News from MDA

We wanted everyone to know that the results from MDA were what we expected to hear, considering Dad's condition.  The cancer has continued to spread through the liver, as well as other spots in the abdomen.  The only option that the Dr. gave Dad was chemo.  He said it would probably increase the symptoms he already has, so this is not something that Dad really wants to do, considering how difficult things have been.  Mom and Dad left the appointment with a peace, a peace that must have only come from God.
He is just a few days into this new nutritional therapy with this new Dr. in Dallas, and he is starting round two of the new IV's tomorrow.  The good news is, that Dad has gained some weight back, since he started these new IV's just about a week ago.  The amount is to be debated, but we think at least 8 to 10 lbs!!! Mom and I were so excited about that.  Dad said if he could transfer that into energy, then he would be excited too. :) We are thankful, non-the-less, for the weight gain.
So we will continue to pray for strength, and stamina to hang in there, for the serum to arrive on Jan. 18th.  We are hopeful.  Our hope is in the Lord. We know, aside from God touching Dad with a miracle, this cancer is not supposed to be curable, but we will continue to pray, and thank God for every day we are given.
Surprisingly, this evening, Mom and Dad stopped at our house, on their way home from the all day Dr's appointment and pharmacy visit, picking up his new batch of IVs, to see if they could eat supper with us, then take us all to the movie. I really couldn't believe Dad had the energy, but he rested for awhile, then we ate supper, and all of us, 5 kids included, and Joy, went to the movie together.  It really was nice, like old times.  My Dad and Mom have always been big movie fans, and we have loved going to the movies together as a family.  This was a sweet time for us all.
We thank the Lord for special little moments like these.
Keep praying with us, that strength will build, weight will come, and the serum will bring some help.
We are grateful for each of you.
God is good. Happy New Year from the Janszen (Ford, Rutledge) Family,
JJ

In the waiting room

I'm in the waiting room while Mike gets a PET scan at M.D. Anderson.  Seems like I've been in God's waiting room for nearly 4 years now. Mike has had some rough days. No change or improvement in recent days. It is so hard to watch him struggle.  The only thing that seemed to spur him up off the couch was the fear of me (Jan) paying the bills. He was motivated to move pretty quickly. :)
Joy is with us in Houston as we will wait to get results tomorrow.  We will visit our friends in Brenham as well.
While driving down we listened to a pod cast of Louis Gigglio from Passion City Church in Atlanta. It was very encouraging especially a quote from A.W. Tozer.  He wrote in one of his books, "What God has done at any time He can do now. Wherever God has done it, He can do it here.  What He has done for anyone, He can do for you."
Wow! God isn't limited by anything.
Don't know what tomorrow holds, but trusting the One Who holds it.
Please pray with us as we continue to ask God to intervene.


Waiting with our Lord,
Jan
Isaiah 40:31 
But those who wait on 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.

Merry Christmas

Wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas.  


I was blessed to read a devotional from a friend of mine from Baylor.  She is the mother of a severely disabled child and faces challenges every day, that I can't even begin to imagine.  She is a precious believer and she wanted to encourage us this Christmas with some of her thoughts.


The main point of the devo was this.  For Mary and Joseph, the first Christmas was probably not at all what they expected or maybe even wanted.  After traveling so far, had God not even provided a place for them to stay?  When Mary's water broke that night, had God really intended for her to have this baby in a dirty smelly barn?  Surely God did not know the baby was coming tonight. Surely He, if He cared, if He really was paying attention to them, would never have wanted this.  This is not at all what they would have planned.  But yet, it was exactly what He planned.  He had a reason and a purpose for this not being what we would consider the Norman Rockwell picture of the first Christmas.


This was so encouraging to me.  This Christmas, even though it seems a little off, not exactly what we would have planned.  Surely this is not how the Lord would want this day to go, surely He is missing something, not realizing what is happening?! But He does, He is, and He is with us. God with us, right,?Isn't that what Christmas is all about?  We may feel like we are in the stinky stable, not exactly what we would have planned, but God did.  He is here with us, with me.  He loves to shine His glory, His beauty in the ugliest of places, the smelly places.


This morning, Dad had a pic line (sp?) put in, so that he could receive the nutritional IVs easier than mom having to stick him every time.  He went to a new Dr. in Dallas yesterday, and this Dr. thinks he can help Dad feel better.  They are starting him on a different set of nutritional IVs today, so we will pray that these lift him up, physically, as well as emotionally. 


They go back to MD Anderson right after Christmas.


They are driving back right now from Dallas, and not sure where they will stay tonight, my house or the Ranch, not sure which church service, if any, they will be able to make.  Not exactly what they pictured their perfect Christmas Eve to be like.  But we will praise God, that we, like Mary and Joseph, were not sure about these plans, His plans, but God was and is.  It may not look or feel like we think it should, but God is working His perfect plan and purposes in our lives.


To Him be Glory for Ever and Ever, Amen
JJ

Update on Dad

I just wanted you all to know how Dad is doing. 

Good news first..... His blood arrived safely in Germany this week, so pray for speed and wisdom and insight for Dr. Horst Kief, the doctor who will be making this serum with Dad's blood.  Pray that this could be part of the answer for help for Dad.  Pray for speed, and a quick return of the serum (they estimate 4-6 weeks).


I spoke with Dad tonight and he is very weak.  He is exhuasted and is worn out just getting up and getting ready for the day.  He told me about all he can do is rest right now, and hang on until this serum comes back from Germany.  He traveled quite a bit this week with a funeral, then a doctor's appointment in Cleburne, and the blood draw in Dallas on Monday, and it seems to just completely take it out of him.


Again, for those of you that have known Dad pre-cancer, this is so odd to think about Mike Janszen this way. 


He is still getting the nutritional IV's, but his veins are struggling as well.  It is getting harder and harder for Mom to find a good one to put the needle in.  As you can imagine, this is difficult on Mom, very difficult, for both of them.


Pray for strength for Mom as she cares for Dad, and strength for Dad to hang in there. Keep praying for a miracle.  


We are so thankful to walk through this with you, your prayers are what sustain this family, and we covet them for Mom and Dad.


Thank you,
JJ 

Dad's condition

Family and Friends,

After speaking with my sister yesterday, we felt it was important to let everyone know how Dad is doing. I wish that I could tell you things were moving in the right direction, and that the nutritional therapy was working, but it seems that he is losing more strength and energy every day.

We were able to spend Thanksgiving together, all of us but Joy, (she is still in Africa, but will be home on Dec. 15th for a few weeks) anyway, while we were together in the same house for 3 days, we were all able to witness first hand, the weakness and decline of Dad's health.

For those of you that have known Dad for many years, this is a very different way to describe Dad.  He has been an ox my whole life, able to shoulder anything, and now seems to just struggle getting though the day. Not resting well, not being able to eat much, it has been very difficult, especially for Mom, as she continues to prepare healthy food, protein shakes, give him the nutritional IV's, and take care of his needs.  And to not see results, positive results, has been discouraging.

I felt the need to be very honest in this post, so that those of you who pray for Dad and Mom, can know exactly how to pray and how important it is that we continue to ask for a miracle.

One new positive that is on the horizon is this...... On Dec. 13th, we will be overnighting some of Dad's blood to a Dr. in Germany, who is going to make a serum out of it, and put it back into Dad approximately 6 weeks later.  This Dr. has been treating different diseases, as well as cancer, with a pretty good success rate.  There is an American extension to this Dr. right here in Dallas.  We have spoken with them in length, and both Dad and Mom feel that we should proceed.  But all the medical part is done in Germany, thus, the overnighting of the blood.

We are continuing to ask God for a miracle.  Total healing. If God chooses to use this Dr. in Germany, then great!!!  If He chooses to just touch him, aside from any medicine, then great too!!

God is good, His ways surely don't make sense to us at times, but He is still worthy to be praised.

Below I have attached some pictures from Thanksgiving.

Thank you for praying and for trusting God with us,

JJ

mom and dad, thanksgiving prayer time

6 of the 7 grandkids eating thanksgiving dinner

mom and dad

mom with the 3 of the 4 kids

some of the grandkids watching football games

If you feel lead, please drop a note of encouragement to Mom and Dad, the address is on the top right corner of this blog.