Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo just came from her ENT. He has recommended total esophageal reconstruction. There is a doctor at The James (OSU Cancer Clinic) that does this type of surgery, but Dr. Willet is not sure he will agree to do it since Bettyjo is not a cancer patient. The other option would be the Cleveland Clinic.

Bettyjo Update - Setback

Tuesday the ENT told Bettyjo that she could begin swallowing her spit. She had her 19th treatment yesterday, and late last night she noticed that her shirt was all wet. It appears that the esophagus is not healed and the fistula that was formed earlier is still pushing material to the exterior of her neck. We went to the ER last night and was met by the ENT. He took a CT scan and it appeared that the fluid was tracking to outside of the neck and was not pooling in the neck, and we are to keep the track open until he consults with our regular ENT on Monday.

Needless to say we are all very stunned by this. The wound on the outside looked good, and she was tolerating the Hyperbaric Chamber well. We really..........just don't know what to think or feel. I hate to say this...but my faith is really shaken. I don't know what possible reason God could have for allowing this to continue. I can say with all my being, we have had enough.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo completed her 11th hyperbaric oxygen treatment today. The wound to outside of her neck is almost completely healed. Bettyjo said that she feels a tightness in her neck. We are hopeful that the mussel in her neck is closing the esophagus. She has 9 more treatments and then a swallow test.

Thank you to all those that have been taking her to OSU East for treatment.

Please pray that she will be healed and that she will be able to swallow something for Christmas.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo has gone for two hyperbaric treatments, and is completing her third as I type. The external wound seems to be healing nicely. The real question is, with the esophagus and the mussel attached to it. Unfortunately, we will not know what is going on inside until this round of treatment is done, and a swallow test is given. I have attached a couple of photos of the actual chamber Bettyjo is using.

Thank you all for your continued support in meals, rides, dollars and prayers. It has made a tremendous impact on our entire family.

Bettyjo Update

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers. Bettyjo went to church this past Sunday and did really well. She was very tired afterwards, but was glad she went.

We had some good news last week. Bettyjo was approved for the hyperbaric oxygen chamber. She will go to OSU on Wednesday for the final assessment and get her schedule and treatment plan. Thursday she will have her first treatment. There will be 20 treatments, five per week, for four weeks. Please pray that the treatments are successful.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo has been to the wound clinic for the second time on Monday. They think the external wound is healing, but we have had no word on the approval of the hyperbaric chamber. On Tuesday she went to the ENT who didn't exactly agree with what the wound clinic was doing. I suspected this would be the case, since the wound clinic did not agree with the packing the ENT prescribed. If Bettyjo does not get into the hyperbaric chamber she will discontinue going to the wound clinic. We both have much more faith in the ENT. Good news is that the open wound in her neck is getting much smaller, and the mussel that was placed in the esophagus is living and healthy.

Please continue to pray that this will work.

Bettyjo Update

Bettyjo went to the OSU Wound Care Clinic today. They will be assisting Dr. Willet with her healing. It is not certain that she will qualify for the Hyperbaric Chamber though. Dr. Kaide changed the type of packing and will see her once a week until it is healed. If she gets qualified for the hyperbaric chamber, she will go every week day, for four weeks. Each session will be two hours long.

Please pray that our health insurance will approve the treatment, and that it will work.