AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Sixty-three year old Ken Keefer from Marietta, (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania, has been a picture of health his whole life. After increasing discomfort with swallowing, beginning late last summer, Ken underwent extensive testing revealing Stage IV esophageal cancer.  Pain and swallowing difficulties have escalated for Ken to the point where he can no longer swallow anything.  Doctors at Johns Hopkins University Hospital recently determined Ken's cancer to be a "Gastric Adenocarcinoma with possible overlayment of the Hepatic Artery".  On April 13, Ken underwent surgery to have a port inserted for chemotherapy and a J-tube placed into his small intestine for nutrient administration.  Beginning Monday, April 19, he will undergo continuous chemotherapy, 24/7 for six weeks, and radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks.  The goal, if Ken will be able to withstand such a rigorous treatment plan, is to try to shrink the tumor sufficiently for surgical resection.  The prospect for success is considered a long-shot.  However, this long-shot is the only treatment option and one for which Ken, his wife and family of three children and a nine month old grand-daughter, covet our prayers on their behalf.  We invite readers to pray;

 
IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE!
On Friday, April 2, Jeremiah (15) and Timothy (12) Schlagel of Au Gres, Michigan were traveling a blacktop road from one farm to another; Jeremiah on a dirt bike and Timothy on a three-wheeler. Due to a miscommunication, Timothy turned in front of Jeremiah resulting in a dangerous and life threatening collision leaving the boys injured, in shock and disoriented. A stranger in a car stopped and drove the injured boys to a neighbour. Jeremiah was rushed to hospital emergency. While Timothy escaped with abrasions, Jeremiah suffered a concussion, a broken elbow which was surgically repaired on April 8th with a plate, many abrasions and lacerations requiring stitches and the loss of five of his bottom front teeth. The injuries to his jaw and teeth cannot be totally corrected until Jeremiah is full grown. Needless to say, the next few days were a worried blur for parents, James and Lesa. Amidst the trauma and shock, Lesa marvels, "It was neat to see how everything clicked together - a stranger who cared, a registered nurse as a neighbour who knew how to help, and quick emergency medical treatment.  We're so thankful.  God was present through this,"reflects Lesa. "It could have been so much worse." The Schlagels are members of Riverside Mennonite Church where James is one of the pastors.

 
PACEMAKER INSTALLATION FOLLOWED BY CANCER TREATMENT
Stanley "Stan" Widmer, 73, from Wayland, Iowa is a retired 35 year agent and director of Iowa Mennonite Mutual Aid and board member of Menno Services in Kalona, Iowa. In mid-March Stan required the installation of a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat. With his heart stabilized, Stan now faces a new round of treatment for prostate cancer, a condition which he has dealt with for some time. Treatment involves ten Chemo Therapy sessions, one every three weeks for thirty weeks. Stan covets the prayers of the MAX family "that everything will go alright over the next several months". Stan and his wife Martha have two granddaughters, Sadie and Claire, children of their son Todd and wife Marcia who live in Iowa City. The Widmers are members of the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church in Wayland, Iowa. Let's hold Stan and the family in our prayers.
 

UPDATES ON PAST PRAYER REQUESTS
 
John Himmelreich (February 2010) from Mifflinburg, PA, is struggling with Esophageal cancer. John has completed six weeks of Chemo and Radiation therapy treatments and is currently scheduled for surgery on an esophageal tumor on May 4. This will be extremely delicate surgery and require partial removal of a portion of the esophagus and stomach. Please continue to pray for John.
 
Ozias "Oz" Burkhart (March 17) died March 26 in his 75th year from complications following a stroke he suffered in early March. Oz was a good friend of MAX Canada and its predecessor, the Mennonite Aid Union, serving as a director of the Mennonite Aid Union for many years and subsequently as an agent for MAX Canada.   He was a man of many talents and interests including farming, building and as a farm equipment parts salesman. Oz was a man of few words, great integrity and deep faith and served as a long-time elder of his church, Community Mennonite Fellowship in Drayton, Ontario.  Mennonite Disaster Service had a special place in his life. He committed many weeks applying his considerable talents to various MDS projects across North America. A son-in-law remembers his dry sense of humour with this anecdote. "I will never forget the first thing Oz said to me.  He didn't ask my education or my job.  He didn't even ask my intentions towards his daughter.  He only asked, 'Do you really drive a Ford?'" Please remember wife Alice and the family in your prayers.
 
Rachel Medernach (December 2009 & January 2010) from Saskatchewan received catastrophic head and skull injuries in an ATV accident last October. In a recent email her mother, Joanne Schwan, shared the following update. "Rachel is continuing to improve.  Her hospital release date is now set for April 27th.  I appreciate very much the therapy she is getting in the hospital but believe that she will do really well at home with rehab being done as an outpatient.  She is going home on weekends now and loves being there with her family.  Her voice is strengthening every day.  Please pray for continued strengthening of her left side and that her balance will be restored.  Rachel still needs to have surgery to have the brain plate put in.  Her skull was too damaged to use her own skull so a titanium plate will be surgically implanted to cover her brain.  Please pray that this surgery can occur before she goes home to avoid another hospitalization.  We know she is in Gods hands and are very thankful for the healing He has provided." Thank you to our readers for continuing to pray for Rachel and her family.