Treatment FINALLY starts today!!

(Mom and Dad having lunch on Sunday before they left on Monday.)

Mom and Dad had a full weekend before they left for MDA on Monday. Dad hosted the men out at the ranch for a Men's Fellowship. Over 100 men were there. Then Mom hosted a Ladies Retreat from our church on Saturday. Around 70+ women attended that. Sunday they were at church, then off to MDA on Monday. They met with Drs., did blood work, and also found out they would be able to stay at the Rotary House,(the hotel that is connected to the hospital), which is a wonderful blessing. They will be able to come and go to the hospital without ever having to get into the car.

We are so thankful the treatment is finally starting today!! They have asked everyone to pray that their radiation treatment time be moved up, at least on Fridays. Right now they have Dad scheduled to do treatment everyday at 4:30 pm. This will make it hard on Fridays with them wanting to come home on the weekends. They are asking to see if there is anyway to have his Friday radiation time moved up to the morning so that they could get on the road at a decent time. Please pray for this.

Pray that these medicines and Doctors will be used mightily to beat this cancer. As I have explained to my children, these medicines, treatments, and Doctors are just tools. They are not the ones who heal. The One who heals is God Almighty. They are nothing more than hammers, screwdrivers, saws, which can do nothing without the Lord our God using them, empowering them, working through them. To Him be ALL the Glory.

Pray for Dad's body to handle this treatment well.

Thank you for praying, JJ and the Janszen Kids

Going to MDA on Monday.

(Dad, this Easter, with one of his granddaughters, Anna Lynn Ford.)

Dad is scheduled to start radiation on Tuesday. They will do some blood work on Monday and then hopefully be able to start that afternoon on the chemo. The nurse told them she thought they should be able to. So that is our prayer. I think Mom and Dad are ready to get started. I am excited to see how Dad does with this. They said they are going to be very aggressive with their treatment because he is such a great candidate for it. I feel like Dad is going to do well. He is mentally tough, and physically as well. He has always excelled in expectations as far as his medical treatments go. He drove himself home from one of his own ortho knee surgeries (not recommended!!!!!), and only about a week and half after he had both knees replaced, he was walking without a walker or crutches and driving around the ranch in the truck (also not recommended!!) He has always been able to handle pain well, but the tiredness may get to him a little. Anyway, we will see, and we will look forward, expectantly, to how he will walk through this.


Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"


Eph. 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power, that is at work within us."


To God be the Glory no matter what, JJ and all the Janszen Kids

Body Mold and next Prayer Request

Dad and Mom are heading to Houston on Wednesday for all the work up and prep work to start the treatment. They will make a mold of Dad's body for the radiation treatment so that every time Dad gets into position on the table for the radiation, it will be in the exact same position as last time. This will help in the accuracy of the radiation and where they are hitting him with it.

Our next big prayer request is that we can start treatment next Monday. We are ready to get things going and are wanting to get started as soon as possible. Pray that things go well on Wed. and that they are able to quickly get him scheduled to start. With the radiation being 5 days in a row, if he doesn't get to start Mon., then they may have to wait another whole week before they can begin.

Thank you all for praying. It is an amazing thought as to how many times my Dad's name is being lifted up before the throne of God. How humbling to think that so many of you would take time to pray for us. Thank you all and may God bless you.
In Him, JJ for All the Kids.

The decision is.........

Buddy's cheerleading squad.

(The 4 granddaughters, Ruth, Esther, Raylee, and Anna)

They are going to MDA. Thanks for everyone praying. Now the battle begins. I will let everyone know more details as they come up. You each are a blessing to our family, JJ

Pray for Wisdom

Mom and Dad are on their way back from MDA. The appts. went well today, and they really liked the Drs. The treatments are basically the same, with a few minor differences between here and there. They need clear direction. Mom asked specifically for everyone to pray that they would know where to get the treatment. No matter where they choose, it will start next week. We will let you know as soon as they make their decision. Thank you for praying, JJ

First Test Down and a Little Good News.

(This is "Buddy" with his two youngest recruits to Team Janszen, Ryder Rutledge (Jamie's baby), and Joshua Ford (J.J.'s baby). They are both 2 years old and this was at Thanksgiving.)

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

My friend sent this to me today to remind me of Who is in charge and how we may grow weary and tire of waiting, but He will renew us, renew Dad and Mom. Praise God, He is good all the time.

A quick update for today's test, the EUS. Dad had it done today, all went well. We were encouraged that the Dr. said the cancer is a 2 in most places and a 3 in some places. The lymph node is also infected, but the Dr. sounded encouraged that it is not an advanced stage 3 as we thought. Yes, still a stage 3 in some parts of the tumor, but not so advanced. They feel it is very treatable. Praise God for that. Dad will have a Pulmonary test tom., then meet with all the oncologists at MDA on Thurs. Thursday will be a big day. We need much prayer for wisdom and clear leading. They will be presented with MDA's protocol and then will need to make a decision as to where to receive Dad's treatment. Please pray for no confusion, for clear leading for both Mom and Dad, that they can be in agreement about this decision. Pray for peace in the waiting the next few days, and also pray for speed to get treatment started soon. Dad had a bad choking episode Saturday night, where he choked for 2 hours. The Dr. today said he had a 70 percent blockage, so no wonder he is having trouble swallowing. So the sooner the better that we start attacking this thing. Thank you for so many of you praying and joining this fight with us. We could not do it without your prayers. May God be glorified throughout this whole process. He is good!!

For the Kids, JJ

The Tests are Scheduled at MDA!!!

It is Friday night, and we were out of town for a few days with no internet. A few things have happened since Tues. God has answered prayer by getting Dad's tests scheduled.

On Wed., we were told that MD Anderson would not be able to perform an EUS (endoscopic ultra sound) until April 29th. We all about flipped!! This would possibly put off Dad's treatment, if we went with MD A, for another 3 to 4 weeks. This, we felt, was unacceptable. Mom and Dad called their Dr.s up here to see if they could have some pull down in Houston to speed things up a bit. In the mean time, we went ahead at Huguley and got Dad's CT scan for his markings on where they will aim the radiation treatment at him. On Thursday, the Dr. from MD A called and had gotten the tests scheduled for next Tues., then a Pulmonary test on Wed., and meetings with the Oncologist and Radiation Oncologist on Thurs. They will then head back up to Ft. Worth to have Dad's port put in on Friday. We are praising God that the tests at MDA got moved up to next week.

What we really need prayer for now is that God would work through all these Drs. involved, here and at MDA, that they would be willing to consult and work together for Dad's best, and that no egos would play a part in any decisions made for Dad's care and treatment. Also for mom and Dad, that they would have clear leading and direction as to where to go for Dad's treatment.

One last thing, strength for them both, they are tired from all the coming and going to the Drs. appointments, and now back and forth to Houston again. And Mom has an added struggle, she is in a boot right now, due to a torn achilles tendon. She is pictured above with her boot.

Thank you again for all your prayers. Our family is blessed and humbled by your friendship. JJ, for all the kids

No news from MD Anderson yet.

Mom and Dad came home today from a long day at MD Anderson yesterday. They will need to return to Houston just as soon as they can schedule their tests. We are not sure when exactly these will be, but probably in a few days. Until these tests are run and MD Anderson has a chance to give there full assessment, Dad has postponed all procedures in Ft. Worth. Pray that these needed tests will be scheduled quickly and that all information can be gathered so that they can make a wise decision as to what treatment and where to receive it from. Thank you for your prayers, and also thank you already for your comments of encouragement you have posted. I will make sure Mom and Dad see them.
Thank you from all the Janszen Kids, JJ

The Cowboy vs. Cancer

TEAM JANSZEN: (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) JAMIE RUTLEDGE, TULLY JANSZEN, JAN JANSZEN, JOY JANSZEN, MIKE JANSZEN, AND J.J. FORD

(THE REST OF THE TEAM WILL BE PICTURED ON A LATER BLOG)

Hello to all our blessed friends and family from the Janszen Family. Thank you for caring enough to come to this website and check on the progress of our Dad (Mike Janszen) as he begins this battle with an opponent that he has never had to face before. We are so thankful for all of you who have called and written. How blessed our father is to have sooo many who love and care for him.

As the news spread about Dad, the phone calls increased, almost to an innumerable amount. Mom and Dad, wanting to talk with each of you and share the information, quickly realized it was almost impossible to call everyone back in between doctor's visits, traveling back and forth to the hospitals, tests, and just life itself. This website was a suggestion from my dad's best friend as a way to help all those interested in Dad's progress to be able to keep up with what is happening. I will try to keep it up to date on a regular basis. Feel free to check back as often as you like.

We are so thankful for all of you and covet your prayers for Dad and Mom during this time. If you would like to communicate to them that you are thinking or praying for them, please consider a card or letter, as they will have much time on the road and in waiting rooms, and plenty of time to read them together.

Thank you for loving our family,

JJ Ford ((The oldest) for all the Janszen Kids)

Mom and Dad's address:

Mike and Jan Janszen

18391 FM 56

Kopperl, TX 76652

A quick timeline for those who have been asking:

Winter /Spring 2007- Dad had a few symptoms of problems swallowing when eating, but then they passed.

About 6 months ago- Choking returned when eating some meals, especially supper.

About 3 months ago- Choking getting worse at times, but not all the time.

March 22, 2008- Dr. appt. with Dr. Bismar (gastrointestinalogist) suggests the possibility of cancer. Schedules a scope for Monday morning (March 24)

March 24, 2008- Dr. thinks it is cancer before even getting path. report back.

March 26, 2008- Dad has PET Scan to search for any other cancer in the body.

March 27, 2008- Dr. appt's. again to find out he doesn't have stage 4, it is no where else in the body, (Praise God), but now we must meet with the Oncologist.

April 1, 2008- Dad went to have a biopsy of a spot on his head to see if it is something we need to be concerned about.

April 2, 2008- Dad had an endoscopic ultra sound done to stage the cancer. He was staged at a 3 with a possible lymph node involvement.

April 3, 2008- They met with the Oncologist and the Radiation Dr.s to discuss a plan of action and treatment.

April 6, 2008- Dad and Mom went down to MD Anderson to meet with Dr.s there to discuss possible options and compare with what they have been presented with up here in Ft. Worth. No new news today except that MD Anderson wants to perform their own round of tests. They are concerned about the findings on the lymph node. Tests are yet to be scheduled.