week. Instead a CAT scan is scheduled to get a closer look and a new medicine has been prescribed to help with his appetite and hopefully get some weight back on him. We will have a follow up appointment on November 9 and keep all updated. Thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts sent our family's way. 

November 9. Donnie is in good spirits and has felt better than usual the last couple of days. We had an extensive talk with Donnie’s oncologist today. His scans show that Donnie is not responding to chemo. His cancer has spread farther, and into his lungs and gallbladder. His liver also shows some jaundice. Donnie’s treatment is being changed to a new combination of chemo and an immune therapy may be added as well, on approval. The doctor is preparing us to travel to Boston for a clinical trial if the second attempt at treatment fails as well. If Donnie becomes more jaundice the doctor will have to cancel chemo and we will go straight to a clinical trial. Donnie is happy that his new therapy will not cause neuropathy. Although, he will lose his hair. We all know Donnie has tons of support. We are staying positive, visiting with family and we even set up the Christmas tree. We want to thank everyone for the continues support and prayers.
 
November 22. Happy Thanksgiving! We are spending the day at home, cooking with Corrie's parents and the kids. The tree is up and snow fell a little this morning but now we are enjoying the sunshine and the family time. Donnie is having a great week and that gives us something to be extra thankful for. He has needed less pain meds and even got to work and re-tiled the mud room! Nothing stops this man, or this family! We appreciate all the support, prayers and love sent our way.