Check up at MDA

Dad and Mom had a long day at MDA for Dad's check up appointments. He is still cancer free!!! Hallelujah, but his weight was back down, almost to the lowest it has been. The Dr.s say they are baffled, but they are going to send him to another GI guy down in Houston, who is supposed to be a specialist in long term weight loss problems. They will have to head back down when they get an appointment with him. We are praising God for no return of cancer, but we are crying out to Him for help and answers concerning Dad's weight. Thank you for praying and for checking in on Dad.
In Him, JJ

Good report from the Dr.

Mom got her report back from the Dr. and all is well. He did say it was good that they got the polyps out when then did, but everything came back clear. Hallelujah!! Mom is getting her energy back, but overall feels great.
Dad was back down a few pounds. He has pretty good days, but then will be exhausted others, especially after eating.
Thank you for all those that prayed for Mom, and also thank you for all you marathon prayers, who have continued to pray even though this battle continues to drag on and on for Dad.
I am thankful we have been given these days with Mom and Dad, no matter how many more we get, we are thankful for today.
God bless you today,
JJ and all the Janszen Kids

Mom is doing great!!

Thank you for all your prayers. Mom is doing wonderful, with very little pain. The worst part is when she coughs. She still won't be able to lift anything for awhile, but she really is doing well. Dad is doing good too, and survived the week at home while Mom was in the hospital. I don't have a latest weight gain report on Dad, but they are both on the mend. Yeah!!
In Him, JJ

Mom had surgery

Mom went in yesterday for the colonoscopy, but ended up having major surgery. The Dr. said that he could not remove the polyps with the scope, so he sent her over to the hospital, and praise God, the surgeon was able to operate at 4pm yesterday afternoon. He removed 6 inches of colon, and 6 inches of small intestine (secum) (I think that is correct, but I do know it was 12 inches total). Anyway, he said she should be fine. He did not think it was cancer, but was sending it off to check. She will be in the hospital for the next several days. She is in alot of pain. Dad is doing ok, but tired. She doesn't feel like having visitors yet, but we will see as the pain decreases. Thanks for praying. God is good. I am heading up to the hospital in a few minutes.
In Him, JJ

Still doing good.

This week, Dad had the men's fellowship out at the Ranch on Thursday night. They had a great time, and he didn't lose any weight, which is usually what happens the week he is getting ready for the Band of Brothers. He also had another procedure on Friday to stretch his esophagus out, which went well. They Dr. said that he may not need to come back for another one of these for a few months. They will be heading back to MDA the end of March for another check up, and scan to check for any returning cancer. Mom said he is back up over 150lbs. Yeah!! He came to our house on Tuesday night for our family Valentine's dinner (yes, we were very late). We had a great time of fellowship with Mom, Dad, Joy, and Tully. Dad ate so much, and had to rest afterward, but we were so glad that is tasted good to him, and that we were able to spend some time together.
On a side note, Mom is having a procedure done on Tuesday. She will go in and try to have some polyps (sp?) removed with a scope. They found some last spring, right after they found Dad's cancer, and she has put it off until now, simply because she didn't feel like she had the time with Dad's treatments down at MDA. We are praying that they can do this with the scope, and not have to go in and surgically remove them. Please pray with us over this.
Keep praying for weight gain, and pray for Mom too.
Thank you,
JJ and all the Janszen Kids

Gained some weight!!!

Yeah, finally some good news to report. Mom told me yesterday that Dad had come back from a fishing trip with Tully and had gained 4 pounds. We were all worried about him going on this trip, since they were going to be camping out in tents and eating food cooked over an open fire, but praise God, it was just what he needed.
He had a follow up with the GI guy here in Ft. Worth, and will go back in a week to have another dilation done, as a proactive measure, instead of waiting for Dad to start choking again.
I just wanted to let all you prayer worriers know that God has answered yes to a little weight gain!!!
Keep praying.
In Him, JJ

Little has changed.

I have been needing to post for awhile. I have been busy, but did want to give you all an update. Last Thursday at 6:30am Dad called Ray and said that he had been throwing up and choking since 6pm the night before. He hadn't been able to even hold down a drink of water. This was of great concern to all of us, especially Mom. He went in to a GI guy here at Hugley Hospital and he immediately dilated his esophagus out, which gave Dad immediate relief. He then felt good enough to go to the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo on Friday with all my crew, and then again to Finals on Sunday night. This week he has been doing pretty good, but Mom said that today he had an upset stomach for most of the day, which made him not eat a thing from Breakfast until dinner tonight. He is supposed to go back to the GI Dr. on Thursday for a follow up. We are praying that this digestive thing will improve. He really needs to gain weight, and to do that he needs improvement on the digestion.
Thank you all for being patient with me and my updates.
In Him, JJ Ford