ENDOSCOPY REVEALS ESOPHAGUL TUMOR
During the Christmas season, seventy year old John Himmelreich from Mifflinburg, PA, shared with his family that he was experiencing very painful choking sensations and increasing difficulty swallowing.   In early January an Endoscopy showed a tumor in John's esophagus.  Further tests revealed a stage 2 cancerous tumor "the size of a robin's egg."  This week John begins six weeks of Chemo and Radiation treatments, five days a week, to shrink the tumor.   At the end of this vigorous treatment, physicians will decide whether surgery is necessary or possible.  John is asking family and friends to pray for a miracle.  He is a brother-in-law of Nancy and Carl Litwiller, who directs the US MAX Mutual Aid Ministries program. They describe John as a man of deep faith who is maintaining a very positive attitude in the midst of much uncertainty.  "Please join us in praying that God will bless John with comfort, peace and healing that only God can provide", writes Carl.  We invite our readers to uphold John in prayer.
 

KIDNEY DIALYSIS REQUIRED
While vacationing in Sarasota, Florida, Dorothy Marner was hospitalized with kidney complications in late January.  Dorothy was discharged from the hospital on February 5 but continues receiving Kidney dialysis several times a week.  From tests done, physicians are optimistic that Dorothy's kidney function will be restored.  Dorothy and husband Phil Marner, from Kalona, Iowa, are well known members of the MAX and Mutual Aid family. Until recently, Phil was a valuable member of the MAX board and for many years managed the Menno Services Inc. Insurance agency in Kalona, now a part of MAX.  Pray for Dorothy and Phil as they await restoration for Dorothy's kidneys so they can return home to Iowa. 
 

THIRTY-TWO YEAR OLD WOMAN FACING CANCER
Pray for thirty-two year old Monica Barlow who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and now a spot has been detected on her liver.  She is undergoing treatment at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.   Monica and her husband, Ben, have been married just over a year and live in Baltimore where Monica works in the marketing department for the Baltimore Orioles. Pray also for Monica's parents, Wayne and Ramona Pence.  Wayne is pastor of Mountain View Fellowship Church of the Brethren at McGaheysville, Virginia.  Wayne and Ramona will be spending a week with Monica in Florida where Monica will be working with the Orioles spring training camp.  Monica's Baltimore doctor has arranged with a Florida doctor to provide any needed medical support. "Prayer is what Monica needs most right now," says Pence family friend and MAX board member, Henry Hawkins.  "The family's outward  expression of their faith during this family crisis has been uplifting to many." 

UPDATES:
Marilyn Zook (See Dec 15, 2009) from Montana, had a cancerous tumor removed from her lung area in early December.  The family wishes to let our readers know that Marilyn passed away on January 25th.  They ask for continued prayer for her husband Lloyd and their three adult children, two of whom were unable to make it home to say their final goodbye's to their mother.  Pray that God's grace and love will cover this family as they go through the grieving process and restored wholeness. 
 
Suzanne Bursey (See August 17, 2009) Fifty-nine year old Suzanne was diagnosed with lung cancer and a grapefruit size mass in her lung.  Intensive chemo therapy and radiation over the past number of months failed to arrest the progression of the cancer and it spread to her lymph nodes and brain.  All active treatment was discontinued and Suzanne died peacefully in the palliative care unit at Hanover (Ontario) General hospital on February 14 with her husband Tony at her side.  Suzanne is the mother-in-law of Pam Bursey, an underwriter with MAX Canada.  The funeral service will occur on February 17.  Pray for Anthony and the family as they walk through the grief process.