Saturday July 04, 2009

Hello loved ones, sorry for not updating in a while. Much has been happening in the Manser family...Kim and Patrick married July 19th 2008, and we all went on the cruise that was to be a graduation present for Kim. We enjoyed the trip immensely, as well explored the eastern Caribbean. Kim and Pat then moved to Maine for Kim's job. They were there for about 9 months when Kim was laid off in the 3rd round of lay offs. Not to worry, God has a plan! They have returned to Rochester and Kim will get her Master's, tuition free and with pay to boot,at RIT. Pat is working again at the outdoor sports store and will begin classes in the fall for his degree. (How wonderfully God orchestrates our path.) They are currently living in Pat's mothers house, that has been on the market for a little while, but hasn't sold yet. They show the house on weekends and are rent free. They have time to find an appt. in Rochester now without to much pressure. They are happy newlyweds and are planning a little get-away for their anniversary that is rapidly approaching. Miss Kate has just graduated from high school onJune 27th. She will attend Roberts Wesleyan College in the fall to become an art teacher. This is a blessing to behold. She is so talented and has been given scholarship money as well as an award for her art work. God is good! Kate wrote a message on top of her mortar board for graduation, I could spot her in the see of graduates very easily, her message was to Daddy. Orientation was the day after her grad party, and she loved it. She will begin classes Aug. 31st. I am doing well. God walks with me each and everyday, and I am amazed at His provision for us all. I am still working at the dentist office of my childhood and love the "hometown" feel of it all. I turned a half century this year, yeah, ok, moving on. I think the cat (Sassy) and I will have some adjusting to do with the empty nest thing, but as with all things, time marches on. I'll be busy sending care packages to to Kate and her friends at various colleges around the states, as well as cleaning the house of unwanted debris...dumpster anyone? Jim's tree is growing in leaps and bounds. (It was planted four days after he passed.) Various pictures from Wedding, prom, graduation, etc. are being taken as we make our way through our lives on this side of the cross. It's hard to believe that it's almost two years. We miss Jim everyday, but know in our hearts he is with us. We just keep on keepin on and trust the Lord in everything. My Jim has welcomed another family member home as of November 2008, my big brother Dave. Sudden stroke at age 51...man of God and a big teddy bear of a man. "Unky Dave", as he's called by his nieces and nephews, is no doubt walking those streets of gold with all those who have gone before us. I did receive a wonderful gift for my birthday this year...I will be a great Aunt in Oct., as God has brought the first baby of the next generation into view via ultrasound. Just like God says in His Word, "a time for every purpose under Heaven." (Eccl.3:1-8) No matter the season you are going through, trust in Jesus and lean on Him, for He loves you more than you can imagine. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. Love, Patti and family

Thursday June 26, 2008

Hello everyone. Quick update on the girls and I. God is wonderful and we are experiencing His blessings every time we turn around... I have a new job working at my dentist's office. Been going there since the 1960's!(Great group of girls in the front office where I work.) It's 5 min. away and I'm home with Kate nights and weekends. Katie is now officially a senior in high school. She'll graduate June of 2009. She's still dancing up a storm, and performed a beautiful lyrical dance at recital (along with 12 other dances.) Perhaps she'll get a permit this summer and begin to drive; she's now 17 as of May 15th. Kim graduated from RIT on May 24th and got a job at Fairchild Semi-conductors in Portland,Maine (the call came in during commencement ceremony); she starts Aug. 11th. Kim turned 23 on the 28th of May. She calls me at work on her birthday to tell me she is engaged. (I knew this was coming since Pat asked for her hand secretly on Christmas Day. I told him she has to have diploma in hand first.) Patrick Matthew Kolb is her fiance` and they have been dating for 16 months. We are putting a wedding together in 7 weeks and everything is done already. July 19th is the Wedding. My graduation present for Kim is now their honeymoon...a cruise! (I hope you all are keeping up.) Pat will finish his college studies in Maine. How am I handling all this...through God! One thing my daughters and I know is that life here is short compared to eternity. Let go and let God have the riegns of your life. He will not disappoint! Until next time...be blessed and be a blessing. Love in Jesus, Patti, Kate, Kim and Pat.

Tuesday December 04, 2007

Hello Everyone, Just wanted to let you know how we are doing. God's grace has certainly been sufficient for us in many ways. We can testify that God is faithful to care for the widow and her children. Our lives have been changed for ever, but we lack no good thing in the sight of God. Kate is doing well in school. Made honor roll. She keeps busy with dance and friends. Kim has finished her last co-op for college and will graduate in May from RIT. I am keeping busy with Bible study and friends. Still work at the business, and the dance studio twice a week. Keeping busy is very helpful for all of us. We pray that you and yours will have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Remember, as we celebrate Jesus' birth, He is coming again. We hope you are ready when He returns. Jim loved to sing and would often do so at our Christmas Eve Service. If you hear the song, "Mary did you know?", remember Jim...he loved singing that one. Peace to you all, Patti, Kim and Katie

Sunday July 29, 2007

Dear Precious Ones, Kimberly, Katelyn and I are so blessed by all the words of love and prayers. We want you to know that our "journey" with Jim didn't end with his passing from this side of the cross to the other. With Kim holding one hand and Katie holding the other, and me cheek to cheek with Jim, we walked him home to the Lord. Our love for our Savior has increased with each day and we will continue to lean on Him for our support. For anyone who does not yet know Jesus as their Lord, and Saviour, please do not hesitate. Eternity awaits us all and we will all "transition" one day. Thank you for walking this road with us. Jim can be found worshipping Jesus, front and center, in heaven upon arrival. We too will look for you there. In my husband's words: Be Blessed and Be a Blessing. Patti, Kim & Katie

Monday July 16, 2007

Our dearly beloved James Clark Manser went to be with his heavenly father around 3:30 am on Monday, July 16th. He was surrounded by family, friends and a host of angels to welcome him home. He will be greatly missed as a husband, father, brother, son, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend and most of all, a great example of how a man of God should live. March on Jim! Sing dance and praise unto the Lord.

Saturday June 23, 2007

Hello everyone, Patti typing. We wanted to update you all on Jim's journey. First let me say that we are praising the Lord and thanking Him each and every day for His love and goodness to us. His love for those that belong to Him is precious, and never ending. Jim as you know has had problems eating due to pain in his throat from the radiation. A "scope" was done two weeks ago and revealed that he has radiation "ulcers" in his esophagus. New meds were prescribed and we have also opted to do a feeding tube to try to build up strength and aide in healing the "ulcers". We had a CT done the same week. The scans revealed that the cancer has spread to another set of lymph nodes in the abdominal area. There also appears to be something new in the lungs. (Dr. says could be from radiation.) We are now going to use what seems to be the last drug in the arsenal from a human standpoint called "Tarceva". Our insurance denied us coverage for this but God supplied a blessing through a group called "Genentech". There will be no cost to us. Jim's words,at the last Dr. appt., were..."I'm a fighter, God hasn't told me anything different, LET'S GO! So precious loved ones...the fight goes on. God's will be done and we thank you for walking with us on this journey. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jim, Patti, Kim and Katie xoxoxoxo

Sunday April 29, 2007

Hello Everyone. Time for an update on Jim. Results from the MRI have shown no trace of cancer in the brain. Praise the Lord! The lymph nodes in the chest and by his left kidney remain the same size, with no cancer detected anywhere else. In medical terms...he is stable. We are continuing with chemo at the present time. This cycle will end in June with another CT at that time. We are thankful for this good news and continue to trust in the love and faithfulness of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Your prayers, cards, comments, etc. are a blessing to us. Our living room is full of good wishes, and prayers, cards and emails, as well as a banner made by the Children's Church kids from New Hope (our church). "Trust in Me and know that I am God!" This is the message we hold on to. No matter what, we are the children of the living God, and nothing can separate us from Him. Our eternity is set, and we pray that yours is as well. We love hearing from you, Patti, Jim & Girls

Friday April 06, 2007

Hello everyone, Patti at the keyboard. Just a quick update for you all. Jim has finished radiation treatments and chemo. We are taking a break for about a month to let things heal. Jim has lost some weight due to his throat being sore from radiation. (Makes it tough to swallow.) He is doing better. He continues to work four days a week with reduced hours. He is leading worship this Resurrection Sunday at church. Can't keep a good man down, especially when God has called him to be a worship leader...it is who he is! Jim is scheduled for a CT and MRI on April 25th. We will get results on the 27th and go from there. Thank you for all your prayers, love and support. May God bless you and yours this Easter. 'Til next time... Patti, Jim and girls

Monday March 26, 2007

Sounds like plumbing! Patti and I are heading out to Upstate medical Center in Syracuse NY right now to have a "port" installed for the infusion of future chemo drugs. Outpatient procedure. Ran out of good veins in my arms for needles. Did not to go to the ankles which they said would be next, but very short term if it was "authorized" at all by my chemo doctor. So we are off. Actual procedure is scheduled for 7AM ET, Love in Jesus Christ to all! Jim and Patti and Girls

Monday February 19, 2007

Believe it or not, I am back. It has been 8-9 weeks since my last chemo treatments and my last post. The radiation treatments on my brain ended on Wednesday, 07 February 2007. I cannot have a second MRI of my brain until 4-6 weeks after the last treatment, which will be the last week of February, or the first week of March. No sooner because I have to be weaned off some drugs I was taking through the treatment and to make sure that any and all swelling of the brain has gone away. Then we will see exactly what God has done. I had a CT of my chest, abdomen and pelvic area on 14 February 2007. Please keep this in mind. I have had no treatments to the cancer in my body except my brain for just over two months. Let me talk of the faithfulness of God. The new CTs show no enlarging or other spread of the untouched cancer during the two months it was untreated!!! Untreated!!! Thank you Jesus!!! Again the reports from the CTs refer to the cancer as unremarkable, (if they only knew me and God better) and stable. So now we embark on new path. I have begun radiation treatment of the medialstinal (middle of the chest cavity between the lungs and behind the sternum) and the hylar lymph nodes on Monday, 19 February 2007. I had my first accompanying chemo treatment today. We are using a drug called Taxotere. It is designed to break down the walls of the cancerous cells to allow the radiation to be more effective while leaving more of the healthy cells intact. The big snowstorms up here have messed up my treatment schedule. However, I will have radiation Monday through Friday for a total of 30 days (six weeks) which is scheduled to end on Friday, 23 March 2007. (I will have to make up days missed, so it might go a little longer.) The chemo treatments will be once a week every Friday for the duration of the radiation treatments. The chemo treatments will continue based on the effect the Taxotere has on the cancer. The next CTs are scheduled for the week of 16 March 2007. The chemo doctors say they can tell a difference of the chemo drugs versus the effect of the radiation on the cancer. OK – God and me will wait. Lastly, the lymph nodes behind my left kidney cannot be treated with radiation. The amount of radiation deemed necessary to “kill” the cancer, would destroy my kidney. The doctor’s decision is to leave the lymph node by my kidney alone and not touch it. I requested surgery to remove it and was told that the risks outweighed the benefits. We talked and for now I agreed to allow the Taxotere to work on this specific area of the cancer to see what occurs between now and the next CTs. There’s my prayer request. God remove the cancerous lymph nodes by your own hands or multiply the effectiveness of the Taxotere to do so. I am trusting you for all the other healing – why not here too! Again, the effective prayers of the saints that have joined with me have been heard at the altar of God. He has sustained me through periods of non-treatment and I stand as a testimony of His healing and His grace. This is what God promised when all this began. Now all of you, and my family and I have a great opportunity to stand on this testimony and share of the love, healing and faithfulness of God through this journey! Let us stand boldly and proclaim it to a lost and dieing world to draw them to the kingdom of God. Thank you all for prayers, support, letters and email. Again I cannot explain in words just how much I covet these blessings for my family and myself. We love you all in Jesus Christ our Lord and are praying for you as well. Jim and Family.

Monday January 22, 2007

Monday, 01-15-07 through Sunday, 01-22-07 was my first full week of RT! God is good! Like with the chemo I had to figure out a few things relative to how it effects my body, but that did not take long from the chemo experiences I have already had. All is going well. Still have the mesh-head syndrome from the mask. I had bout with some intestinal problems last week. Seems I picked up a bug that was going around. Little disappointing in that a depressed immune system cannot respond like I wanted it too before going through all this. Instead of 24-36 hour thing, I was laid up for four days. God was faithful that I was able to make treatments on the last two days of the week, but I was "out for the count" as they say for the weekend. Today I have a renewed strength and I stand on the verse "This is the day that the LORD has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!" Join with me this week that everyday will be focused on this verse for you and me! No matter what a day brings this week God knew of it and has a victory for us in it. This week is my next full week of RT then a partial week next week. I am ready for what God wants to do in my life through me for the impact of the kingdom of God in the life's of others around me. Are you? Let's go encourage the world around us with the delivering power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If you cannot resolve in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of your life, I beseech you with the strongest motivation of my heart that you speak with someone that God has laid in your path to find your salvation and the peace that all of us so richly deserve. I have said it before and repeat it here, you can speak with me at norton01@verizon.net. Do not hesitate to speak with or about God - it is an eternal decision! In closing again allow me to thank all of you for your encouragement and prayers. It is without a hesitation of doubt our part, my family and I, that we feel that impact of the prayers of the saints at the altar of incents in the throne room of God. These are the very prayers that Jesus Himself hears to intercede for us before an Almighty God during this time of challenge and trust for us. With all our heart, we thank you. Be blessed and be a blessing!

Sunday January 14, 2007

Just a quick note! Had two RT treatments last week on Thursday and Friday. God is so good. No side effects at all. Will have 2-1/2 more weeks of RT then a MRI. In 1-1/2 weeks the oncologist and the radiologist will sit down with Patti and me to arrange RT and chemo for medialstinal lymph nodes between my lungs. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Love to each of you. Jim and Family.

Wednesday January 10, 2007

Today turned out to be a final Spiderman mask fitting. They needed to match and mark the optic nerves and sinus cavities this time. RT starts tomorrow. For now I will go M-F every day at 3:45pm for a total of three weeks. As I mentioned the other day, during the second week Dr DeJesus will speak with the oncologist Dr Graziano, about RT treatment with chemo for the lymph nodes in my chest. God is in control! Speak with all of you later.

Monday January 08, 2007

Ok. Saw the radiotherapist today. Love this part. Her name is Maria DeJesus. That’s right. We went and saw Mary of Jesus. The great physician … Dr of Jesus. We discussed with her as well. Very receptive. Do not think this is the first time she has thought of that or heard that. Today we discussed all that would transpire during my radiotherapy (RT). The lesions are five located in the brain above my left ear. The largest is 1cm, the next 5mm and the others all smaller than that. I knew from talking with the oncologist that in the brain the cancer can “hide”. Dr DeJesus confirmed that today. Because of this I will receive full brain radiation in the effected area. She described it as spreading seed on the ground. Even though some of the seed grows and is visible there is still some seed underground and not bursting forth yet. The full brain radiation will get any cancer that has not yet “grown” up yet to be seen. They consider me a young, strong man capable of receiving the amount of RT necessary to accomplish this task. The first step is to go in tomorrow and receive, what I call, my Spiderman mask. It is a net pullover for my head that they will mark my head for where the radiation will be applied to my head. And best of all, I get to keep it when this is all done! The actual RT will begin on Wednesday or Thursday depending on their schedule. I will have three weeks of RT for the brain. During the second week Dr DeJesus will speak with the oncologist, Dr Graziano, about treating the medialstinal lymph nodes with RT and chemo since the chemo today has not offered any reduction in size and most recently has allowed some enlargement. Dr DeJesus did express concern that I will possibly be on my fourth choice of chemo drugs fighting this cancer. She is concerned about the resistance built up by the cancer and she wants the RT to work with the chemo drugs. When the second week comes up she will speak with Dr Graziano regarding all of this. The three weeks is for the brain only. Any treatment of the medialstinal lymph nodes would be after the three-week brain treatment. I expressed concern to the oncologist and Dr DeJesus about no chemo treatment during the brain radiation treatments because this would be a five-week duration with no chemo treatments. Both the doctors reinforced that dual treatment would probably have such a negative effect on my body that I would be so weak that would not be able to continue both treatments, therefore receiving no treatment for either at all without an unwanted break. Do not want that, so we will stick with their plan … three weeks of RT for the brain and during the second week of treatment discuss the medialstinal RT treatment. Right now I am taking a steroid, Decadron, to keep any swelling down in the brain. I will begin to come off that during the second week of brain RT. I am on a drug called Keppra also to control the possibility of any more seizures, although both doctors believe that the reoccurrence of a seizure is slim. We appreciate the prayers that we know approach the altar of God on our behalf and cannot thank each of you enough. God is on the throne and in control! We thank Him for all He has already done and look forward to Him fulfilling His promises. More to come as more is known. Love to you all, Jim and Family.

Friday January 05, 2007

Please pray for my wife and daughters. Hearing this news is difficult and challenging. Prayer their faith be built up and the comfort of the Holy Spirit will surround and penetrate them. My desire is to be transparent. I do not want to be seen as unemotional or stoic, but I trust my God for the path laid before me. I stand on the Rock, Jesus Christ, that cannot be shaken. I may waiver in the winds of the storms of life, but Jesus calms the storms. Pray that our family, stands in this security. Thanks.

Friday January 05, 2007

Ladies and gentlemen, here is part 2 as promised. If you have not done so already, I ask that you to please read part 1 because it is an important prayer request for a friend of mine. Thank you. Now, as far as I am concerned, if you remember way back to a post in October 2006 I mentioned I had a coughing spell that caused me to “black-out”. I had not had another such “spell” until this Christmas Eve 2006. I was blessed that one person still hanging out with us was my wife’s sister that works at an extended care facility and has witnessed such “spells” with the elderly. Based on what she saw me experience, she was concerned that it was a seizure and just a “black-out”. Based on her experience, I persisted with my doctor to have a brain scan done and an MRI was authorized and scheduled. The MRI was done the same day that the CTs were done; Wednesday, 03 January 2007. The CTs showed minor growth of the lymph nodes in the chest area. The only growth was at the top of the lymph nodes (hilar area they tell me it is called). The remaining nodes are stable – meaning no larger, no smaller. The lymph nodes at my left kidney show no increase in size at all. Neither has there been any intrusion of the cancer into the surrounding tissue, organs etc. The MRI revealed that I do have a very small area of cancer present on my brain on the left side just above my ear. This, the doctors feel, have caused my “spells” – now officially called a seizure by the doctors. The cancer is very small in area and will be treated with radiation starting Monday, 08 January 2006. I spoke with my chemo doctor and he agrees that I should discuss radiation treatment of the chest lymph nodes with the radiation doctor. I did not get into a lot of details with the chemo doctor regarding the following point, but he explained that chemo treatment for cancer in the brain is very inefficient. There is some obstacle that halts chemo from reaching full treatment in the brain. Therefore, radiation is the treatment for they now see. Think about this. I could have gone thinking that the “black-outs” were caused by oxygen deprivation from long drawn out coughing spells, but placed someone in my midst that saw something different. It had been (5) months since something like that occurred and it occurred with this one person around to see something no one else around me would have recognized. God has a plan and God’s timing is supernatural. Was this the ultimate answer we wanted to hear when we saw the doctor today? Absolutely not. However, I am reminder of a scripture saying ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways” says the LORD” (Is 55:8). I remember that when this journey started that God made it clear to my wife and I that all we would journey through was to bring glory to His name. Who better to define the path than God Himself? You and I might very well chose a different path, but then the glory would be our own, if we were able to glory in anything at all. Stand with my family and I in prayer that God will continue to fulfill His perfect will through all these circumstances and tremendous glory will be brought to His name!

Friday January 05, 2007

I am doing this update in two parts. This first part is a prayer request. The brother of a very good friend of ours is going through what the doctor’s have said is the discovery of stage 4 cancer in his body. Our friend is Jean and her husband. John. Jean’s brother is the individual said to be in stage 4 cancer. His name is Ray and his wife’s name is Jeannette. As you can imagine this is a shock to them. As Jeanette stated in an email “I am so shocked. I really cannot believe all this.” Many of you out there can understand the shock, many others may be able to empathize with these two. I ask that you pray for God’s eternal plan in Ray and Jeanette’s life. Pray for healing in Ray’s body and guidance for those that God has placed in his life for treatment. Ray is scheduled for a PET scan today, Friday, 05 January 2007, a brain scan on Tuesday, 09 January 2007 and then sees the doctor on Friday, 12 January 2007. God loves Ray and Jeannette and desires we minister to them through prayer for the fulfillment of God’s perfect will. Thank you to all who lift up this prayer concern with us.

Friday November 10, 2006

Here I am. Quick catch-up for some. My chemo drug of choice was changed by my doctors (see POST Tuesday. 10 October 2006) to Gemsar. The cycle for this treatment is once a week for three weeks then one week off. Three cycles is the norm then the next CT. So my next CT will be the week of 18-22 December 2006. With this Gemsar I feel as fine as I did with the other drug treatments – no side effects except with this one comes a headache. Easily rid of that with either sleep or Aleve! Still have that annoying cough and the doctors are working really well with me to find what will neutralize it. Remember, this is not the same cough that original was sign of the cancer – the trespasser. So we are gradually eliminating this as well. Drugs that work on someone without cancer for a cough and related causes do not work the same on me – a person with chemo drugs floating throughout his body. So it takes time to find the OTC or Scrip drug that does work. Today’s treatment went great. They are having problems finding usable veins on my right arm. [(Had to switch arms because left arms veins were becoming chordy (scarred)]. Cannot do anything about being scarred except leave them alone for a while and see how the veins heal to determine if the can be reused. I have not asked what they will do if we run out arm veins because I do not believe God will allow this to happen. Pray that the veins they can use are clearly visible and usable and do not “run” when they insert the needle. “Run” means as the needle breaks the skin where the vein is underneath the skin, the vein moves left or right or down. In closing let me tell you of something that happened today that I hope will encourage you. As I completed my treatment today Jason and Alicia (See POST of Sunday September 17 2006) were waiting for their doctor in one of the rooms. So we went into visit – social butterfly that I am (as my wife calls me). They were in OK spirits but concerned that his cough had returned. We spoke with them about my continuing battle with my cough and how even though our physical bodies change the One True God never changes towards us in love for us. God would only allow the cough to be sure that the doctors do not miss something. We found out that their fundraiser went great and exceeded their expectations! So many people came and spoke with them that Jason and Alicia were greatly encouraged Thank you Jesus!! I also recognized a woman who had just come in for treatment after we finished speaking with Jason and Alicia. She was the manager of the local Radio Shack. She was having tingling in two fingertips on her left hand. An MRI revealed tumors on her spinal column but, as with me, they could not find the source. She is in a neck brace to keep her neck movement restricted because the tingling was caused vertebrae degeneration. She admitted that her greatest fear was lung cancer because she smoked so much. Smoked is past tense because when she found out about the tumors she decided to quit. Now the extent of her smoking is “stealing a drag or two off her son’s cigarette which adds up to about one cigarette a week right now. She plans on stopping that very soon. We immediately had common ground with the “cannot find the source” conversation. God allowed me to speak into her life and encourage her from my “adventures” so far. She was obviously appreciative in her words and body actions. As encouraging as these events are, to me, even more so, is how God encouraged MY OWN SPIRIT in Him after speaking with these people. Ladies and gentlemen, do not shrink back from your adventures in live. Do not live your being hidden from life itself. Step out in faith and take on the life in Christ Jesus that God has had planned for you since the before you were born. We live the adventures of life not for ourselves but, in the Kingdom of God, we live them to impact the lives of others so that God can draw them to Him and changed their lives forever! Paul the Apostle said it this way (my paraphrase}; I plant, Apollos watered but God gives the increase. In other words, Paul was faithful and available to want God wanted him to do when God wanted him to do it. When you are you will find the encouragement I found today and that Paul undoubtedly knew of as well. What will you do the next time opportunity arises? Last but not least, the FYI section is that Katelyn and I will be driving down to Outer Banks. We leave on Friday, 17 November 2006 to meet my mom (who is already there). Patti and Kim, who are drove to Outer Banks from AZ, would have arrived there on Wednesday, 15 November 2006 if their travel plans go according to plan. We would ask for traveling mercies and protection for all of us as we drive around the country of ours. In closing, love to all of you remembering me and my family in your prayers. We still cannot fully express our appreciation and thanks to you for such a thing as this. We prayer for you as well. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jim and Family.

Tuesday October 10, 2006

I have received emails from some of you wondering where the update is. Here it is! My doctor appointment was on Friday, 06 October 2006. With CTs available we went spoke with the doctor. Again, there is no spread of the cancer! Hallelujah! The drugs (Carboplatin and Taxol) that I have been on continue to keep the cancer “stable”. We discussed other options such as radiation. My doctor does not recommend radiation at this point because they want to have more opportunity for the drugs to shrink the cancer. For me, as we spoke with the doctor, the chemotology drugs are like over-the-counter drugs. Not every OTC drug works the same in each body. What Patti takes for a cold does not work for me and visa-versa. So we are using the chemotology drugs in an order that will show results and then we will have the one that works specifically with my body. Armed with this information we moved onto another chemo drug called Gemcitabine (Jem-sight-a-bean) or also called Gemzar (Jem-zar). As my wife Patti said, this is to be the “gem” in my crown to defeat the trespasser in my body. Amen! So we had our first treatment with this Gemzar on Friday, 06 October 2006. It is still a potent drug but it is not an all day treatment as the other combinations drug therapies were. Before I was all day for three consecutive days a week, then three consecutive days a week with the second and third day be shorter. With the Gemcitabine Now I have treatment once a week for three consecutive weeks then a one-week break. Each treatment will be approximately 2 hours. The side effects are typical for chemo drugs except the difference would be mild flu-like symptoms with a headache. They said I might get a rash. Well, God is faithful. Still no sicknesses common with chemo. I do not have the flu-like symptoms and no rash. Remember that cough I said hangs on? It hangs on still. Sometimes I get a headache from a stream of coughing, but now I do not bring anything up with it! (And the CT showed my lungs were still clear.) Thanks for the prayers because they are working. I am still able to work the shortened hours at my work – Thank You Jesus! I would ask you to keep an employee of ours in prayer. His name is Steve. His mom was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 cancer. The doctors said chemo would gain her six months or so. She did not want the treatments. She is now in the hospital and without intervention from God the doctors say it is only matter of days before she passes away. Yesterday I had the awesome privilege of speaking with her about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we conversed God was more and more present. She spoke a prayer with me and received Jesus Christ as her Savior as well. I have known her for years. She is a sweet spirit and now will have the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with those who love her most, her Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Steve has three sons and one daughter all living at home. Steve has been taking care of his mom at his home so his children have been with grandma daily until she went to the hospital. I had opportunity to speak with them after grandma was brought to the hospital. Please pray for them as well. Time to go. Thank you for your continuing prayers. We uphold each of you in our prayers. In Jesus Name, be blessed and be a blessing, Jim and Family.

Thursday October 05, 2006

We have returned from AZ. Great trip. Visited with Kim every day. She worked each day and still spent hours with us. I know that it made for longer days than she was probably used to, but we all had fun. But you all know the saying, “There’s no place like home”. We miss Kim and it was great to see her, but as usual, the time we have to visit family and loved ones never seems to be enough before one has to leave. Her co-op ends in six weeks or so and she will meet us in the Outer Banks, NC. After all, she worked so hard the previous six months that she needs a break in a really nice place with family. My brother came out from San Diego while we were in AZ and we all visited with him for a few days before he had to return home … and he adult-napped my mother!! He took our mom back to San Diego with him where she will have to suffer through grueling southern California weather for the next six weeks or so. Please, pray for her “ordeal”. After her six weeks or so in San Diego she too will be in the Outer Banks, NC. Ahhhhhhhhhhh, family reunited at last! Upon return my CT was performed. As scheduled we will see the doctor on Friday, 06 October 2006 at 8:45am with treatment to follow based on the progress shown on the CT. How great a God we serve! Thanks to all who kept us in their prayers as we traveled. It was my youngest daughter’s first flight on a plane. With all that has occurred in our airspace and the events still vivid in our minds of 9-11, my daughter had honest concerns. She did great! She actually enjoyed the flights even though some turbulence was present during parts of the flight. Please keep praying. There is still much to be worked out in this body and so much to be accomplished for the kingdom of God. Healing is mine through the word of God and prophetic words from sincere men and women of God that have spoken over and into my life. I believe and ask that you believe with us! Do not forget that through this (our) website you can leave me and my family messages. Your encouragement touches us more than I think you could imagine. This I believe God just laid on my heart as I sit here and contemplate how much previous words have encouraged us that people have sent us through the website. If you are more comfortable with placing your words on cyberspace through the website, or want to be more personal with your words, or would request prayer yourself for something you are going through, please contact Patti and me through my email at norton01@verizon.net. We would love to hear from you and prayer for you as God leads you. Thanks again to all. I cannot express the thankfulness for all your prayers and the impact it has had on our lives. Thanks continually. Know that we give thanks to our God continually for you and pray that He will keep you as you walk with Him. Be blessed and be a blessing. Jim and Family.

Sunday September 17, 2006

Praise God for all of you that have spent time praying for my family and me. We have been greatly encouraged. Some of you we see face-to-face. Others of you have sent emails, cards and have called. We are running out of room around our doorway to put the cards. Soon we will have to expand our card placement area! To all, “Thank you”. My third treatment with the new drug combination was Friday, 08 September 2006. I have a CAT scan scheduled for Tuesday, 03 October 2006 and meet with the doc on Friday, 06 October 2006. Then we all get to see how great a work God has done! I would like to share something that God reminds me of as I sit in a room full of people looking for a healing. We all must understand that every occasion, every season of life, is planned for us by God to accomplish a part of God’s great plan. At any given moment we might be the only person that can share the truth of the love of God with someone. For us at this time, it is the opportunity to share in the lives of those whose life has not only impacted us, but whom, prayerfully, we can show God’s love to. During my treatments we have been blessed to meet people that God has opened doors for us to minister to, to love as God loves us and to show them a path to healing through Jesus Christ. It is these same people whose courage also ministers to us. Most recently we have met a young engaged couple, Jason and Alicia. Please pray for them. Patti and I have spoken with them. They are two precious souls in their early 30’s and Jason was diagnosed with lung cancer. Some in our church bought tickets to their fundraiser. Jason has been unable to work and funds are needed for day-to-day bills. God used people they do not know, but people that want to help God accomplish His plan, to bless and help these two. We met an elderly woman who was at her first treatment for cancer. She was sitting alone. I spoke with her just before I was “called in”. I invited her to sit with us. She sat nearby. During her treatment she had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs. When it happens to you it can be a very scary moment. The nurses and staff were great and without delay she was fine. Patti and I prayed. God is awesome. Patti had the opportunity to speak with her just after the intensity of the moment passed. Patti spoke with her and prayed with her. Remember the “scare” in a child’s eyes when an event instilled such a fear in them that they would not move, but the calm in their entire face when the confidence of a loving and trusted person held them speaking words of promise and deliverance from the fear. I could see that in this woman’s face after Patti spoke with her. God wants to be in every moment. Are you willing to let Him be there? What a change it will make in our lives and the lives of others. In closing, we are continuing to walk with God. He is faithful. We are blessed. We will be visiting my first-born daughter while she is fulfilling a co-op in Chandler, Arizona. We leave early on a Sunday morning, 24 September 2006 and return on a Monday, 02 October 2006. This will be a great time of reunion and fun. There are also family members and friends in the same area that we will visit also. We will enjoy it immensely. God is so good! He has every concern of my heart in His hand. What do I gain if I spend time fretting, worrying, about what I cannot control? God is in complete control. He has spoken promises to me of healing and removal of this cancer. He has spoken to me promises of a life not yet fulfilled through prophetic words of promise and a Bible full of healing words. You can have these same promises too. Just be reminded that how we pray about circumstances will have a direct influence on the result of the prayer – out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When praying speak words of life. Words that strengthen, encourage and edify the life and body of the one for whom you pray – you included! This is not selfish, but it is the use of heavenly wisdom. When praying for my family, and me I ask that you always pray words of life. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing, for God’s hand is upon you. Jim and Family (Patti, Kim and Kate)

Monday August 14, 2006

Hello to all! Just dropping a short note to cover some recent & upcoming events. My next treatment is this Friday, 18 August 2006. This will continue with the new chemo drugs. My cough is still around, but not like it was when this all started. I do not want the cough and have been praying much about it. Through prayer I believe this cough is a combination of things. One is some type of drainage. Nearly every cough generates some mucous. Family doctor believes allergies and I am taking approved medicine (from chemo doctor) for that now. I was told it takes about a week to build up enough of this medicine in my system to make an impact. That week was up over the weekend. If this allergy medicine does not work, then the doctor said he will prescribe an antibiotic, although I have no signs of an infection the doctor says it would be the next step. I will take the rest of the allergy medicine (started with thirty days of meds) and see how it works. Second is mental. As I evaluate the cough as it occurs during times of “stress”. It seems to be a release. I do not need the cough and I prayerfully can handle the stress, so I have begun letting God take on a little more of that too. Third is the same thing that started in the beginning. The more I talk the more I cough. I love this part though, when I lead worship the cough does not exist for the time of worship! God delivers me from it. (This is why I trust Him so much to remove the cough otherwise.) Paul, in the Bible had a thorn to deal with and God told Paul, when Paul asked Him to remove the thorn, “My grace is sufficient for you”. God’s grace has not changed, so that grace is sufficient for me also if I have to endure this cough.. I had the opportunity to share a message at our home church yesterday. The cough was not present for the entire message! Now if I could lead worship and share a message of God every waking moment of my day then my cough problem would be eliminated! I will let you know how that goes. Again we thank all of you for continuing prayers. We know the impact it has upon us now and in eternity. We continue to prayerfully lift up each you as we aware of your support to us. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing, Jim & Family.

Sunday July 30, 2006

So here we are (my family and me) on the fourth day after my most recent treatment. I feel I cannot say this enough: God has been faithful to keep the nausea away and the other side effects they told me to expect which are, with these new chemo drugs, a delayed occurrences of 2-3 days after treatment. I did experience the flu-like symptoms I was told about; mostly aches and no other flu-like symptoms. These aches bothered me more for sleep than anything else. Because I was so tired at night it only bothered me even more mentally. As with other parts of my treatment, God will teach me how to best handle this part too. The aches are subsiding now. Feels more like minor arthritis discomfort really. I feel the aches more in the body parts I have damaged in one way or another growing up; broken bones, football injuries and the like. Continuing, my cough has subsided dramatically. Hallelujah! I believe this is due primarily to God’s conviction upon me to listen to my wife’s voice and to slow down and rest more even though I feel good enough to go and do things whether at home or at work. I begun shortening my hours at work and will make a few other changes to accommodate my necessary body rest. I want to do what I can at home because everyone else is doing “my job”. I am learning to be humble in spirit and agree that there are now some limitations in my life. [Although my nature says, “Get up and do something you sluggard” (just being transparent here), God and a loving wife and family, remind me that during this season of my life I have to do things a little different.] I am learning. Thanks for all of your prayers. It is amazing the strength that is felt when I need it most. You are all doing so much for me even though you are not here with me. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. Jim and family.

Tuesday July 25, 2006

Here’s a quick update. I just got off the phone with one of the treatment nurses at the oncology office. Instead of waiting until my next treatment to change the chemotology drugs I am getting they are going to change them starting tomorrow! It is still a two-drug treatment, but for only one day a week on a three-week cycle. The two drugs to be used now are Carboplatin (a “sister” drug for the Cisplatin I did have) and Taxol to replace the Etoposide I did have. This drug treatment was chosen after Dr Graziano and his colleagues viewed my films. They all agreed that the current drug treatment had no reduction effect on the cancer. They all agreed that a change was needed and should begin immediately. I will not go to work on the day following the treatment day. The only side effect they said I should expect is flue-type symptoms three days after treatment. We will see what God has to say about that! I have been told that to avoid any false reads, no CTs will be done until after the third cycle. That means that the earliest that a CT will be done is the week of 11 September 2006 to see how this drug treatment is working. Again, I cannot thank those of you that have praying for my family and me. Our expression of “Thanks” cannot be measured in words. We are praying for blessings upon all of you. Until next time – be blessed and be a blessing, Jim.

Saturday July 22, 2006

Ladies and Gentlemen, here it is. The long awaited update. In the future I will try to do more updates that will be shorter, but more importantly release more information to everyone in a more timely manner relative to when the information becomes available. Since my last update I completed cycle three treatment – 05, 06 & 07 July 2006. God again proved Himself faithful. I had no sickness or other side effects! I do not take this blessing for granted and thank God for all the side effect “NOTS” that He has allowed me. Two weeks of blood work since then have also proven to be very good. All organ functions are above normal. Remember, the two chemotology drugs used can have serious ill-effects on my kidneys and liver. This has not been the case my friends during my treatment. My overall white blood cell count follows what I have been told by my nurses and my doctor is a normal cycle except that after the last blood work before my next treatment the rebound that my body makes is above normal. This is just one of those blessings that God has given me during these season of my life. On Monday, 17 July 2006 I had my first CT since my treatments started and then met with the doctor on Friday, 21 July 2006. I must admit it was not what I wanted to hear or what I expected. Disappointed I was, but not discouraged. Disappointed for only a short time because I realized that my disappointment was in my expectation when it should have been in God. The psalmist cried out that our expectation is to be in the Lord. I am human. I wallowed for a time but my wife encouraged me. In prayer I surrendered yet again my expectations and sought to possess a greater grip on God’s expectations for me through all of this. The new CT revealed no shrinkage of the tumors. (In the past I have always referred to the tumors as the effected, or swollen, lymph nodes because I thought of tumors as something different. After speaking with the doctor this last visit he clarified that technically these are tumors. Therefore I will refer to them as such.) Now here is the great news. We all know that cancer only wants to spread and consume more cells around it. Just like Satan whom only wanders this earth seeking whom he may devour by through stealing, killing and destroying thus opposing the abundant life offered by Jesus Christ. This has not occurred! There has been no growth of the tumors and no spread of the cancer! So we spoke with the doctor. Doctor we asked, what will we do to shrink and get rid of it? He said we will do the next treatment as scheduled then wait. I fumed! I am not a “wait” guy in this scenario. So I told the doctor “I will not wait” You cannot make me wait and risk that the cancer will spread or wait to see what the cancer will do.” Patti reminded the doctor of our original conversation. We wanted him to be aggressive and agreed to do just that. With these retorts he said that he will take all the films to his Syracuse oncology and associate doctors so that all of them will view them and corporately voice the next aggressive step to be taken. We asked and he told us there are more aggressive steps through drug treatment that can be taken and having the other doctors involved will produce this next step. Now, my next cycle of treatment is next week on 25, 26 and 27 July 2006. Doctor Graziano is in the Oneida offices on Friday, 27 July 2006. Patti and I will meet with him that Friday and receive the results of the doctor’s powwow. So there is our prayer request. That God will miraculously remove the tumors to confound the wise and bring greater glory to His testimony through all of these circumstances –or- God will provide the wisdom to the doctors for the next treatment that will accomplish the same. Prayer for strength for my family. They have been a great encouragement to me. They are caregivers and caregivers get worn down, so pray they take time for themselves as well. Especially for Kim since she is in Arizona and cannot see me to know that I really am doing as well I tell all of you and her I am – she cannot see me as those around me do that confirm the miraculous work God continues to do. Again, I pray for those of you that have been praying for me. Your words on the website, your cards, phone calls and visits have been inspiring and encouraging. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing, Jim and Patti.

Tuesday June 27, 2006 (click picture to make big - then click the "back" button on your browser to return)

Hello to all. My wife tells me I write too much and nobody will read it all. Please read it all. I like to write. I have been reminded by someone very dear to me that it has been awhile since my last update. Please accept my apologies for not listening to the hearts of those waiting for answers top prayers and my progress. Forgive me. I cannot express my deep gratitude for your prayers. It is through these that I know God has done so much. For those of you that have posted messages on the website, the encouragement is always appreciated and welcome. I have been greatly ministered to by the number of churches and congregations and leadership that have been praying for me and my family. I am awe-struck with the generosity of God's people with their time of prayer and cards and phone calls. I have been told of churches even out of state praying for us because friends here telling others of our need. God's networking is the best networking I have ever been involved in. My most recent treatment was on 13, 14 & 15 June 2006. This is treatment #2. (For those of you just joining us, this 2 out of a planned 4 or 6. Each treatment is a 3-week cycle.) With great praise to Almighty God I got through the treatment with no sickness of any kind, no side effects and most importantly, without my wife for the first two days (out of state with our oldest daughter). My mom stepped in, my youngest daughter was great and my friend and Pastor stopped in for the localized harassment. The only battle I have is being tired. I am not much of sit-around guy and this tired stuff really gets to me. So I have been asking prayer to combat this. Today. Right now. I am asking you all to pray for the strength of Caleb. Supernatural strength. I am not asking for this so I can work longer or play more or play harder. I am asking for this so I can continue ministering to those that God puts in my path. Now my path, after treatment and for about 5-7 more days afterwards, is home and a chair! Ha! I believe God will tell me when my body needs to rest and He will grant supernatural strength to continue to be His witness to bring forth His glory! Please pray with me - Caleb-strength! The newest development is that I actually began to loose the hair off my head and my chinny-chin-chin. Now keep some things in mind. First I have been loosing the hair off my head for many years so it is not stretch for those around me often to picture me with out hair. However, without a beard that I have fashioned for well over 15 years in one form or another is a different story. My children cannot remember me without a beard except looking at photos of me with them when they were both very young. So I made an appointment with my hairdresser (she deserved the fun of shaving it all off) and waited for Patti to get back from her cross-country adventure with our oldest daughter. On the last day of my three-day treatment we visited the razor and off it came. I have been told I have a pretty good shaped head for the bald look. The beard hung in a little longer, but after four days it came off also except for a goatee. For moral support a very dear friend of mine also shaved his head. The attachment is a photo of said matching heads. Sorry, no profiles. I have an irritating cough, similar to what I had at the beginning of all this for awhile now. So my doctor order a chest x-ray for this Thursday, which happens to be the same day I go get blood work. Our prayer is that the doctor will tell me the x-ray is fine do something about those allergies or something like that. Blood work reminds. All blood work that has been done has shown ALL organ functions to very strong throughout all treatments so far! On the day before my last treatment the nurses told me that my previous Thursday blood work showed my WBC at 1,600. The normal range is 4,300-11,000. If it was this low they would not do the treatment. So they did a STAT blood work. As I waited and prayed I was overwhelmingly calm and asked the nurses to set me up, the blood work will be fine. They did! No needles mind you but everything was put in order. When the results came back all the "close" counts from last week were now excellent and the dreaded WBC was at 4,900! God is so good! (Can you see me dancing?!) I meet with the doctor this Friday. Last time I met with him he told me he was questioning when to do a CT scan. After speaking with me he told that I was doing so well that he will not do a CT scan until after the third treatment. Now I wanted to make sure of what God was doing so I asked my doctor if there was any reason for doing CT now and to do whatever if he felt was best for my care at this time. He thoroughly explained why a CT would generally be performed under the treatment circumstances I am undergoing and also thoroughly explained why there was no for me to have the CT now. Bottom line is that I was reacting so well to the treatments he did not believe the CT was necessary. To me - God at work! My next chemo treatment is 5, 6 and 7 July 2006. God will be glorified in this as He has through the other treatments! until next time, love to you all. Be blessed and be a blessing, Jim

Tuesday June 13, 2006

Today was the first day of my second 3-day treatment. I want to thank all of you that having been specifically praying for my strength through the chemo treatments. Today I NOT tired and after the treatment I went home and did work outside the house. Continued to do loads of laundry simultaneously as well. (Katie folded them.)No cinics! I did not overdue it. I know what my body is doing. God is supernaturally empowering His temple! More of God's glory being revealed and I know it is because of the prayers of the saints and the promises of God!Thanks also go out to those of you specifically prayering for any type of sickness to NOT occur during my chemo treatments - I have had no sickness! More of God's glory! Thanks for joining in the battle. You are all part of the victory and manifestation of God's glory! I am greatly moved by your ministry to me and my family. "Father God, in the name of jesus Christ Your Son, I ask You to bless each praying saint beyond their expectation. I ask You LORD to fulfill each of their immediate needs in realm of spritually strength, finances and healing in their bodies that not only will they hear of the defeat of the enemy throguh my testimony but that the enemy will be defeated in their lives and others will hear their testimonies. Amen" And so the power of the testimony of the saints goes on. Love to all, Jim and Family

Wednesday June 07, 2006

I added some of my older emails that had have information in them leading up to the most recent information. Some people just finding out about what God is bringing me through. Unforetunately I did not do a very good job of filing by date. I did enter the date of the emails at the beginning of each entry for chronological follow-up. Thank you all for your prayers and concern. Follow me? Follow God. In Jesus' name, Jim

Wednesday June 07, 2006

12 May 2006 . God's blessings to all. This past Wednesday, 10 May 2006 I completed the PET scan. Today we met with the oncologist, Dr Graziano. He spoke a word that I have heard before when I have seen doctors - mystery. The spot on the lung is not cancer. They found no spots on either lung. Praise Jesus! They did not find any spots/lesions except the lymph nodes between the lungs and behind the sternum that we already knew about. This is when the doctor said this was a mystery. They have not found what they expected to find - a point of origin for the cancer. The PET scan found an area of uplifting (cells that soaked up the radiated glucose that was injected into my body so the PET could pick it up) in my lower back. Area of this is behind my stomach near the left kidney. There was something also noted in the pelvic area. Nothing was noted anywhere else. Dr Graziano did not specifically state what these two areas are or could be. Therefore I have a standard x-ray of the pelvic area and CT of the abdominal/pelvic area scheduled for 10 am, Tuesday, 16 May 2006. Yeah..I have to drink that chalky stuff (although it is supposed to taste like bananas!) three hours before the CT. Dr Graziano and the remainder of the oncology staff will review these additional films and formulate the course of treatment. Now, I am not a person to wait for these things without a real good reason. So Patti and I requested something be started since he, Dr Graziano, had no doubt of cancer in the lymph nodes, I now have a reserved seat in the oncology department for Friday, 19 May 2006, to begin my chemo treatment. If something has to be changed based on the x-ray and/or CT being done 16 May 2006, I will keep my Friday, 19 May 2006 appointment and they will change whatever has to be changed. Not only is there progress in the natural but there is progress in the heavenlies as well. There is no mystery in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His plans concerning me. Please continue to pray for wisdom for the physicians from the Healer Himself. God is faithful. I see His hand working every day. The cough that has been with me for so long has been subsiding since I confronted the idea that my mind "needs" it. I prayerfully sought God about this and with My Pastor (because I met with him the morning of this revelation) and the cough has been drastically reduced! Thank you Jesus! It has meant so much to hear from so many of you. I thank each and every one of you for your words of support, your prayers (in person and on-line) and cards. For some I know that what I am experiencing has brought back some difficult life experiences for you. I have prayed for each of you. I truly believe that your involvement with us in this is not to bring another upheaval into your life. Please consider this. God has laid you on my heart to walk with us so that we may be an encouragement to you to receive a greater healing for the losses you have had. I trust our God to deliver us out every trial to be stronger than we were before. Come with us through this to be stronger on the other side. We love you. Speak with all of you soon. In the love of Jesus, Jim & Patti

Wednesday June 07, 2006

26 April 2006 . Hi everyone, I'm using Jim's e-mail since he has all the addresses in one click. Got to hospital this a.m. only to discover that they didn't have enough staff available to do the surgery early. Jim was very bored, but didn't complain. He actually watched some TV with mom and I. Would you believe..."the price is right?" Dr. El-amir came in and explained the procedure again and also informed us that he would also do the bronoscopy (spelling?) as well. This is normal procedure, only a few minutes extra. Jim went in at about 12:50p, and was in recovery at 2:00p. Dr. said all went well. We won't have any results until Mon. concerning the sarcoidosis or lymphoma. If it is a fungal infection, it will take 4-6 weeks. Jim is very sore at incision area. He had a little jello in hospital so he could take some pain meds. Unfortunately, this came up on the way home. Currently he is reclining in his chair in the living room, happy to be home. His phone is OFF and will stay that way for a while. He will be home Thurs. and might go in on Friday. We will have to tell the boss, she will determine if he can return or not. (Just between us...the boss and I have already spoken and he will be home til Mon.) Thank you all for your prayers and please keep them up. When Jim is feeling better, I'm sure he will send out a more detailed e-mail to you all. We love you. Patti

Wednesday June 07, 2006

13 April 2006 . Today I received a call from the surgeon's office. My surgery date is Wednesday, 26 April 2006. The surgery will be at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica NY.I will have to go get some preliminary blood work done within seven days of the surgery date at the surgeon's office. (For those of you scrambling for the surgeon's name in your saved Emails I will save you the trip - Dr El-Amir.) So there it is - the date. No other news. Again, please remember that Kimberly still knows nothing of this and she will be home this weekend at which time I and Patti will fill her in on everything. Thanks again for your prayers and support and concern. Jim and Patti

Wednesday June 07, 2006

10 April 2006 . Hello to all. Saw Dr El-amir today. Nothing confirmed. He offered the preliminary diagnosis with a little different name - Medialstinal Adenopathy. The difference? This diagnosis places the inflamed lymph nodes directly behind the sternum. It is still considered Hilar but Doc tells me this is even more specific a diagnosis. It does not change anything else though. We were not given a date for the tissue sample surgery. We do know that they will call us and/or mail the date. For now all we know is that it will be probably be in the first two weeks of May. When I now more I will let you all know. We are still very confident about what God has already done and will continue to due. Again, please notice that Kim is still not on the email list. She will be home this weekend and we will fill her in on everything then. Jim and Patti

Wednesday June 07, 2006

04 April 2006 So here I am doing what I said I would do - emailing you with my next doctor's appointment. My next appointment is with Dr El-amir at the St Elizabeth's Hospital Marion Building on Monday, 10 April 2006. They have planned out my entire day for me. How thoughtful. First I must be at the Marion Building by 9am for my first of four appointments. The next two appointments are blood work-up and a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) that will take until approximately 12:30p-1:00p. My four appointment is with Dr El-amir at 2:45p, so I get a lunch break in the midst off all this. After I fulfilled all the requirements of each tests and meet Dr El-amir then shall we have a date for the procedure to remove a few lymph nodes for tissue analysis. This my friends gives me another opportunity to send another email! Please notice that my daughter is purposefully left of this email group for now. She has much currently to deal with at school and I and Patti have agreed not to add this to her list. She will be home on Saturday, 15 April 2006 for Resurrection Day Weekend. We will fill her in on all the details at that time. We are confident that the surgery date will be after Resurrection Day weekend. Please, if you have contact with Kimberly before then, be conscious of the fact we have not spoken to her yet. I thank you for your prayers. Know that we covet them dearly. Be confident that God has given Patti and I great peace about this. Love to all of you, Jim

Wednesday June 07, 2006

07 June 2005 As some of you know my daughter Kim accepted a co-op in Chandler AZ that starts on Monday, 12 June 2006. This is an update. While I am home with Katie and the treatments, my wife and daughter are traveling cross-country to AZ. This is how it ties into my current life and times. Today they will be waking up in a little place called Holbrook, AZ. This is 90 miles due east of Flagstaff on Interstate 40. At Flagstaff they will turn due south on Interstate 17 to and around Phoenix to Chandler. It is about a four hour drive (approx 260 miles). Kim already has an apartment in Chandler. Get this. As we were praying for places for Kim, it seemed to get down to the last minute. Patti, Kim I were praying for God's place for Kim to be. God brought us to place called CORNERSTONE Ranch on DOBSON Dr! Not only that the manager of the complex is Rochester NY where Kim attends college! She was a huge help and from all appearances went above and beyond to get Kim into an apartment, God is so good. This along with so many other things that God did to show me, a self proclaimed over-protective dad, that Kim's real "Daddy" was in control. It is often hard to explain how much God gives until each of us takes every opportunity to place that step faith into the kingdom of God to receive it. Patti will be flying back home on Wednesday, 14 June 2006, arriving Syracuse at 9:42pm EDT. They have had a great trip so far with no problems and full of blessings. For those of you praying for my family during my victory over cancer, this is one of side-bars that your prayers have been covering. It is difficult for my wife to be away from me while I journey through this part of my life. Your prayers have been apparent during their travels. Patti and I thank you for your continuing support. A dear friend of mine has begun a website that is linked off the business. He has done this at no charge to me and will allow anyone to keep up on my and my family's progress through "The Journey". His name is Paul. As I pray continuously for each of you for your love shown to us, I would ask you to prayer for God's blessing upon Him for what he has unselfishly done for us. The website is up and running. I will be working with Paul to finish a few things. Stop in at the website and take a look from time for posted updates and pictures and the like. Go to www.oneidarotorooter.com click the "Journey" link in the bottom right corner. Pass the website along to others as God leads you. Remember, all I am going through is a victory march to the manifestation of the glory of God! This website will also promote this and testimony of what God has already done. It might just be the tool that changes one heart to walk with God - Amen! Thank you all again for your continuing prayers. Since the last update not much has changed. Blood work on Thursday, 01 June 2006 to be sure all the red and white blood cells were in proper numeric order = they were! Tomorrow, Thursday, 08 June 2006 is more blood work for organ function (they are primarily concerned about kidneys - effect of the chemo) and more counting of the red and white blood cells. On Friday, 09 June 2006, I meet with Doc Graziano. Just a check in with him to see how I have been doing (I will fill you more on this in the next paragraph). Then my next treatment dates are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (13,14 15 June 2006). Same regimen as before. First is the long day then two shorter days. During and after my first series of chemo treatments I was told what to expect as my body would react to the drugs. To the glory of God I did not experience any - I said ANY - side effects. None. They had given me an overnight nausea drug called Kytril. This gave me a headache that just lingered on. This I was not aware of. If I was I would have people praying about that and the way things went I would not have had that either. As it went I did not take the Kytril any of the following days and still did NOT experience any nausea! I was tired at the end of the second treatment day and napped for approx four hours. On the third day I felt so good that I went into work for approx 3 hrs (and got yelled at for doing it - for those that yelled at me - I love you too), spent the rest of the day as I normally would have. On Saturday we moved my daughter from her Rochester apartment to our home before the relocate to AZ. What a great day I had. No tiredness or any sickness. I cannot explain how much in awe of God I am for what He is doing in this body. I will admit - I slept great that night. We celebrated God's worthiness at church, celebrated my daughter's 21st birthday that same afternoon with friends and family, set up for the party, broke down after the party (with much help) and again slept well that night. I truly hope that what I write is an encouragement to those of you that need to hear it. What God is doing for me He can do for you in what ever it is you may be going through right now. As I did, take the first step to receive what He has for you - promise after promise. I do not know how God will bring you through it, but I know that for those who are willing to place all your hopes and dreams and desires into God's hand and be willing to have Him rearrange a few things, He will show you the measure of His love that cannot be separated from you by any means. Give it try. Love to all of you, Jim, Patti, Kim and Kate

Saturday, May 20, 2006

From the last email, xray and CT were Tuesday, 05-16-06, Meeting Mr doc Graziano on Friday, 05-19-06 was supposed to be update with first treatment. You know the saying "Subject to change". The xray and CT were to evaluate the left hip bone image and spot in the lower left kidney area. Guess what? Nothing wrong with these bones! What they thought could be cancer in the bone turned out to be described as a complete pelvic and left femur xray described as "unremarkable". I asked - this means everything looks just like it should. Although I did ask the nurse and doctor, even though they have only known me for a short time, how any one could describe me as "unremarkable". Now for the CT. The CT says the white spot is cancer in another set of lymph nodes just behind the kidney. It is like the lymphs nodes in my chest - inflamed. So the kidney area lymph nodes are pushing against the kidney. I have no discomfort. It is not a concern to the doctor even though it is forcing minor fluid retention in the kidney. The blood work says the kidney functions are A-OK! The doc still says I am a mystery because they still cannot find the source of the cancer. The doctor says there is no need for more CTs or PETs. I asked him to do these if felt it was necessary. He said no because so much had already been done. They did however determine a cancer type - it is Neuroendocrine.

It is an organ based cancer in the endocrine system [pituitary glands, thyroid glands, parathyroids, adrenals, islets of Langerhans (remember this from biology class?), ovaries (I felt safe ruling this one out), and testes] . Guess what? With all the CTs, the PET scan and repetitious bloodwork, nothing shows any irregularities with my endocrine system. Let's review: no source found, but they know where it is supposed to be and its not there; lots of prayer and we have been standing on the promises of God's prophetic words. We strongly believe that where ever the source was God removed it. We also believe, if God desires, He can remove the "leftovers" too! However He wants His glory to be manifest. The next step the doctor's have laid out is as follows: the treatment for neuroendocrine cancer is a 3-day consecutive treatment plan. The first day of the three is the longest. It incorporates a two chemo drug therapy interlaced with hydration and oral drugs. This is a 7 hr treatment. Day 2 and 3 are one drug treatments with hydration taking 2 hrs per treatment. The week after the first treatment I do no treatments. The third week after treatment will be a CT in the middle of the week and a meeting with the doctor on Friday. Then the fourth week I do the three treatments again. One-two-three week is a cycle. The plan is 4-6 cycles dependent upon the progress of the treatments shown through the CTs. Their only concern is that I keep a close watch on my body temperature because of infections. Any temperature over 100.5 they want to call them regardless of the time of day or night. My weight has been good. I am at 200 lbs now. Been eating well and staying at 200 lbs. The coughing is really giving a six-pack. I am getting pretty "ripped". Well. to God be all the glory as we asked you all to pray from the start of all this. Thanks for the cards and prayers. Love to all of you.

Friday, May 12, 2006

God's blessings to all. This past Wednesday, 10 May 2006 I completed the PET scan. Today we met with the oncologist, Dr Graziano. He spoke a word that I have heard before when I have seen doctors - mystery. The spot on the lung is not cancer. They found no spots on either lung. Praise Jesus! They did not find any spots/lesions except the lymph nodes between the lungs and behind the sternum that we already knew about. This is when the doctor said this was a mystery. They have not found what they expected to find - a point of origin for the cancer. The PET scan found an area of uplifting (cells that soaked up the radiated glucose that was injected into my body so the PET could pick it up) in my lower back. Area of this is behind my stomach near the left kidney. There was something also noted in the pelvic area. Nothing was noted anywhere else. Dr Graziano did not specifically state what these two areas are or could be. Therefore I have a standard x-ray of the pelvic area and CT of the abdominal/pelvic area scheduled for 10 am, Tuesday, 16 May 2006. Yeah..I have to drink that chalky stuff (although it is supposed to taste like bananas!) three hours before the CT. Dr Graziano and the remainder of the oncology staff will review these additional films and formulate the course of treatment. Now, I am not a person to wait for these things without a real good reason. So Patti and I requested something be started since he, Dr Graziano, had no doubt of cancer in the lymph nodes, I now have a reserved seat in the oncology department for Friday, 19 May 2006, to begin my chemo treatment. If something has to be changed based on the x-ray and/or CT being done 16 May 2006, I will keep my Friday, 19 May 2006 appointment and they will change whatever has to be changed. Not only is there progress in the natural but there is progress in the heavenlies as well. There is no mystery in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His plans concerning me. Please continue to pray for wisdom for the physicians from the Healer Himself. God is faithful. I see His hand working every day. The cough that has been with me for so long has been subsiding since I confronted the idea that my mind "needs" it. I prayerfully sought God about this and with My Pastor (because I met with him the morning of this revelation) and the cough has been drastically reduced! Thank you Jesus! It has meant so much to hear from so many of you. I thank each and every one of you for your words of support, your prayers (in person and on-line) and cards. For some I know that what I am experiencing has brought back some difficult life experiences for you. I have prayed for each of you. I truly believe that your involvement with us in this is not to bring another upheaval into your life. Please consider this. God has laid you on my heart to walk with us so that we may be an encouragement to you to receive a greater healing for the losses you have had. I trust our God to deliver us out every trial to be stronger than we were before. Come with us through this to be stronger on the other side. We love you.