Getting Back in the Swing of Things

Well, Pastor is getting back into the swing of things, slowly but surely. He's planning on attending church today. (He, of course, will not be preaching or playing his trombone!) We will see how he does just sitting back and enjoying the service! :)
Thanks to Bro. Zane King for taking over the service today, and to Bro. Donnie Castaldini for taking over Thursday night Bible study. The Pastor and his family really appreciate all your help.

Recovery

Well, Pastor Roberts seems to be recovering very nicely.
We took Merry and Kelsey over there tonight to visit "Grampy and Grammy" and boy, was it a joyous reunion! Meredith just couldn't leave my poor dad alone! And I think he enjoyed every minute of the attention. :)
He is feeling better and even talking of getting back to his everyday church work. (And his least favorite task, paying the bills!)
Thanks to all of you who took time to visit this past week, and for the cards and phone calls. We appreciate all of the love and support.
:)
Kendra

Coming Home

Hey, everyone! Just another quick note to let you all know that Daddy will be coming home this afternoon sometime.
I talked to him this morning and he said he was feeling pretty good, but still a little groggy from the pain medication they've been giving him.
I think he and Mom will be happy to get out of the hospital and back home. :)
Thank you all for your kindness, calls, visits, postings, etc.
We love and appreciate you all.

Kendra

Hospital Days

Just a quick note to inform you all that Dad is doing fine...seems to be recovering well. He is a little uncomfortable and sore, but he's up to visitors, and will probably be home on Thursday.
I went to see him tonight, and he got up and walked the hallway, and was sitting in a chair reading his book when I left. :)
Thanks to all who have called him or gone to visit.
We love you.

God bless.

The Lung Biopsy Results

Dear Friends:
Today Pastor Roberts had his lung biopsy. Things didn't go as well as expected, and one of the spots on his lung turned out to be a small tumor. The cancer is called Adenocarcinoma. Scott looked up some info on it, so here you go.

Scott’s Summary
This type of cancer is rarely detected and treated in stage 1 or 2. (Before spreading or with early spreading) so we were fortunate to catch it this soon. Most diagnosis are made later, when this cancer has already spread significantly and the survival rate is much lower.

From Harvard Medical School Consumer Health Information Website
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/24402.html

Adenocarcinoma Of The Lung, What Is It?

Adenocarcinoma of the lung is a type of lung cancer.

Like other cancers, adenocarcinoma is the growth of abnormal cells. These cancerous cells multiply out of control, and form a tumor. As the tumor grows, it destroys parts of the lung. Eventually, the tumor's abnormal cells can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, including the brain.

Adenocarcinoma is more likely than other types of lung cancer to be contained in one area of the body. It also responds better than other lung cancers to treatment.

Adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer. Most of this type of cancer is found in smokers. However, it also is the most frequent type of lung cancer seen in nonsmokers. It also is the most common form of lung cancer seen in women and people younger than 45.

The surgical team today was able to remove the tumor from Dad's lung, but because it was cancerous, they had to remove the lower lobe of his left lung, as well as a few lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are being tested for cancer, but the doctor has high hopes that they will be normal.
If that is the case, nothing more will need to be done to Dad's lung.
If all is well, and he heals fine from his incisions, in two to three weeks, he can get the tumor on his leg taken care of.

Thank you, EVERYONE, for all your prayers and support to our family! We are surrounded by wonderful friends and family, and we are so thankful for you all.
However, we want to send out special thanks to a few friends who spend the day with us in the Family Waiting Room at U of M hospital.

Pastor Nate Nix, and Bro. Joel Dunning, Pastor Anthony Harper, and Bro. Ron Brown, Bro. Donnie and Sis. Kim Castaldini.

Thank you for coming and sitting with us, and comforting us when things were uncertain. You all are HUGE BLESSINGS to our family. We love and appreciate you.

Thanks.

A Prayer Request

Pastor Roberts goes in Monday morning for his lung biopsy. This will be an actual surgery, and in fact, he will be admitted into the hospital and will spend at least one night there. There appear to be TWO spots on his lung, and although his doctor doesn't believe them to be malignant, they must be removed and tested. As stated before, if they are malignant, Pastor will lose part of his lung.
This posting is to request special focused prayer on the evening of Sunday, January 23rd, and the morning of Monday, January 24th. Please pray that Pastor Roberts' lungs are cancer-free, and that God does a mighty work on this great man of God.
Thank you all for your wonderful support, love and prayers.

Lung Biopsy Update

Hey, everybody:
Here's a new update on Pastor Roberts. He goes tomorrow morning to meet with a new doctor about his lung biopsy. They are planning on doing the biopsy Monday morning. This will be an actual surgery. Pastor will be asleep, and they will go in and remove the growth on his lung. They will test it, and if it is cancerous, they may have to remove part of the lung itself.
Please pray with us that this spot is NOT cancer! God is a healer, and He can do a mighty work, if it is His will.
I will be giving a new update possible Monday night on the results.
Thanks for your love and support.

A Note from Sis. Roberts

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to thank all of you from Westland United Pentecostal Church for your prayers and support at this time. In the service today (Jan. 16th) you all showed a wonderful expression of love for your pastor as you gathered around and prayed for his healing and strength. It means so much to us that you are near. We love you,

Sis. Roberts

Decisions, Decisions

Dad is in the midst of trying to decide on whether or not to have the lung biopsy. In the meantime, he is checking out alternative cancer treatments, mainly having to do with nutritian and vitamins. Some of the treatments look very promising, but there is still a lot of research to be done.
Thanks to all of you who have called, written cards or just given hugs in the past week or so.
You are all loved and appreciated.

The News

Okay. Daddy talked to his doctor this morning. The tumor in his leg is a low-grade sarcoma. Possibly easily treatable. However, the lungscan he had shows a 1.2 centimeter SOMETHING, which may or may not be related to the lump in his leg. A lung biopsy may be in Dad's near future. So, I guess that the news is not good, but not TOO bad at this point. Please help us by continuing to pray for his healing.

The Waiting Period

Hi, everybody.
First of all, I'd like to thank all of you who have taken time to visit this site. Your love, support, and especially your prayers are so important to our family.
Well, we find out alot more tomorrow. Sometime tomorrow Dad will talk with a team of people who will determine his treatment plan. I'm anxious to know exactly what is going on, as you are, I'm sure.
Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow.
I will post a new update as soon as I can.
God bless you all.
Kendra

The Beginning

Last week, the first week in January, 2005, my father, Pastor James Roberts was diagnosed with cancer. We know very little at this point, but its kind of scary just because the "C" word was spoken. I myself had a rare skin cancer at one point, so I know that not all cancer is fatal, but it still scares me.
My dad is a great man, and I know that many, many people are praying for him. And I know that God answers prayers. I am confident in this.
The purpose of this blog is to keep all of our friends and family updated on his progress, and you all are welcome to make comments to us as well.
Thank you for your continued love and support.
We will know more on Thursday, January 13th.
I will get new info to you all as soon as possible.