upcoming scan

John is having a scan this Friday 12-5 . Please pray for a clear scan, and for continued destruction of all cancer cells, and protection of the good cells....and for peace for all the family! THANK YOU!!!!!

Celebrating Joe's Birthday Big time

Great news and answer to prayer!  John has tolerated the Duke Chemo protocol without the guaranteed side effects. The only side effect was fatigue cured by an afternoon nap! John went hunting on sat. and we have a freezer filled with venison!  We celebrated Joe's birthday big time!! We are asking again for your prayers! John starts his next five day round of chemo tomorrow.  Asking God to take the chemo to the cancer cells and preserve the good cells.  Thank you all, your prayers sustain us!!

Blessings,

Carol

Back in Springfield...10/23....

Carol and John are back in town with their family. John is doing well . Please continue to pray for protection from the chemo. (good cells), and for destruction of bad cells. THANK YOU ALL!!!

John is still doing well...10/31/08 please continue to pray! THANK YOU!!

John's update: at Duke 10/21-10/22

Chemo. starts tonight for John. He will get a new clinical trial chemo. drug, in addition to another one. Please pray against side effects, and pray for effectiveness. Pray that every cancerous cell will be destroyed, and that all healthy cells will be preserved and protected. For his immune system to be protected by God. THANK YOU!!!

Great News!!!

Is it not just like God to give us more than we ask for?  John's scan show no tumor growth and continued improvement since last scan.  The Dr. was quote " amazed" at John's physical state and MRI. That is the second Dr. to exam John in a week and give the same response!

Thank you again for your rapid response!!

With a grateful heart,

Carol

John's has repeat scan today, asking for your prayers!

Good morning family and friends,

What  a blessing the last two weeks have been for our family.  John has been home after finishing radiation.  He has a break from the chemo for 4 weeks.  John looks and feels great.  The kids are not missing a minute of time with their dad.  He is high demand until the last of them falls asleep!  

Your prayers are needed as always. John has a repeat scan today at 12:45.  Pray for an "all clear" scan.  We are heading to Duke for a clinical trail of a new chemo agent to add to the standard of care. The tumor tissue did not test positive for the protein to receive the vaccine. 

Thank you for your prayers, notes and calls.  The Esther family continues to thrive with all the support.

Many blessings,

Carol

Esther Update: as of Sept. 26th

John is officially done with travel to and from St. Louis for radiation. He is off of treatment for a month, and will begin chemo. at an elevated amount after that. Please pray for John to receive the best treatment possible, and to have favor for that plan.

guys and friends: please call John and invite him out! He would love to get together with you since he is back home!

Continue to pray for complete eradication of all cancerous cells! THANK YOU!!!!!

No meals right now...thank you to all who have contributed! You are GREATLY appreciated!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!!

In case you haven't heard yet, Joe's scan was negative to cancer, and according to the Dr., it is a benign nothing. He just needs a re-scan in 3-6 months. THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your prayers!!!!!

The Esther kids join # 1 awesome Dad in St.Louis in the Gateway to the west!
John continues to have an uncomplicated coarse of chemo and radiation. He has been riding his high tech trike when the kids are not trying it out. He went wake boarding with a good friend from med school that came to visit.
We need your prayers! Joe is having his repeat MRI wed the 10th @ 10am. We are asking God for a big nothing and spare him from surgery!
Many thanks and blessings to everyone for your continued prayers and support!
The Esther Clan

Current Need:

The Esther family thanks you for the rides offered to John to St. Louis! He has all the rides he needs for the next few weeks, and will be done with his treatment towards the end of Sept.

Please pray for a clinical trial to open up for John to be a part of. THANK YOU!

Please pray for John's gait to be stable, and that the side effects from chemo. and radiation will be miraculously minimal. That healthy cells be preserved, and the bad ones destroyed. Protection from infection.

Current update: 8-11-08

Give thanks for good news:

1. MRI scan last week, showed no new tumor re-growth!

2. MD Anderson bill showed up: balance due: $0 !!! That's right...nothing due...all payed by insurance! WOW!

3. Duke University Med. Ctr. says they have never seen two complete resections (complete removal of two tumors)...ever!

Please pray:
1. Chemo. starts this week, in St. Louis, Mo....for protection of healthy cell, protection of immune system, that all bad cells would be destroyed.
2. safety in travel to and from St. Louis
3. protection and peace for Irma (Carol's mom) and kids while parents are away
4. strength and health and peace and unity for Carol and John

new prayer requests:as of Aug. 3, 2008

Please pray for the following:
1. That Aug 4th (Monday) MRI results are good news for John.

2. Safety, peace, unity and wisdom for trip to Duke for medical consultation. God's BEST for John...His favor for His Best.

3. Protection for kids and Irma at home in Springfield. Peace and unity in family.

THANK YOU!

Good Morning!!!  The Esther homecoming was  just wonderful.  Banners, balloons, flowers, frig full of food and a clean house and car was amazing.  If you know the Esther house hold this was truly  a treat and blessing.  Every card, email, phone call, dinner, flower, plant, cookie, house cleaning angel has not gone unnoticed.  Every act of kindness has been a blessing on this journey.  I believe you are all a part of Gods army of angels that are going before us to clear our path!!!

John's recovery is miraculous as many of you have witness.  We are walking 2 miles daily,  he has been floating, and out with some cowboys in a covered wagon!!  He is ready for the next hurdle in this battle.  We are heading to Barnes Tues the 29th to get our plan for chemo and radiation.  We are also heading to Duke for a visit with Dr. Friedman to get his opinion on possible clinical trails. 

We continue to ask for prayer: God would give us the perfect strategy for chemo and radiation, favor with care givers, clarity on decision making,  uncomplicated treatment that will not be interrupted,  protection over our children during this time, and  that we will continue to have the peace that surpasses all understanding.

I continue to ask God to bless everyone of you abundantly!!

John's #1 nurse.

Carol

For their homecoming...

WELCOME HOME JOHN AND CAROL!!! At this time , they need space, and time to recover. Call, write, text, email...all are great! No visits for a while, until they are ready! THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING!!!

Well the staff thought not so fast John Esther!! Just another couple of nights. John spiked a fever that they think maybe from the Dilantin. However, Antibiotics and cultures started just to cover all bases!! We are doing great. John is still speed walking and making friends on the way. Kids are doing great thanks to friends annd family!! We are still on target for our homecoming tues after consultation with the best of the best @ M D Anderson to plan our Chemo/Radiation attack. Nadia Cavner is coming by plane to get the remaining Esther Clan. What a blessing!!! Keep locked on target with the prayers. God is good!!John's #1 awesome nurse,Carol

Evening Update

Justed wanted to give another update. John had his post - op MRI today and it shows NOTHING!! No tumor! There is even some talk of a possible discharge tomorrow! We are now up to 16 laps! We love you all! Thanks for being part of this journey!
Maddy and Carol

Good morning! Just another report. John is up and walking around doing great! He wanted us to report that he did 11 laps around the unit! He has read every blog note and net note with a huge smile on his face! He loves your support. Our current goal is a discharge Friday and to be back in wonderful Springfield on Wednesday! Thank you for all your encouragement, no act of kindness goes unnoticed. I can't tell you how much it means!
P.S. Here is an encouraging video link that we loved!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9udYp7UOP8A

The entire Esther clan

Surgery day update: 4pm Tues, July 8th

WOW!!! WOW!!! The surgery was supposed to go until 6pm today. At about 3pm, the surgeon came out, and reported that there was a total resection of both tumor masses. That means that they were able to get all of both of the tumors out! There are no expected neurological after- effects from the surgery, except for some tingling that will go away after a few days.
Praise GOD!! The surgeon said that it went better, and faster than they expected, and agreed that there was no other explanation than a miracle of God.

Now...please pray for the next course of action. What research or follow-up clinical study should John be in now that the tumors are gone, as follow up. That God would guide them to His best, and that it even be possible for him to do this from Springfield, Mo.

Thank you all! Thanks be to God who is in the business of miracles!

From John and Carol

To our wonderful friends and family;

Wow, what a journey we are on! I want each of you to know that the only way we put one foot in front of the other and get moving on the Lord’s path , is though your prayers!!! The prayers have been and are being heard. Our testimony of God’s deliverance defies human understanding. It is a God thing! Your prayers are heard! Keep at it for us.

I keep on thinking about all of the generosity that has been poured into our family. We are so blessed. This brings me to tears. Not one outreach to our family has gone unnoticed!!! Maddy, John and I are sitting ready for his anesthesia assessment. We are heading to the OR at 7 am tomorrow.(July 8th) He is due in the ICU around 6pm.

Psalms 28:9
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for Him and I will give thanks to Him in song.

With great thanks,
Carol, John, Maddy, Windsor, Joe, and Eliza

messages and or cards to John and/or family:

To send messages to John and/or family:
send to their home;

3553 Willow Wick Trail
Springfield, Mo. 65809

Encouragement and comments from friends and family:

Please write your encouragement to the Esther's and send it to me. I will post it. Thanks!

Praise Reports:

Carol says she has started eating as of yesterday, and that she has been sleeping well.
She and John say that miracles are happening during this situation.
Hope and encouragement are helping them through this.
The friends and relatives of John and Carol have rallied and helped the family tremendously

PREMIERE INSURANCE HAS APPROVED THE SURGERY ! 7/1/08 YEAH!!!!!!!!! (It will all be covered!!!)

Today, July 9th, John was up, moving, walking with Carol, and had eaten two breakfasts!! Carol said he was fiesty!!

Current Situation

John and Carol came home from Texas yesterday, July 17th!
John is recovering, getting stronger every day, and praising GOD!!

Joe's team of doctors have advised him to wait three months and get a new scan.

Prayer Needs

1)that God would help the family get logistics worked out with insurance, bills, appointments.
2) Direction as to which course of therapy to go with, where, and that God would work it out for John to have treatment from Springfield, to be with the family
3) Healing from the surgery, and continued prayer for a complete miracle for John.
5) God's comfort and peace, and good sleep for Irma and all family members .
6) Doctors having wisdom
7) Healing to family's nervous system
8) Provision for all needs
9) Good news and hope -thank the LORD for this!!!
10) Please pray for Joe...complete healing, and that when he is re-scanned, that it would be nothing of concern. Pray for GOOD NEWS for Joe!
11)Emotional stability for everyone, especially John and Carol (pray against fear)
12) that Carol would eat and get some rest every day
13) pray specifically for Windsor, Maddy, Joe and Liza ...protection, keep out of trouble, etc.
INSURANCE NEED ANSWERED TODAY! 7/1/08

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!!

To Help Out

If you would like to help, gift cards would be a great idea for the kids. Suggestions: Starbucks, Mall, Chillies, Panera, Borders, Andys, Movies, Gas cards, Walmart, Price Cutter, Etc. (This would keep the kids busy, so the parents can focus on important things.) ~Thanks

While the kids are gone, the house will be cleaned, and kids rooms organized. Anyone who would like to donate cash towards the cleaning of the Esther home, please send the donation to the home, addressed to the Esther.s, 3553 Willow Wick Trail, Springfield, Mo. 65809 Att. Irma (Carol's mother) specify that this is what you want the donation to go for. THANK YOU!!!!!

Food Sign Up -- Susan LaBroad (417)-882-2664

For meals: There will be 6 of them, plus Irma (Carol's mom) (7), unless I call you! THANK YOU!!

Monday Aug. 25: John's office friends (Sarah Gallaway)
Tues. Aug. 26th: Carol Ann Haake
Wed. Aug 27th: Susan LaBroad
Thurs. Aug 28th: Lisa Langley

Monday Sept. 1st: Labor day..no meal needed
Tues. Sept. 2nd: Marcia Mankin
Wed. Sept. 3rd: Libby Salisbury
Thurs. Sept 4th: Deb. Weaver

Monday Sept. 8th: Morris family
Tuesday, Sept. 9th: Nancy Morin
Wed. Sept. 10th: Scott and Ann Mason
Thurs. Sept 11th: Shanna Boyle

Mon. Sept 15th: Lisa Crouch
Tues. Sept 16th: Jackie Wagner
Wed. Sept 17: Sissy Ellis
Thurs. Sept. 18th: Debbie Hedgepeth



**NOTE**
Delivery time is 5:30 PM unless advised otherwise. ~ Thank you! You are AWESOME!!