We are almost finished with week 5!!!

(The picture is a little hard to see, but this week Elvis came to visit Dad in Houston!!!)

I can't believe we are about to come to the end of week 5. Praise the Lord that Dad has made it this far without any major side effects. He is continuing to do well, a little tired, and takes several naps a day, but overall he has done remarkably well. He has had a little pain swallowing, but has been able to cope pretty well (using medicine only sometimes).
This is the last week of chemo, so next week will be just radiation. Mom and Dad are thankful for that. Thank you all for praying these last two months with us. Your prayers have no doubt carried us all through this time. We have been covered with the peace of the Lord that passes all understanding.
Continue to pray for God to shrink the tumor to nothing.
Pray for Dad's nutrition, that he will be able to get enough water in his system this week.
Pray for encouragement for them both, as we will be approaching a waiting period before they will come back and do more tests to see if the tumor has shrunk.
We praise God for each one of you who has been reading this blog and walking through this with us.
In His Grace
JJ and the Janszen Kids

Week 4 over and a great weekend with friends.

This past week Mom and Dad had several visitors while down in Houston. This was a nice change and very encouraging to them. Joy went down and stayed the week with them, and then several came by the Hospital. Thank you to the Wrights and Betty Lee for coming to check on them. What a blessing all the friendships are.



Dad has had a great week and has continued to feel better throughout his treatment this past week. He also had a good weekend. Several friends of Mom and Dad's came to the ranch for a visit. I think Dad got a little tired on Sunday, but that is to be expected, even if he didn't have cancer.
Prayer requests for this week:
Dad will continue to feel good, this is supposed to be a tough week.
Dad will be able to stay hydrated, an important thing especially this week.
And of course, that the cancer is shrinking.
Also pray that through this cancer and all that happens because of it, every conversation, every appointment; that God would use it to bring glory to His name and people would come to know Christ through all of this.
Thank you again for praying, JJ and the Janszen Kids

In the Middle of Week 4

(Mom and Dad in Houston getting Chemo this Monday evening.)

(Joy, Dad and Me (JJ), back in March)

This picture was from the first visit we had when we found out Dad had Cancer. Joy sent this to me and I thought I would post it for Ken Smith to see. Ken is an old friend and a ranching buddy who told my Dad to wear his old work clothes and work boots with a little bit of cow manure still on them so the Drs. wouldn't think he had extra money to spend and wouldn't order too many tests. Well Dad did just that, but I am thankful they still ordered the tests and we found out what was going on with him, but thought some of you might enjoy a good laugh. Remember, laughter is good medicine to the bones, hopefully to the esophagus too!!!!

Prayer requests this week: Pray Dad can stay hydrated this week and next. The Dr. told them it is crucial these next two weeks.

Pray for continued strength, Dad is still feeling pretty good.

Praise, Mom and Dad get to have a 3 day weekend at home because of Memorial Day. They are excited about that, and the Dr. said it would not mess up Dad's treatment, they will double up on the radiation on Wed.

Thank you for praying and thank you for loving our family,

We praise God in all of this, JJ and The Janszen Kids

A Good Weekend

(More pictures from this week in Houston.

Everyone at the zoo, and all the kids following Dad through the hospital.)

Mom and Dad got home on Friday, and have had a good weekend. Dad has felt much better this weekend and we are praising God for that. Ray (my husband) and Jesse (our oldest son) went down to the ranch on Saturday morning to help work cattle and said Dad was right there in the middle of it. They said he looked great and his spirits were up. I don't think there is any other reason for this except prayer. Thank you all for your prayers.

The drs. anticipate a low point by the end of this next week, so continue praying. They are half way through with Dad's chemo and radiation treatment. 3 more weeks of Houston. They will head back down on Monday for week #4.

We know God has many purposes in all of this. We know God has Mom and Dad in Houston for this time for a reason. One example: Two weeks ago Mom went to a support group for wives of cancer patients. Only one other lady showed up, and the minister (a woman) was there as well. Mom ended up sharing the gospel with both, and then praying with the other wife while the minister excused herself. God has placed them there for "such a time as this." Praise God if through Dad's battle, that anyone comes to know the Lord. Along with healing for Dad, that is our prayer, that He will use this for His good purposes. We praise God through it all.

In Him, JJ and the Janszen Kids

Our visit to Houston

We just got back from Houston a little while ago. We had a wonderful time with Mom and Dad. We arrived Monday afternoon, me (JJ), with my five children, and Jamie with her two. It was a little crazy since you don't see too many kids around MDA but Mom and Dad had a good time showing them off. Our kids really enjoyed seeing where Babe and Buddy are spending all their time and so did Jamie and I. It is an amazing complex, and their hotel connects to the hospital which is really wonderful for Dad.

I don't know if it was just having the distraction of all the grand kids there, prayer, the medicine this week, or all of the above, but Dad seemed to feel a little bit better this week. We even went and walked around the Houston zoo for about 4 and a half hours today and Jamie and I were more tired than he was. So keep praying for his strength, God surely has given him more this week. He still has his two hardest days to go, but at least he made it through this first half well. Thank you all for praying, keep at it for Dad. After this week we are half way through!!!

In His Unfailing Grace and Mercy, JJ and The Janszen Kids

Heading back for week number three.

( Mother's Day out at the Ranch. May 11, 2008.)

Mom and Dad will be heading back Monday morning to begin week number 3 in Houston. I was with them today, and after talking to Dad for awhile, have some specific prayer requests for all of you....



Dad is really beginning to feel the effects of the medicine in his body. He is surprised at how tired he feels all the time. Even though he felt better on Saturday and Sunday, he said he is not rebounding like he did last weekend. He said it is hard to explain, but he just feels strange and very drained. Please pray for encouragement for him. They are going at him aggressively with all they have, and it is because he is in such good health and shape that they are able to even do this. His body is going to be weak, but I think he is discouraged because he feels so weak. He is nothing of the sort. He is strong to even be able to handle all that they are throwing at him, but I don't think he sees it that way.



He is also feeling some effects of the radiation treatment. They said it would feel like a sunburn from the inside out, on his esophagus. He said he can feel it burning, especially when he tries to eat. Pray that the pain will be minimum.



Pray for Mom as she is serving as number one companion, cheerleader, and nurse. She is insistent on Dad eating and keeping nutrition going into him. She is doing a great job, and Dad is thankful she is there with him in all this.



Jamie and I will be heading down to Houston this week to spend a little time with them. I will post more updates when I return. Please pray for our travel safety.



Thank you for your prayers, JJ and the Janszen Kids

2nd week almost done!!

(Dad and Mom at Jesse's baseball game a few weeks ago)

Dad is doing well. They are into a good routine down in Houston: Treatment (either morning or afternoon), breakfast, workout, lunch, meeting or Dr's. appointment, then evenings together. Mom said Dad does great on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesdays he starts to feel a little more tired, and by Thursday he is pretty worn out. Then Friday morning comes and they get to unplug him from the chemo drip, have one more radiation treatment, then head home to the ranch. Pray for continued strength for Dad and Mom. Pray he gets his rest, as this seems to be very important.

Thank you for praying, JJ and the Janszen Kids

Back down at MDA.

( Dad getting chemo on Monday, all smiles!!)

After a weekend home, Mom and Dad headed back down Monday around 10:00am. They had a nice time at home sleeping in their own bed and being at the ranch. Dad worked all weekend mowing and working cattle. On Saturday, Dad got hit pretty hard by a cow and was banged around between the gate and fence. Mom said she was more worried about the cows killing him than the cancer!! He said even though he worked all day Friday night and Saturday, he felt great. Pray he will know his limits, but if he feels up to it, I am sure it is a great distraction from the week's events.



I saw Mom on Friday night at Jesse's ball game, and saw them both on Sunday morning. They both looked great. I thought Dad looked better Sunday, than he has the last few weeks leading up to his treatment.


The Lord has worked out the schedule for them also. They don't have to be there until 4:30pm on Mondays, and they are finished around 8:30am on Fridays. What a blessing that is.


Thank you all for continuing to pray. We are walking through this feeling like God is going to shrink this cancer and give Dad physical victory over this. We trust the Lord no matter what His perfect will is.


I have to share this with you all. Last week we were praying as we do several times a day for Dad with the kids. It was the day that Dad was going to start his treatments. I spent alot of time praying for the drs and the medicines, that they would all do what they were supposed to do to help Dad. When I finished, Esther, my 7 yr old, said, "Mom, you didn't pray for Buddy!!"


"Yes I did, what do you think I was praying about the last five minutes?"


You prayed for the medicines and the Drs., but you didn't ask God to heal Buddy's throat."


She was right! We stopped right then and prayed again. My children's prayers for their grandfather have been so precious, and I pray they are learning through this as we all are. God is good, He is faithful, His mercies are new every morning. We will trust the Lord no matter what, but we will continue to ask God for Complete healing.


I want to thank you all for your notes you continue to send via this website, and snail mail. They really are an encouragement to our parents. They still can't believe how some of you have found out about what they are going through and that you would be so committed to pray for them.


Thank you all from the bottom of our heart.


JJ and all the Janszen Kids

Mom and Dad coming home on Friday!

(A couple of the reasons why Dad has chosen to fight, Raylee and Ryder.)

After starting treatment on Tuesday and spending their first week in Houston, they will be coming home tom. Things have gone well and Dad seems to be doing good. They are really enjoying being together, what a precious team they are. They have joined the local 24 hour fitness club, so their days consist of treatment, breakfast, work out, lunch, more treatment, then off to dinner somewhere. If Dad wasn't fighting a life threatening disease, this would almost sound like a long vacation. They are planning on making the most of it, by going shopping, movies, and a drive down to Galveston ever so often. Mom said Dad was a little more tired today, resting after breakfast and lunch, but he also didn't sleep well last night. He has a bag hooked to him with his chemo medicine around the clock, so sleeping can be complicated with a tube and bag getting in the way.

Answer to prayer for those that were praying for Dad's appointment to be moved up on Friday. It was moved up to 7am this Friday, and hopefully we can have the following ones moved up as well. So now you can thank the Lord for that.

Pray that Dad can rest well with all his extra attachments.

Pray for Mom that she would not be discouraged.

Pray for their safety traveling back and forth to Houston every week.

Once again, thank you all for even reading this and praying for our family.

You are each playing a roll in this fight with us, you are all part of the team.

In His Grace, JJ and The Janszen Kids