Ulcer is improving

Mike needed another dilation because his food was starting to get stuck some. His last one was on August 13th. He had it done at Hugeley on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd and Dr. Bismar was really pleased to find that the ulcer is improving. He was also glad to find that Mike has gained several pounds. He dilated his esophagus from a 15 to an 18. He said keep doing what we're doing and we'll see what M.D. Anderson says at the end of December when we go back for all the tests.

The requests we asked of all our prayer team.... the Lord is answering....and we are seeing it.

Mike was hungry all the way home. We were so thrilled and thankful for answered prayer that we wanted to celebrate. We went down to the limestone creek for a picnic and Bible study when we got back to the ranch. The weather was great, the sunset was beautiful, the worship was priceless! " O Magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together." Psalm 34:3

Thank you again to all of you faithful prayer partners.

Our love and gratitude,

Jan and Mike

Improving....

It seems that we are seeing some improvement. Mike was beginning to have food getting stuck again around the first week of September and we called to schedule an appointment for the procedure to be done in Houston by Dr. Stroehlein (as Dr. Bismar recommended). We had a delay of about a week. Then we had another delay with the scheduling people because we asked about putting a stint in. But in the mean time, (God's timing again) Mike began eating and swallowing better without food continuing to get stuck. When the physician's office called us back, Mike didn't seem to need a dilation as much as he had the 2 weeks before. They also told us that they don't put stints in except in extreme cases. So we will wait and see but we are encouraged. No weight gain as yet, but no more loss either. M.D. Anderson will schedule us to go back at the end of December to do a PET Scan and an EGD with biopsy. If he needs dilation at that time they will do it while they are in there.

We have no idea what is going on with the ulcerated place.

Pray for continued healing of the ulcer, his weight gain, and praise God with us for the successful swallowing. We are so very thankful.

Also, on the last blog post, someone left a comment. The name was Tammie and her husband Marc had survived Esph. Cancer for 11 years or more. I tried to contact you on your e-mail, but I couldn't get it to go through. If you see this, please leave me a better way of communication, I would love to talk with you. Your comments were encouraging.

I do apologize to all of you who keep checking the blog to find out what is going on. I'm sorry it has been over a month, but the delay this time has given us time to see a turn in the swallowing, which makes us think the scar tissue has slowed down or quit developing. This may not be much but it is significant to us. If our Awesome God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30), then we are sure He knows the millimeters of Mike's esophagus and we believe He has added some to it. Thank You, LORD, for the small things like a millimeter or two, which really are Big things to some people. :)

Thank you all for caring and praying for us.

Much love,

Jan, for the family

Continuing the journey

Mike has had two dilations since the last post. The one on July 16th didn't help much but the last one on August 13th seemed to make things better. He hadn't closed down and they were able to dilate him from a 15 to an 18. Much better than a 10 to a 14 as before. The good news is that he hasn't had any food get stuck since the Aug. 13th procedure. The concern (from Dr. Bismar) is that he isn't seeing any improvement in the ulcerated places. These were caused from the radiation. He has been on meds for the acid reflux for months. So Dr. Bismar is suggesting that he be tested for H-pylori bacteria. He can treat that. He also wants Mike to return to M.D. Anderson for the next dilation so Dr. Stroehlein can see what is going on. Pray that this ulcerated area heals.

An interesting thing happened during this last procedure. Dr. Bismar called me into the room so I could see what he was seeing. After Mike was taken to recovery we talked about all of the above and I asked him about an article that was emailed to me. It disturbed me when I read it. It was written by the head of the Esophageal Cancer program at M.D. Anderson. The point of the article was to explain all about this cancer and tell how they have made progress in the life expectancy now to 3 yrs. I read that and thought well, we have just finished 1 yr. and fear hit me. Does this mean this is the best they can do? Do we have 2 yrs. left? My doctor ( a Suni Muslim) looked at me and reminded me that I had professed to him last year that we were believers and that our faith was in Jesus Christ. He also reminded me of the truth that I already knew. He said, "only God knows the number of our days, it could be today or years from now". Don't put your trust in an article. Mike has done remarkably well. Better than I (Dr. Bismar) even thought her would do. " I knew all that. It was moving to be reminded by this Muslim doctor. I started grinning on the inside. I sort of felt like Daniel might have felt hearing Nebuchadnezzar proclaim truth.

Mike also reminded me not to look at the normal ..... that he isn't " normal". Can I get a witness, those of us that know him well...?

Anyway, God is the God of the impossible and the abnormal.

Mike also reminded me that even if he knew his time was short that he wouldn't change a thing that he is doing right now. He loves getting up every morning and spending time with the Lord. He loves leading the Band of Brothers ministry, teaching bible study and working on the ranch, taking care of God's creation.... ( Mowing and weedeating anything that grows)

Pray for continued healing, the ulcer the scar tissue, his weight gain, strength and stamina.

Pray that I won't fall into a pit of fear and that the Lord will send His messengers to remind me of the truth when I need it.

Now, I need to find some tracts for our doctor. Pray for him.

Our continued thanks for your prayers,

Jan and Mike

July 9th Latest M.D. Anderson results

Praise the Lord for all His Goodness .....even to those who don't deserve it...especially to those who don't deserve it!!!!

I (Jan, the technically challenged one) am attempting to update you who are interested and praying for us continually.  J.J. has been busy and many of you are calling so this is what we found out.  

Mike had a PET scan and an EGD with biopsy done.  The specialist at MD Anderson we went to see back in May, Dr. Stroehlein, did the procedure.  Mike's esophagus had closed because of scar tissue to smaller than 9 mm (this is why his food keeps getting stuck) and the Dr. dilated it to a 14.

The results of the biopsy and the PET scan were good.  NO CANCER!

The Oncologist said he doesn't need to return until 6 months for another PET scan.

Dr. Stroehlein said he doesn't need another biopsy done in his esophagus for a year.

But he also said that Mike needed to continue having his esophagus dilated until the scar tissue quits forming.

We are scheduled to have another one done Thursday, July 16th by Dr. Bismar at Hugeley here.

This will be #6 dilation. That may sound like a lot, but the record at MDA cancer center for dilations from this same surgery is 22.  So we have a way to go :) Hopefully, he won't reach that. Mike says that he worries about all these procedures making him lose his memory, so I'm telling the doctors to just strap him down and run that instrument in there.  He has always had a high pain tolerance. 

Don't think they will listen to me, so please pray that he will have peace about the anesthetics and that they will not cause him any memory loss. 

Mike still is trying to gain some weight and deal with the life changing effects of this surgery but he is still with us and we are all thankful for that. 

Sometimes I watch Mike and I think this is the real meaning of the phrase "the perseverance of the saints".  I also think about all of you faithful prayer warriors and that same phrase comes to my mind.  Thank you all for persevering with us in this battle. Your prayers, love, support, cards, calls, food, visits and everything you have done over the last year have been amazing.

Our God has been faithful, His mercies are new every morning, and each morning He gives us is a gift.  And when that day comes that He calls us home, we know we will be with Him for all eternity because our faith is in Christ alone to save us because of God's Amazing Grace, especially to those of us who don't deserve it.

Amen and Amen and Amen, Again.

We love you all,

Jan and Mike

 Phillipians 1:3

 

Back from Branson

We had a great time in Missouri, first at Kanakuk, then at Big Cedar. Mom and Dad came up and met us for the last 5 days of the trip. Dad had two bad days and then 2 good days. The bad days were tough for him, with some choking, acid reflux, and even some shakes and weakness. The good days followed, and he felt a little better, and even felt like getting in the pool with the grandkids.
Even though he felt bad for a few days, we were still able to go see two very special people. While in Branson, we first went by to visit Darnell White. Her and her husband, Spike White, started Kanakuk Kamps. Dad played football with Joe, one of their sons, at SMU, and then came and worked a summer up at Kamp while still in college. We went by and had the best visit with Darnell, and Dad and her shared old kamp stories and memories. That was a real special time for Dad. The next day we went out to Kamp and Dad was able to visit with Joe, something they haven't been able to do for many years.
As I write this, Dad and Mom are on their way home from my house. We just had lunch together and celebrated Father's Day with Dad and Ray. We are so blessed to have Dad with us again this year.
Tomorrow they are heading to Houston for Dad's 3 month check up, scans, and dilation. We are praying for good results. Thank you for praying for him. Hope all of you enjoy your Dads today.
In Him, JJ

Ups and Downs

New family Picture from Easter Weekend

It has been almost a month since I have updated, YIKES! Sorry for that. Even with the new ideas from the Dr., Dad is staying the same. Not improving really. He has good days and bad days. His weight reached an all time low about a week ago, but then has come back up. So, as far as the weight, he isn't really gaining, he is just fluctuating up and down. Some days he is able to go out and work all day on the ranch, and some days he wakes up sick, not feeling good, and spends the day inside resting. He is on a regular schedule of dilation for his esophagus, which is about every six weeks or so. He is trying to continue life as usual when he is able. The men's ministry meeting down at the Ranch, that they have on the last Thursday of every month seems to be going strong.


The second week of June, Mom and Dad will come join me and the babies up in Branson, Mo, while the big kids are at Kanakuk. We will get to enjoy some time with them at Big Cedar Lodge, and then pick the kids up from Kamp and head home. I am looking forward to that, Dad always enjoys going up to Big Cedar, it brings back so many special family memories of all the years our family went there ever summer, while the kids (Jamie, Tully and Joy) were at kamp. A beautiful place, and a special place to us.


I know, those that pray for Dad regularly, are probably wanting a new request, but it remains the same. Gain weight, gain energy, enjoy life today, for we are not sure we have tomorrow.


Thank you again


JJ and all the Janszen kids

Ideas from the Dr.

Mom and Dad came home last night from a long day in Houston. They were able to meet with a GI guy who specializes in weight issues. He had some ideas for Dad and some things they were going to try. They were both encouraged to have a plan, and something to try, instead of just not knowing what to do. We will pray some of these ideas will work and we can get some weight back on Dad. Also, for those that want to know, Joy made it safely to Zambia. Her blogspot address is on the right side of this blog page, if you scroll down below the pictures.
Thank you for caring,
JJ Ford