Later today I go for the next step of my treatment (receiving the subclavian catheter and start the stem cell collection). I have started itching all over and I am not sure if it is the Neupogen or nerves or some of both. It started in the head area and has spread to the rest of my body. There are no visible signs on me anywhere of a rash so the itching is inside. I cannot sleep but feel that is because of the anticipation of what is coming.
I have Restless Leg Syndrome and that is also bothering me tonight. I can remember my Mother having much the same problem and she called it the “the heebie-jeebies”…I think her name fits quite well.
I have taken a couple of Tylenol and turned the TV on…now that should put anyone to sleep.
We have just returned to our apartment from M. D. Anderson and I must admit I am a little disappointed because my Stem Cell Marker is not high enough.
We went in early for the usual “blood letting” that is required daily, then off to the Pre Op Center and had the subclavian catheter installed. It is on my left side and above the heart. They chose the left side since the temporary port that was installed when I received chemo (2Cda) in 2000 was installed on the right side. I am left-handed and this will be a learning experience to reach with my right hand until the soreness and pain subside. All went well with that but must say I am extremely sore and in some pain but have taken a couple of Tylenol and am sure it will get better.
After the catheter was installed, X-rays were taken to make sure it is in correctly and will pose no problem. Mine was fine and we were feeling pretty good as we arrived at the Pheresis Clinic to start the Stem Cell Collection. The catheter was fine but my CE 34 is not high enough to start the collection. It is 8 and they will not start the collection until it is 15. We were sent back to the apartment and I will self inject 2 more Neupogen shots and return to the hospital tomorrow morning, give blood to be tested and hopefully it will be 15. I plan on having a good talk with my stem cells this afternoon and tell them to jump to attention so we can move on with the procedure.
Please know we take all of your prayers, thoughts and best wishes with us each time we arrive at the hospital. I wore my beautiful prayer shawl, as I do each day and I have received so many compliments on it and I delight in telling them about it. A dear friend, Gale, heard about this project and requested that another dear friend, V.A. knit one for someone who was going to be gong through some difficult times. I received this wonderful surprise during the holidays and have felt the warmth and prayers that it shares with me. We have received so many wonderful gifts, cards, calls and e-mails from friends and well wishers that each one helps melt the miles away and makes us feel more comfortable.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Initial Entry
This is the Stem Cell Collection/Transplant Journey taken by La Donna (patient) & Arthur (caregiver) Stockstill
I was diagnosed with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia 6/2000 (a very rare form of cancer for which there is no cure) and with Secondary Amyloidosis/renal involvement 10/2001 (another very rare disease for which there is no cure). I also have a heart murmur and a regurgitating value in my heart. I had 2Cda (chemo) in November of 2000 and had been on Watch & Wait since that time. I am under the care of Dr. Ray Page of Texas Cancer Care in Weatherford; Dr. Loren Mott of Hearth Center of North Texas in Weatherford; Dr. Donna Weber of M. D. Anderson; Dr. Andrew Fenves of Dallas Nephrology; Dr. Paolo Anderlini, Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic at M. D. Anderson and by David Reeve of Weatherford, our family doctor.
We were very pleased with our doctors (other than the nephrologist) and knew we needed a nephrologist who is familiar with and treats Amyloidosis. In the spring of 2005, we were directed to Dr. Andrew Fenves by a gentleman we met at the Amyloidosis Support Group/Texas Area and who now we consider to be a good friend, Maurice Price.
After meeting with Dr. Fenves, we were told my kidneys were becoming more involved with the Amyloidosis and to slow down the depositing of the amyloid and prolong my kidney functioning, we needed to go back to M. D. Anderson and treat my primary disease, Waldenstrom. Dr. Weber was alarmed with the condition of my kidneys and the battery of tests began as we started on the path to the Stem Cell Transplant.
Medications: Atacand, Furosemide, Metolazone, Lipitor, Nifedipine, Pholso Gel cap, Procrit. I had two sessions of Dexamethasone in the fall (Dr. Weber prescribed this to bridge the time of the testing until I could have the SCT).
Numbers as of January 27, 2005:
White Blood Cell Count - 5.8
Red Blood Count - 2.97
Hemoglobin - 10.0
Hematocrit - 29.3
Platelet Count - 254
Blood Urea Nitrogen - 7.3
Creatinine - 3.0
January 20, 2005
We arrived in Houston and set up housekeeping in an apartment through the Church Apartment Ministry. We were on a waiting list for about 2 months and received a call on the Saturday before we left for Houston that one was available for us. It is much better than staying in a hotel, since we will be here for an extended period of time.
Our apartment is sponsored by St. John's Presbyterian Church and we have been welcomed by them and made to feel very comfortable. It is located about 4-miles from the hospital and Arthur is a wonderful chauffer.
January 21, 2005
This was my first day of testing. I had all these tests in the fall but it is so important to have the latest data that I must have them all again. Tests given: Echocardiogram, EKG (resting), Spirometry and DLCO, X-rays (chest-PA & Lat), CT (chest/abdomen/pelvis/sinus)
January 25, 2005
Blood/specimen collection, Bone Marrow Biopsy and met with Dr. Anderlini
January 27, 2005
Blood/specimen collection and met with Dr. Anderlini and visited the area where the stem cell collection will take place
January 28, 2005
Blood/specimen collection, pre-insertion interview (the subclavian catheter) and ask any questions about the procedure and started the Neupogen shots (self-injected, two times a day).
I was diagnosed with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia 6/2000 (a very rare form of cancer for which there is no cure) and with Secondary Amyloidosis/renal involvement 10/2001 (another very rare disease for which there is no cure). I also have a heart murmur and a regurgitating value in my heart. I had 2Cda (chemo) in November of 2000 and had been on Watch & Wait since that time. I am under the care of Dr. Ray Page of Texas Cancer Care in Weatherford; Dr. Loren Mott of Hearth Center of North Texas in Weatherford; Dr. Donna Weber of M. D. Anderson; Dr. Andrew Fenves of Dallas Nephrology; Dr. Paolo Anderlini, Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic at M. D. Anderson and by David Reeve of Weatherford, our family doctor.
We were very pleased with our doctors (other than the nephrologist) and knew we needed a nephrologist who is familiar with and treats Amyloidosis. In the spring of 2005, we were directed to Dr. Andrew Fenves by a gentleman we met at the Amyloidosis Support Group/Texas Area and who now we consider to be a good friend, Maurice Price.
After meeting with Dr. Fenves, we were told my kidneys were becoming more involved with the Amyloidosis and to slow down the depositing of the amyloid and prolong my kidney functioning, we needed to go back to M. D. Anderson and treat my primary disease, Waldenstrom. Dr. Weber was alarmed with the condition of my kidneys and the battery of tests began as we started on the path to the Stem Cell Transplant.
Medications: Atacand, Furosemide, Metolazone, Lipitor, Nifedipine, Pholso Gel cap, Procrit. I had two sessions of Dexamethasone in the fall (Dr. Weber prescribed this to bridge the time of the testing until I could have the SCT).
Numbers as of January 27, 2005:
White Blood Cell Count - 5.8
Red Blood Count - 2.97
Hemoglobin - 10.0
Hematocrit - 29.3
Platelet Count - 254
Blood Urea Nitrogen - 7.3
Creatinine - 3.0
January 20, 2005
We arrived in Houston and set up housekeeping in an apartment through the Church Apartment Ministry. We were on a waiting list for about 2 months and received a call on the Saturday before we left for Houston that one was available for us. It is much better than staying in a hotel, since we will be here for an extended period of time.
Our apartment is sponsored by St. John's Presbyterian Church and we have been welcomed by them and made to feel very comfortable. It is located about 4-miles from the hospital and Arthur is a wonderful chauffer.
January 21, 2005
This was my first day of testing. I had all these tests in the fall but it is so important to have the latest data that I must have them all again. Tests given: Echocardiogram, EKG (resting), Spirometry and DLCO, X-rays (chest-PA & Lat), CT (chest/abdomen/pelvis/sinus)
January 25, 2005
Blood/specimen collection, Bone Marrow Biopsy and met with Dr. Anderlini
January 27, 2005
Blood/specimen collection and met with Dr. Anderlini and visited the area where the stem cell collection will take place
January 28, 2005
Blood/specimen collection, pre-insertion interview (the subclavian catheter) and ask any questions about the procedure and started the Neupogen shots (self-injected, two times a day).
Saturday, January 1, 2005
PERSONAL NOTES
It is a dreary Sunday in Houston, not raining but just dreary. I have been asked to share my personal thoughts as I go through this process. I will share both technical and personal notes. I appreciate your interest and welcome you to my website. A.G. (our oldest son) has designed the website for me. I asked him for a simple website and he went beyond that and made one that is very personal and one I am delighted to share with you.
I am self-injecting the Neupogen and was told upfront that they would create discomfort and that has proven to be true. Neupogen is a hematopoietic agent used to stimulate production of white blood cells by my bone marrow. It makes me ache, much like when you have the flu. It is all in preparation for the collection that will begin tomorrow morning. We are to be at the hospital by 7:00 for blood/specimen collection, at 7:30 we will go to the Infusion Therapy Clinic and have the subclavian catheter installed and immediately will start the Stem Cell Collection. This will take about four hours per day and probably take most of the week. Everything from here on depends on how many stem cells are collected. There is a certain number that it and above are considered a great collection. There is a certain number that it and below means the collection has not produced what is needed and the transplant will not go on and then we are back at square one. Then there is a gray area where the number of cells collected falls in-between the numbers listed above. Then decisions will have to be made by my doctors, Arthur and me. It will take longer and be more difficult for the Stem Cell Transplant (SCT). We are hoping my stem cells are just waiting to be collected in huge numbers and the first scenario will take place.
When we visited this area, it looked very interesting and a little like something from a futuristic film. It is amazing what the medical community can do for cancer patients and M. D. Anderson is the best.
I am self-injecting the Neupogen and was told upfront that they would create discomfort and that has proven to be true. Neupogen is a hematopoietic agent used to stimulate production of white blood cells by my bone marrow. It makes me ache, much like when you have the flu. It is all in preparation for the collection that will begin tomorrow morning. We are to be at the hospital by 7:00 for blood/specimen collection, at 7:30 we will go to the Infusion Therapy Clinic and have the subclavian catheter installed and immediately will start the Stem Cell Collection. This will take about four hours per day and probably take most of the week. Everything from here on depends on how many stem cells are collected. There is a certain number that it and above are considered a great collection. There is a certain number that it and below means the collection has not produced what is needed and the transplant will not go on and then we are back at square one. Then there is a gray area where the number of cells collected falls in-between the numbers listed above. Then decisions will have to be made by my doctors, Arthur and me. It will take longer and be more difficult for the Stem Cell Transplant (SCT). We are hoping my stem cells are just waiting to be collected in huge numbers and the first scenario will take place.
When we visited this area, it looked very interesting and a little like something from a futuristic film. It is amazing what the medical community can do for cancer patients and M. D. Anderson is the best.
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941
Auguries of Innocence
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove house fill'd with doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thro' all its regions.
A dog starv'd at his Master's Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misus'd upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear.
A Skylark wounded in the wing,
A Cherubim does cease to sing.
The Game Cock clipp'd and arm'd for fight
Does the Rising Sun affright.
Every Wolf's & Lion's howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul.
The wild deer, wand'ring here & there,
Keeps the Human Soul from Care.
The Lamb misus'd breeds public strife
And yet forgives the Butcher's Knife.
The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that won't believe.
The Owl that calls upon the Night
Speaks the Unbeliever's fright.
He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belov'd by Men.
He who the Ox to wrath has mov'd
Shall never be by Woman lov'd.
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spider's enmity.
He who torments the Chafer's sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night.
The Catterpillar on the Leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mother's grief.
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly,
For the Last Judgement draweth nigh.
He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar.
The Beggar's Dog & Widow's Cat,
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat.
The Gnat that sings his Summer's song
Poison gets from Slander's tongue.
The poison of the Snake & Newt
Is the sweat of Envy's Foot.
The poison of the Honey Bee
Is the Artist's Jealousy.
The Prince's Robes & Beggars' Rags
Are Toadstools on the Miser's Bags.
A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent.
It is right it should be so;
Man was made for Joy & Woe;
And when this we rightly know
Thro' the World we safely go.
Joy & Woe are woven fine,
A Clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.
The Babe is more than swadling Bands;
Throughout all these Human Lands
Tools were made, & born were hands,
Every Farmer Understands.
Every Tear from Every Eye
Becomes a Babe in Eternity.
This is caught by Females bright
And return'd to its own delight.
The Bleat, the Bark, Bellow & Roar
Are Waves that Beat on Heaven's Shore.
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of death.
The Beggar's Rags, fluttering in Air,
Does to Rags the Heavens tear.
The Soldier arm'd with Sword & Gun,
Palsied strikes the Summer's Sun.
The poor Man's Farthing is worth more
Than all the Gold on Afric's Shore.
One Mite wrung from the Labrer's hands
Shall buy & sell the Miser's lands:
Or, if protected from on high,
Does that whole Nation sell & buy.
He who mocks the Infant's Faith
Shall be mock'd in Age & Death.
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt
The rotting Grave shall ne'er get out.
He who respects the Infant's faith
Triumph's over Hell & Death.
The Child's Toys & the Old Man's Reasons
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons.
The Questioner, who sits so sly,
Shall never know how to Reply.
He who replies to words of Doubt
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out.
The Strongest Poison ever known
Came from Caesar's Laurel Crown.
Nought can deform the Human Race
Like the Armour's iron brace.
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow.
A Riddle or the Cricket's Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply.
The Emmet's Inch & Eagle's Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile.
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will ne'er believe, do what you Please.
If the Sun & Moon should doubt
They'd immediately Go out.
To be in a Passion you Good may do,
But no Good if a Passion is in you.
The Whore & Gambler, by the State
Licenc'd, build that Nation's Fate.
The Harlot's cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old England's winding Sheet.
The Winner's Shout, the Loser's Curse,
Dance before dead England's Hearse.
Every Night & every Morn
Some to Misery are Born.
Every Morn & every Night
Some are Born to sweet Delight.
Some are Born to sweet Delight,
Some are born to Endless Night.
We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro' the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to Perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light.
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in the Night,
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day.
William Blake
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
A Robin Red breast in a Cage
Puts all Heaven in a Rage.
A dove house fill'd with doves & Pigeons
Shudders Hell thro' all its regions.
A dog starv'd at his Master's Gate
Predicts the ruin of the State.
A Horse misus'd upon the Road
Calls to Heaven for Human blood.
Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear.
A Skylark wounded in the wing,
A Cherubim does cease to sing.
The Game Cock clipp'd and arm'd for fight
Does the Rising Sun affright.
Every Wolf's & Lion's howl
Raises from Hell a Human Soul.
The wild deer, wand'ring here & there,
Keeps the Human Soul from Care.
The Lamb misus'd breeds public strife
And yet forgives the Butcher's Knife.
The Bat that flits at close of Eve
Has left the Brain that won't believe.
The Owl that calls upon the Night
Speaks the Unbeliever's fright.
He who shall hurt the little Wren
Shall never be belov'd by Men.
He who the Ox to wrath has mov'd
Shall never be by Woman lov'd.
The wanton Boy that kills the Fly
Shall feel the Spider's enmity.
He who torments the Chafer's sprite
Weaves a Bower in endless Night.
The Catterpillar on the Leaf
Repeats to thee thy Mother's grief.
Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly,
For the Last Judgement draweth nigh.
He who shall train the Horse to War
Shall never pass the Polar Bar.
The Beggar's Dog & Widow's Cat,
Feed them & thou wilt grow fat.
The Gnat that sings his Summer's song
Poison gets from Slander's tongue.
The poison of the Snake & Newt
Is the sweat of Envy's Foot.
The poison of the Honey Bee
Is the Artist's Jealousy.
The Prince's Robes & Beggars' Rags
Are Toadstools on the Miser's Bags.
A truth that's told with bad intent
Beats all the Lies you can invent.
It is right it should be so;
Man was made for Joy & Woe;
And when this we rightly know
Thro' the World we safely go.
Joy & Woe are woven fine,
A Clothing for the Soul divine;
Under every grief & pine
Runs a joy with silken twine.
The Babe is more than swadling Bands;
Throughout all these Human Lands
Tools were made, & born were hands,
Every Farmer Understands.
Every Tear from Every Eye
Becomes a Babe in Eternity.
This is caught by Females bright
And return'd to its own delight.
The Bleat, the Bark, Bellow & Roar
Are Waves that Beat on Heaven's Shore.
The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath
Writes Revenge in realms of death.
The Beggar's Rags, fluttering in Air,
Does to Rags the Heavens tear.
The Soldier arm'd with Sword & Gun,
Palsied strikes the Summer's Sun.
The poor Man's Farthing is worth more
Than all the Gold on Afric's Shore.
One Mite wrung from the Labrer's hands
Shall buy & sell the Miser's lands:
Or, if protected from on high,
Does that whole Nation sell & buy.
He who mocks the Infant's Faith
Shall be mock'd in Age & Death.
He who shall teach the Child to Doubt
The rotting Grave shall ne'er get out.
He who respects the Infant's faith
Triumph's over Hell & Death.
The Child's Toys & the Old Man's Reasons
Are the Fruits of the Two seasons.
The Questioner, who sits so sly,
Shall never know how to Reply.
He who replies to words of Doubt
Doth put the Light of Knowledge out.
The Strongest Poison ever known
Came from Caesar's Laurel Crown.
Nought can deform the Human Race
Like the Armour's iron brace.
When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow
To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow.
A Riddle or the Cricket's Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply.
The Emmet's Inch & Eagle's Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile.
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will ne'er believe, do what you Please.
If the Sun & Moon should doubt
They'd immediately Go out.
To be in a Passion you Good may do,
But no Good if a Passion is in you.
The Whore & Gambler, by the State
Licenc'd, build that Nation's Fate.
The Harlot's cry from Street to Street
Shall weave Old England's winding Sheet.
The Winner's Shout, the Loser's Curse,
Dance before dead England's Hearse.
Every Night & every Morn
Some to Misery are Born.
Every Morn & every Night
Some are Born to sweet Delight.
Some are Born to sweet Delight,
Some are born to Endless Night.
We are led to Believe a Lie
When we see not Thro' the Eye
Which was Born in a Night to Perish in a Night
When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light.
God Appears & God is Light
To those poor Souls who dwell in the Night,
But does a Human Form Display
To those who Dwell in Realms of day.
William Blake
Biography of La Donna Stockstill
La Donna Stockstill’s roots run deep in Texas and Parker County. Her great-great grandfather, Issac Sella, signed the petition in 1855 requesting the county be formed. Her grandfather and father, J.K. Johnson Sr and Jr, were pioneers in the fruit and nut industry of Texas.
Government and history were her majors in college when the attended Weatherford College and Tarleton State University.
La Donna has worked for three radio stations hosting travel shows, local interest programs, cooking shows, political forums, educational round tables, gardening and landscaping segments. She has produced and voiced commercials on radio, appeared in a television commercial and taught private and public classes in cooking, decorating and landscaping.
Education has always been important to her and she was named to the Texas Association of School Boards Media Honor Roll in 1998. La Donna and Arthur were founders of PENCILS FOR PEACE, an organization that collected and distributed school supplies to children throughout the world. An example of the success of this organization was the distribution of 6,600 pounds of school supplies to the children of Bosnia-Herzegovina. PENCILS FOR PEACE also distributed supplies to refugee children in the Metroplex area of north central Texas. This organization was founded after her son, A.G., who was serving in the Army at the time, told how desperate the children were for school supplies. They did not ask the soldiers for candy or treats but for pencils. He asked for a box or two of pencils and from this grew an effort that included all types of school supplies for these children. In recognition of this, PENCILS FOR PEACE, Arthur and La Donna received the 1998 Community Service Award from the Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree General Worth Assembly.
La Donna started the food section of the local newspaper and has written a food column and feature stories relating to foods. She has authored two cookbooks; the last one is titled FAST LANES TO PAST LANES (A Culinary Tour) that is sold through gift shops.
She is a former member of the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association and is a charter member of the Parker County Master Gardener Association, having served as president in 2004. She is the liaison between the City of Weatherford and the Parker County Master Gardener Association for the historic Chandor Gardens, where she works as a docent and volunteer. With other Master Gardeners, she volunteers at Clark Gardens in the western part of Parker County and many other projects within the county. She has designed and executed landscapes for private homeowners and for a historic church in Weatherford. She has traveled extensively throughout Texas, the United States, the Caribbean and Europe always stopping to view the beautiful gardens.
She is a regular contributor to the web sites for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobinemia (a rare form of cancer) and Amyloidosis (another rare disease) both are incurable. La Donna was diagnosed with WM in June of 2000 and with Amyloidosis in October of 2001. She is a charter member of both the North Texas Waldenstrom and Amyloidosis Support Group Texas Area.
La Donna is married to Arthur G. Stockstill, Registrar at Weatherford College. They have two sons, A.G. and Mark, a daughter-in-law, Susan and two grandsons Alan and Robert.
Government and history were her majors in college when the attended Weatherford College and Tarleton State University.
La Donna has worked for three radio stations hosting travel shows, local interest programs, cooking shows, political forums, educational round tables, gardening and landscaping segments. She has produced and voiced commercials on radio, appeared in a television commercial and taught private and public classes in cooking, decorating and landscaping.
Education has always been important to her and she was named to the Texas Association of School Boards Media Honor Roll in 1998. La Donna and Arthur were founders of PENCILS FOR PEACE, an organization that collected and distributed school supplies to children throughout the world. An example of the success of this organization was the distribution of 6,600 pounds of school supplies to the children of Bosnia-Herzegovina. PENCILS FOR PEACE also distributed supplies to refugee children in the Metroplex area of north central Texas. This organization was founded after her son, A.G., who was serving in the Army at the time, told how desperate the children were for school supplies. They did not ask the soldiers for candy or treats but for pencils. He asked for a box or two of pencils and from this grew an effort that included all types of school supplies for these children. In recognition of this, PENCILS FOR PEACE, Arthur and La Donna received the 1998 Community Service Award from the Knights of Columbus, Fourth Degree General Worth Assembly.
La Donna started the food section of the local newspaper and has written a food column and feature stories relating to foods. She has authored two cookbooks; the last one is titled FAST LANES TO PAST LANES (A Culinary Tour) that is sold through gift shops.
She is a former member of the Tarrant County Master Gardener Association and is a charter member of the Parker County Master Gardener Association, having served as president in 2004. She is the liaison between the City of Weatherford and the Parker County Master Gardener Association for the historic Chandor Gardens, where she works as a docent and volunteer. With other Master Gardeners, she volunteers at Clark Gardens in the western part of Parker County and many other projects within the county. She has designed and executed landscapes for private homeowners and for a historic church in Weatherford. She has traveled extensively throughout Texas, the United States, the Caribbean and Europe always stopping to view the beautiful gardens.
She is a regular contributor to the web sites for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobinemia (a rare form of cancer) and Amyloidosis (another rare disease) both are incurable. La Donna was diagnosed with WM in June of 2000 and with Amyloidosis in October of 2001. She is a charter member of both the North Texas Waldenstrom and Amyloidosis Support Group Texas Area.
La Donna is married to Arthur G. Stockstill, Registrar at Weatherford College. They have two sons, A.G. and Mark, a daughter-in-law, Susan and two grandsons Alan and Robert.
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