Failed Test

The results this morning were not what we wanted to hear. The scan showed the leak was still there. I called Dr. Bismar (the Dr. who found his cancer originally) this morning to inform him of the weekend events and ask what we should do next. Dr. Hickey (trauma surgeon) talked with him and they decided to transfer Mike to Hugeley Hosp. so Dr. Bismar can monitor his care. They will continue to approach this conservatively. More time will be needed for the body to repair itself. Actually, God is the One Who heals His creation, so I guess we are just waiting on Him. A pic line will be put in place for TPM feedings. They may also do a scope. Hopefully, he can avoid major surgery. Either way, Dr. Bismar will be taking over at Hugeley and he may be able to go home with the pic line.

He's discouraged that he didn't pass his test.

Pray that next time he passes and no surgery will be needed.

Waiting on Him,

The Janszen Family

Happy Thanksgiving

We were looking forward to an extending time with family for the long holiday weekend. Everyone arrived Wednesday evening for Thanksgiving to stay through a family wedding on Saturday.

What started off as a wonderful Thanksgiving with all our family spending several days together, turned into a trauma shortly after a delicious Turkey dinner. Mike was experiencing severe abdominal pain so bad that he needed to go to the emergency room. Ray, our son-in-law, drove him to Cleburne (THR Hospital). Mike passed out (momentarily) with the pain on the way in and was nauseated to the point of volatile wrenching and vomiting.

In 42 years of knowing this man, ( 1 year dating and 41 years married), I never once heard this guy ask for any pain medicine, but this day he was asking for everything. He was given morphine, then phenergen and asking for something else for the pain. Finally after the second round of morphine he begin to ease up. The doctor on call transferred him to ER at Harris downtown Fort Worth so that they would have a thorasic surgeon available in case he needed surgery. The trauma surgeon at Harris ER ordered more tests. He sent him to the trauma ICU for the night because he also had a run in with a bull Thursday morning and had a pretty good bump on the head. The next morning they did more tests and saw a small tear in his esophagus at the site of his cancer surgery. This has been the main source of concern since he came into Harris Thursday night. They decided to keep him in the trauma ICU so they could keep a close watch on him.

Mike has had no more pain since his first episode ended in the Cleburne Hospital.

What the speculation is now is that he tore the esophagus site with his wrenching and vomiting. It is a small tear but the waiting game has begun. They are keeping him for observation until more tests can be run to see if it repairs itself. If not, then surgery may be necessary.

He will have a contrast swallow test Monday morning to evaluate the area.

He asked for a pass to leave the hospital so he could be at the ranch for his nephew's wedding but no deal.

He is hungry and thirsty (IV fluids only) and ready to get out of this place.

He was the only patient doing laps in the trauma ICU, so they finally decided to let him go to the main floor.

Please pray that the tear will be repaired by the time they do the test on Monday. If it is, then they will start him on a soft liquid diet, possibly sending him home Tuesday.

He is sad to have missed out on the family and fun.

Pray also for him to see God's purpose in all of this. We know that God is Sovereign.

Romans 8:28

Thank you all again for praying.

We truly hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

Bless you dear ones,

Jan

Happy Birthday!!!

Blowing out the candles.

"Happy Birthday to You........"

Dad, Sue, and their Mom (Doris Janszen)

Mom has taken over the blog entries, which has been awesome, but I just had to add these pictures from last week. We celebrated Dad and his twin sister's birthdays last Sunday, and I thought these pictures were so cute of them. Praise God for another year with Dad.

In Him, JJ

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