Donna Lynn Isaacs Funeral & DC to TX Transport

“Isn't she lovely, Isn't she wonderful, Isn't she precious” will always be the words that come to my mind when I picture my best friend - my Mother, Donna Lynn Isaacs. This is Donna's story, a testament to her life as told through the eyes of me, her daughter who loved her so very much, Tasha-Nicole Gunnels. 

My Mother was the most selfless and generous person I’ve ever known, always working and always caring for others. She started serving others as a child, only 12 years old she started volunteering as a Candy Striper at a hospital in Texas. Her gregarious personality, smile and loving spirit attracted people of all races, cultures, and religions. My Mother was a giver with a heart of gold, she would take the shirt off her back and give it to you if you needed it. 


The one thing about my Mother that I cherished the most was her energy and her ability to keep a smile on her face - through all her struggles she always found a way to smile. My parents were leading a happy and financially stable life, my Dad retired and my Mom was doing what she always love to do which is take care of people. My Mom’s favorite patient population was elderly, she worked as a nurse at Hartland in San Antonio, Texas. Then my Dad was diagnosed with cancer and with that terrible illness caused a huge financial hit, my parents nearly lost everything but as their daughter, I worked hard and did everything I could to ensure that my Mother and Dad were able to keep their home.


My Dad received a bone marrow transplant and went into remission which allowed my Mother to eagerly return back to work - things were looking up! The future looked so bright and then about a year after my Dad went into remission my Mother developed cancer in her right kidney. Ever the fighter, she had most of her right kidney removed yet still returned to work 6 weeks later. Then in less than a year later, my Dad’s cancer returned and my Mother started having health problems - again. Then came the official and devastating diagnosis, my Mother had 13 cancerous tumors in her left kidney. After a very complicated surgery, most of my Mother’s left kidney was removed and she ended up in the Intensive Care Unit. Despite being in recovery herself, my Mother’s generous spirit and faith remained strong, she still managed to care for my Dad — she even returned to work in less than two months! 



Then, about three years ago and unbeknownst to me at the time, my Mom started to decline cognitively and she was abruptly let go from her job. It was then that I began to notice personality changes in my once joyous Mother, she was very depressed, anxious, slept all the time and she would randomly cry. She was constantly in pain, fatigued, and weak however she always kept a smile on her face. Then a blood test revealed that my Mother had Hepatitis C, she had received several blood transfusions in the 80’s prior to Hepatitis C testing. My poor Mother walked around with this virus in her liver for nearly 30 years! 

My Mom began treatment for Hep C two years ago, and while the doctors were able to cure her body of Hep C, the medication had a catastrophic effect on her liver and it shut down. Then last year, my Mom’s kidneys shut down and she had to go on dialysis. My Mom began having major complications and was in and out of the hospital. Despite the complications of her health my Mom still tried her best to take care of me and my Dad - even when she was extreme pain she wanted to be the caretaker, she had the spirit of a giver! 


It was very difficult for my Mom but I told her to be still and relax. It was my turn, my privilege as her loving daughter to take care of her and my Dad. Our lives revolved around their medical treatments and the many visits to the hospital. My Dad had chemo three times a week and my Mom had dialysis 3 times a week, it was God that took us through this process. I would spend my days taking my parents to appointments and my nights working to pay for their care and our household expenses. We are a small and close family. I prayed every single night at work because both my parents were physically unstable on their feet and they both had periods of confusion. 


I thank God for coworkers, friends and neighbors who were understanding and supportive as I took leave and called off work to care for my parents. My Mom always thought of others before herself, even through her suffering she was always worried about my Dad and I. My Mother constantly apologized to me and thanked me for caring for her and my Dad - she never needed to but that's just who she was. I am the woman I am today because of my Mother. And if I had to do this all over again for my Mother I would without any hesitation. When my Mother lost her job her life insurance did not carry over and by the time I looked into another life insurance policy it had lapsed for non-payment. 

So after fighting a brave and courageous battle for many years, my Mother, my best friend, transitioned to eternal peace on Wednesday, April 24th. Before she passed, Mom told my Dad, her husband of 28 years, that her final wishes were to be buried in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas. She worked hard and gave so much her entire life - we would like to be able to fulfill her final wish and take her back home. 

So today, I am asking for help, not for myself  but for a loving, caring and generous woman who served people her entire life and who always put others before herself. It costs $6,000 for the DC funeral home to prepare her body and transport it to Texas and it costs almost the same amount for the Texas funeral home services. My goal with this GoFundMe campaign is abide by her final wish. I know my Mother would do the same for me and anyone else who had a place in her heart.  

Thank you so very much for your generosity. 

Sincerly,
Tasha-Nicole Gunnels