Faith plays key role in Eaker’s cancer fight

Writing out Christmas cards is normal for many people, but for Donnavon Eaker it is something she hasn’t done for quite some time. That’s until this year. And the reason it is finally happening comes as she is fighting the battle of her life.
“I haven’t been able to do Christmas cards in over 30 years,” Eaker said from her home. “I am just thankful I can do them.”
Just last month Eaker was diagnosed with non-small lung cancer. She began treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester on Dec. 4. Eaker, who has operated the award-winning Steve’s Meat Market in Ellendale for the past 47 years, is being forced to step away from something she loves to do.
For several months, Eaker said, she experienced what she thought was a bad cold that produced a rattle when she was breathing. She eventually thought it may have progressed to pneumonia. She also began to notice her energy level just wasn’t the same, but she attributed that to stress. It wasn’t until she began spitting up blood that she knew something was drastically wrong.
Doctors performed a CT scan and discovered cancer in the brain, bones, liver, lymph nodes and a tumor in the lung. After they delivered the diagnosis, they asked Eaker how badly she wanted to fight it. “I will fight this,” she told the doctors. “I’m not ready to hang it up yet.”
Eaker is taking two kinds of chemotherapy, including Keytruda, a relatively new drug that is immunotherapy for advanced non-small lung cancer. She says Keytruda helps “pump up your own natural immunity.” While chemo doesn’t penetrate the brain, Keytruda will get at it, she said.
There are many different side effects with Keytruda, according to Eaker. She said the side effects depend on weight, age and type of cancer among other things. “There are lots of side effects, but this thing ain’t for sissies,” she said.
The first positive sign Eaker has noticed is that she no longer has a rattle when breathing. 
Fighting cancer isn’t anything new for the Eaker family. Her husband, Steve, lost his battle to brain and lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 55. But, as Eaker said, things were different in his case as he has two collapsed lungs from earlier in life and nothing could be done for him. “We had no hope for him, but I have hope,” she said, adding cancer treatments have changed so much in the past 14 years.
She takes comfort in knowing that the meat market is in good hands with her daughter, Rachael Lee, and their employees. “She learned good from mom and dad,” Eaker said.
Eaker calls Lee her hero. “She constantly encourages me,” Eaker said. “When I need a pep talk, she helps me get through the day.”
When Eaker found out she had cancer, she couldn’t believe it. “My daughter told me that we got through this with dad, we will get through this with you,” she said fighting back tears.
Another hero in Eaker’s life is Blooming Prairie area accountant Tamzen Johnson, who has been taking Eaker to her doctor appointments in Rochester.
Eaker takes refuge in knowing “cancer is no longer a death sentence,” she said. “We will have victory over the C-word. Many of us live with cancer every day.”
She is leaning on her faith during this difficult chapter of life. “I let my faith be bigger than my fear,” said Eaker. “I know Jesus is surrounding his arms and protecting me. I can’t imagine anyone without faith. It would be such a deep hole.”
Eaker is confident that her family, doctors, Jesus and chemo will help her survive cancer. “I have to believe this… the alternative isn’t so good,” she said. “If I don’t have hope, it’s a darn lonely road to go down.”
Being away from the meat market hasn’t been easy for Eaker. She started crying to her daughter upon realizing she will not be able to see her customers on the busiest day of the year on Christmas Eve. Instead Eaker will be getting chemo.
Asked what her greatest wish for this holiday season is, Eaker replied: “That we can get rid of the coronavirus and 2020 can go away. 2020 should be wiped off the face of the earth.”
Eaker takes comfort in celebrating Christmas this week. She had most of the decorating done prior to getting the cancer diagnosis. “I was feeling miserable, but I got it done,” she said, adding she had some help from other family members.
“I love Christmas, I love the lights and I love decorating,” Eaker said.
Despite the latest setback, Eaker is finding joy in the season. Last Friday she put on a bright red shirt that proclaimed “Joy” while marveling at her Christmas tree and other decorations.
“I felt so good,” she said.
 
Photo: Despite a recent diagnosis of lung cancer, Donnavon Eaker of Ellendale is celebrating the holiday season with confidence that she will beat it. “I’m not ready to hang it up yet,” she says.