Joe got out of the house today & went to Shiloh (farm close to Steele, AL). He came home tonight almost exhausted, but said he fared better today than he did the last time he spent the day down there. He says he's better than he was a month ago. He ate a bowl of chicken & dumplings tonight & some icebox fruit cake & has been asleep in the recliner since his supper. It has been 2 years now since he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer,and was given 6 months to live. We are so thankful to the Good Lord for the time he has allowed us to have, but its never enough!! We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with our children tomorrow night here at home. We are both dreading his check-up in Jan, so please continue to keep us in your prayers. Joe & Sandra

Hello everyone..Joe is still doing well & getting out & about. But, for the last couple of days he hasn't been feeling quite as well. He got sick to his stomach Sunday after lunch & then again today. Sometimes it seems I just don't know what to say when updating the blog, but I do know that life is so much easier when he can eat, enjoy, & keep his food down. We are still praising God for his blessings on us & still thanking you all for your continued prayers. Joe & Sandra

Hi Everyone,

Do you realize that Joe has been doing better since October 3rd! I looked back on some of the older posts to see the exact date that he really started feeling so...much better. It has been a month now. He even gets out of the house without me now...which is a blessing for us both. He probably feels that I've been "in his face" for almost 2 years now.

Last night at supper, Joe ate 3 grilled chicken legs, a small baked potato & a tiny bowl of salad! Isn't that wonderful!! Thank you God for the good times....Love to you all & hope that you keep us in your prayers....Sandra

We are still thanking God for more good days. Joe is still eating well & keeping it down. Still has to eat small amounts every couple of hours or so. We are so very thankful that things are better with us. He still has episodes of vomiting but not a continual thing like before. Please keep us in your prayers....Joe & Sandra

Joe is still doing better. He's eating better & keeping his food down. Still having a problem with his breathing. We heard from his ultra sound today...dosen't show any gallbladder problems, but still has fluid around the right lung. His breathing is still much to short (shallow, fast). Still asking for your prayers...
Joe & Sandra

We have have had several good days again. Sat morning started off bad with Joe vomiting his breakfast, but got better all day. Someone told me Saturday morning that they really felt led to pray for Joe that morning. I told them that I would be expecting Joe to get better (and he did)! As far as I know, he's kept down all his food since that vomiting spell Saturday morning! Please keep us in your prayers...Joe & Sandra

HEllo again..Joe had almost 3 good days in a row...pain & vomiting started again Thursday night..continued on this morning. Joe normally keeps his breakfast down, but wasn't able to this morning. He gets discouraged after having a couple of good days..things get bad again. Over all today...he's kept down part of a grilled cheese, 1/2 cup potato soup with a bit of cornbread, vomited his supper. Tonight he's kept down a little ice cream with milk in it..about a cup. We've been getting out of the house as it seems to help his feelings. We are still asking for your prayers. Joe & Sandra

any suggestions on foods he might keep down?

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to pray last night. Joe had a good nights rest & has had a much better day today. He's kept down the majority of his food today. Thank the Good Lord.. He had a little episode of vomiting around mid-day today & had pain, but he's better tonight. Thank you all again for your prayers....and please keep us before the Lord. Joe & Sandra

Hey friends,
This is mainly a prayer request. Joe is having severe pain after eating & only gets relief when he throws up. He has got to eat if he lives. He eats breakfast fairly well with no pain, but after lunch is a different story. Today he ate a very lite lunch but immediately started having pain on an 8 to 10 scale...broke out in a sweat from it..said he could cry if it would help. Please pray for us..Joe & Sandra

Hey everyone..we got good news from Dr Mehran. He said symptoms Joe has was a part of the healing process. He took out the feeding tube, told us pain under the right breast was where his stomach was. Must be eating too much at one time. He said his days of eating a big meal was over..small meals only. Dr Phan, oncologist, said Joe had developed small noncalcified nodules in the right lung..but she did NOT think it was cancer. She seemed to think it was part of the problem he had with his lungs to start with that are trying to resolve itselft. I hope that makes sense. BUT, she wants us back out here in Jan for a PET scan & bloodwork. She also said the pain in his right back was due to nerve damage from the surgery I hope she is right...so my friends..please continue to pray for us...

If the Lord is willing, we intend to head home tomorrow....Joe & Sandra

Joe & I went to the hospital today. He had blood work, x-rays, & CT scan, but we won't hear from any of them until tomorrow. EKG is tomorrow, visit with nutritionist, surgeon, & oncologist. They should remove the j-tube tomorrow as well. So...tomorrow is the big day that should tell the tale!! Just being out here is so...depressing. After eating part of a grilled chicken sandwich today..Joe was in severe pain, but got better after vomiting. Just hoping & praying for good test results tomorrow........Joe & Sandra

Joe had a good day Tuesday...was really encouraged...said he felt stronger. Then Tue night vomited a good bit & didn't rest well. Today has been more of the same... vomiting....low grade fever...Please remember us tonight when you pray........Joe & Sandra

Joe & I were glad to be in church Sunday and so very glad to see everyone. It was our first time in church since being home. He made it fairly well thru the service but was exhausted by the time we got home. He started running a low grade fever & vomiting later in the evening. Slept well. Ate good breakfast this morning..a little snack (peaches/cottage cheese) started throwing up again.
Low grade fever tonight & blood pressure really high. He's gone to sleep in the recliner..got to get him up to get in bed. Good night & remember us in your prayers....Joe & Sandra

Joe was very sick all day Thursday,vomiting just every little bit. He ran fever Tue.,Wed., & Thur. night this week. BUT, has felt so much better today. He slept well last night, eaten well today & kept down his food (except once when he drunk some tea a little too quickly). His temperature is just a bit elevated tonight. Goodnight sweet friends...Keep praying.....Joe & Sandra

Labor Day

I'd like to tell you all that Joe has been much better for the last 2 days. He had a little episode with his heart racing and a high blood pressure Saturday afternoon, but it passed quickly. I have seen quite a few smiles from him for a couple of days, and they warm my heart. May I thank each of you who have signed the guest book lately...it means a lot to see that our friends still care for us and continue to remember us in prayer.....Love you.....Joe & Sandra

My apologies....Joe has been pretty sick for the last three days...doing a lot of vomiting and not eating very much. His doctor in Texas wants to hold antibiotics to see if they may be causing his problems. I ask that you pray for him to be able to eat & regain some strength. Thank you all for your care & concern.....Joe & Sandra

Joe was up at 2 am vomiting this morning & again after trying to eat breakfast this morning. Still complaining of pain under the right breast & thru to his back. He has tried to walk a bit more today. Maybe tomorrow will be better...with God's help I know it can...Joe & Sandra

It's bedtime Wed. night...Joe is still feeling pretty rough...he slept really well night before last, but not too good last night..A few minutes ago started complaining of hurting really bad in his back...when I checked his blood pressure it was 167/126 h/r 120..I gave him something for pain & called a few people to pray...within just a little while his blood pressure and heart rate came back down to normal.. He did walk about 5 minutes at one time today..so thats a good thing..
Guess it's just gonna take time....thank you all for caring & praying for us...Joe & Sandra

It's Saturday morning & we are home...Thank the Lord...If anyone has tried to call & not gotten us, think nothing of it...our home telephone is "out-of-order" & Joe's cell phone has broken at the hinge. Land line supposed to be repaired by Tuesday. Joe is still extremely weak...and not sleeping very well..., but he is eating better & looking a little better to me...yesterday was extrememly hectic here and I didn't quite know what to do first (went in circles...didn't accomplish much)..just took care of Joe. He has still run a low grade fever every night since leaving the hospital...so please continue to pray for us...Joe & Sandra

Sweet Home Alabama

Hello Dear Friends,
If nothing goes wrong, we're headed for Alabama first thing in the morning. Joe has been running a slight fever & is very weak. Just hoping & praying that this fever is not the start of something bad. I think we fear the worst...because of all the "pot holes" we have hit so far.
We saw Dr Mehran today & he gave us his blessing to go home. They did blood work & x-ray of the chest...Red Blood cells up..white were a little up but within normal range.....We feel that the Lord worked it out that Virgil & Jackie (Joe's cousins) were flying home to Texas the same day Regina was to fly out to help us get home. Pray for us on our trip tomorrow......Joe & Sandra

Keep Praying...

So far so good this morning....no vomiting and no fever!
Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!
God is able!

Pray-pray-pray

Joe is vomiting and has a fever tonight, please earnestly pray that God will intervene in this so they can get home.... The drain tube was removed and he was released from the hospital tonight. They are back at their home away from home.
Thank you and God bless everyone.

Plans: Coming Home!

Guess What...the doctor has changed his mind on a couple of things! He says that Joe's lung is looking some better...PRAISE THE LORD! Instead of waiting two more weeks the doctor decided to remove the drain tube today and Joe is going to be released from the hospital. However Joe will see the doctor again on Wednesday and be checked out to make sure everything is good. If so, they will be heading home on Thursday morning! Regina will be flying out and driving them back. Please pray that everything moves forward with no more setbacks and also pray that Joe's appetite will increase and the vomiting will stop. He has lost somewhere around 30 pounds since the surgery. Everyone (including the doctor) feels like Joe will get better at home. They can't hardly wait!
They are counting on your prayers and God's great wonderful help. .....sounds like a miracle in the making to me.
Love to all from Joe & Sandra
by Sherry

If any of you have called Joe's cell phone & not gotten an answer....please don't feel bad at us.
Since it is broken & difficult to open (to answer), we just left it in the motel room Monday night when we left for the emergency room.

It is around 10:30pm & Joe seems to be sleeping well at the moment...maybe with a good nights rest everything will look brighter to him in the morning. Love you all.....Sandra

Joe say's he is "just worn out" and I know that he is down & discouraged. I think if he can start sleeping "at night" & his lungs get better, he will start feeling much..much..better. He has gotten up and walked twice around the nurses desk today..complained of being a little dizzy..so he is back in bed. His heart rate is absolutely wonderful... Last night it was around 100 ..today I've seen 80's at times. The nurse just checked his blood pressure at 157/90. Even though nothing is tasting good to him right now, we are so thankful that he CAN eat and drink. We're hoping that by next week he'll be so much better we can come home.....Pray it is so..Joe & Sandra

11:25pm on Friday, August 14

I apologize for not getting another update on here today but I suddenly went out of town and wasn't back until 10pm.
They took Joe in for the heart procedure at 5pm and was finished in about 2 hrs. He made it thru and the cycle was broken so it was SUCCESSFUL! They did not put him to sleep for this (don't know why) and he says it was AWFUL BAD. Anyway since then he has been in respiratory distress. He is receiving oxygen at 8 level, which is a lot if I understand right. He was expected to be transported back to MD Anderson Hospital tonight after the sheaths were removed from his arteries in the groin area. Joe's heart rate was around 100 bpm at around 9pm and the blood pressure was still elevated somewhat. All this is expected to change when he is out of distress. The procedure on his lung has been cancelled. They are still begging for prayer so please keep remembering them.
Love from Joe & Sandra
by Sherry

Friday, Aug. 14 @ 10:25am

Joe has just got through with the first thing of today....ALL WENT WELL with the test where the camera was placed down thru the esophagus to check on the heart before surgery and there are NO BLOODCLOTS!!! Aren't we so thankful... His blood pressure is down some also, at the moment it is 144/95 and was much higher earlier...the heart rate is 154 bpm. He is about to be transported to the heart hospital for an ablation procedure so please keep praying. The doctor feels confident that they will fix this. They are counting on God to bring them thru this and back home again.
Love and thank you from Joe & Sandra by Sherry

Well it didn't last...heart rate got fast again around 150 beats per minute & blood pressure went up. We finally were put upstairs in a room around midnight Wednesday night. They are transporting Joe by ambulance tomorrow to "Herman Memorial Hospital" to do ablation proceedure on his heart. Then back to MD Anderson to drain more fluid from left lung area.
Please keep praying for us .....Joe & Sandra

We are back in the hospital again...Joe's heart rate was running way too fast (around 150's) and left drainage tube started running infection again. We came back to the ER Monday night really late...and would you believe we are still in ER..? This is one place I don't like...They have started Joe on new Meds & now have his heart rate around 70....Just hope it will remain steady.
Let's don't rock the boat...They took out the Right drain tube yesterday. They still have to see about the left one thats showing infection. (said it grew another bug..one she'd never heard of).
Yesterdays blood work looked good. White count good..Red count up (good). Please keep us in your prayers.................we still wanting to come home...Joe & Sandra

Today has been a better day for us. Joe's blood pressure & heart rate have also been better. He said he didn't sleep as well last night, but has still felt better today. Anxiously waiting for Wednesday. We're so ready to come home. Love you all. Joe & Sandra

Joe slept very soundly last night..didn't even wake up when I took off the feeding tube. It's already bedtime again & I hoping he sleeps well again tonight. I'm thinking a few nights of good sleep will help him in other ways as well. He has really been depressed & discouraged...because of all the bumps we have hit on this path we are traveling. Please continue to keep us in your prayers...want to get home...Joe & Sandra

So sorry to say...Joe & I had another bad night. He may possibly have slept 2 hours. His blood pressure & heart rate have been crazy after we left the hospital & arrived at the motel. His heart would slow down for about an hour after meds, then go crazy again. This afternoon around 4pm I finally called the hospital. They seem to think "reglan" may be the culprit thats making Joe so jittery and anxious. I had been giving heart med & reglan at the same time. I stopped it immediately (hope they're right). I do believe he looks just a bit better this afternoon than he did this morning. He got to eat a good breakfast ( egg & cheese biscuit) and lunch (grilled chicken sandwich). He's still on the feeding tube at night from which he'll gradually be weaned. Hoping & praying tonight will be restful..peaceful..& healing..Love you all..Joe & Sandra

Please accept my apology.....I was so upset yesterday...we hadn't slept well in a couple of nights & both of us were extremely tired. They came in telling us that Joe had to have 2 units of blood & then they took him down & had a drain put in his right chest cavity (in his back). He had an infection in the left side called "alpha hemolytic strep". We were so depressed...it seemed like a dark tunnel with no light at the end. Thank you all for praying for us...we needed it.
Dr Mehran came by today saying we can leave the hospital tomorrow, but not to leave the area. Will still have both drain tubes w/bags & antibiotics. He will see us on the 12th to remove tubes, do bloodwork, etc...We get to start home next day..Aug 13th. At least we have a plan...We are looking forward to coming home...Please keep praying for us that we won't hit another bump in the road. Joe & Sandra

Don't have much to say..we're both very tired & want to come home. Joe ate a couple of chicken fingers tonight & they've made him sick. The doctor tells us that Joe is doing well, just a minor set back. He may put another drain tube in the right side...afraid it has infection as well. I just want them to get the infection out completely before we start home. CT is scheduled for Mon., I guess they'll put the other chest tube in then. Please pray for us...I know we are nothing special, but I want Joe to get better so we can come home...We are so tired of this place.......Joe & Sandra

Update!!

Joe has just received his first glass of "ice water" ...it was so.....good!!! Doctor just came in & said he could eat.. It is an infection, not chyle. Joe has to have another CT Scan Monday to see if the infection has gone away enough to satisfy Dr Mehran, if not he will have to have another surgery (with a scope) to clean out his left chest cavity. Well, I've just ordered his first meal:
Pot roast, cream potatoes with brown gravy, green peas, dinner roll, & unsweetened tea. For dessert a scoop of fat free sugar free vanilla ice cream. He got cold after the ice water & I had to adjust the thermostat. Hoping & praying the infection will all go away so he won't require surgery. So glad he can eat...Praise the LORD!! Joe & Sandra

Joe had his barrium swallow yesterday...the good news...no leaks...the bad news..Dr Mehran said he knew why Joe wasn't breathing well..He had about 2 liters of fluid around his left lung. He said they would drain it with a needle & we could come home when Joe was feeling like it.. They went in to drain & color of fluid was wrong...they had to put in drainage tube..Joe went into a-fib again..white count was up...they came out & said he had to be put back into hospital. So...here we are....He came out of a-fib around 3:30 this morning..has been vomiting & running some fever...we were so disappointed. Doctor still won't let Joe eat anything. Said he could have a few ice chips. They even took the food from the feeding tube away until they completely rule out something called a "chyle" (kile) leak. They are leaning toward thinking it's infection of some kind. They won't know for sure until they get the latest results from the lab. Will keep you all posted....Please keep us in your prayers....Joe & Sandra

Joe has had another rough day (I'm sorry it sounds like complaining). He's vomited several times today and has still been quite depressed. He thinks his strength isn't coming back quickly enough. After walking from the hotel lobby (in the heat) and taking a shower this afternoon..his heart started beating about 130 times a minute...but it lasted for only about 2 hours...then went back into rhythm. Tomorrow is the day..the barrium swallow...pray that all will be well....
Joe & Sandra

Hello again..Joe & I have been a bit depressed today...Joe has been throwing up ...& these walls seem to be closing in..BUT..only 2 more days until the barrium swallow. Please pray that all will go well..Joe & Sandra

We had another pretty good night...today has been good as well. So far ...absolutely no fever to fight...Isn't that wonderful...the old devil seems to be sitting on my shoulder saying...,"you better not brag too quick". Joe is still really weak..but I think each day is a little better. Missing you all so bad...Joe & Sandra

We had a pretty good night & today has been ok as well. Joe started running fever around 4:00pm, but it's almost back to normal now. Only 6 days to go until the barrium swallow...& hopefully "real food". Keep praying for us....Joe & Sandra

We had a good night and so far today is much better. Joe asked for his "jeans" again...so he's wanting to walk. We love & miss you all....Joe & Sandra

Good Evening,
We've had a rough night. Joe started out with fever, then started hurting in his left shoulder. The pain then moved into his chest & stayed for the longest. Around 11:00am this morning he vomited & the pain let up. Just tired today....expecting tonight & tomorrow to be better....We're ready to find a rainbow......Joe & Sandra

Joe fought fever most of the day Sunday, but today has been better. We slept a little late. Joe had to rest between shaving & showering, but that was ok. He asked for his "jeans" this morning instead of pajama pants. When I got back from a late lunch, he had been outside walking a little. He said he was going to rest a while, then go for another. He is counting down the days until his barrium swallow & "real food". Well, he's just woke up and said, "I'm gonna walk around the building this time.".......so here we go........Love you all.....Joe & Sandra

Joe & I both had a good night...slept well...feel like humans today. Joe was able to shower & shave. His swelling has gone down in his arms & hands..feet & legs...I told him his knobby knees were back. We're just trying to hang in there until his swallow test. We're missing you all....SO BAD.....Joe & Sandra 5:00pm UPDATE! Please pray for Joe, his fever is coming up..............

Thank you all for checking on us. We are going to see the Doctor tomorrow, so maybe I can give better info afterwards. Joe is having pretty fair days, but rough nights. He still can't eat or drink. All food & meds are given thru J-tube. He's really looking forward to drinking a glass of ice-water. He has stayed more comfortable today with less meds. Just hoping tonight will be better as well. Of the 20 nodes taken out during surgery, none had cancer in them. Thank God...Please keep us in your prayers. Joe & Sandra

Tuesday-Noon

Joe went in a-fib again this morning..but they are still planning on sending us home tomorrow. (I think) sugar is up as well, and going to be on oxygen...this really worries me. They still say its going to be three weeks before we see Dr Mehran, 3 wks from the time we leave the hospital that is . Don't really know what to do. Wish the Lord would help us to know.
Joe does not have pneumonia, but lungs are not fully expanding in the lower lobes. They gave him more cardizem to stop a-fib ..heart beats are in the 90's but still irregular.
Sandra @12:55pm (message to SM, copied)

Since Surgery

Well I hope that I remember everything right...
I think it was Wednesday night after Joe finished a breathing treatment that his heart went out of rhythm and suddenly was beating over 200 bpm. This was very traumatic and hard on his body but with meds given for this(these episodes happen sometimes following this surgery)he was finally stable again by the next day. He then began to rest better and be more like himself and on Friday all the tubes were removed except for one epidural and the oxygen. Of course he has the feeding tube which will remain for maybe 2 months until they are sure he can safely eat again.
On Sat. Joe had a period of time with a slow heart rate that required some med changes.
Joe has had a fever and they are very concerned that he doesn't get pneumonia so on Sunday they did some tests. A drainage tube was inserted into one lung that was collecting fluid. This lung has not expanded since surgery hence the fluid and tube. After all this on Sunday, Joe's heart went out of rhythm again, which was another really stressful time for BOTH of them. However at 10:30pm it was some better (97-103 bpm) and he was resting....THANK THE LORD!
They are thankful for and still asking for your continued prayers,
Love from the Bynums
by Sherry

Praising the Lord!

Surgery 6-29-09

Joe giving the "thumbs up" sign just a few hours after surgery....


Joe had the surgery on Monday the 29th. It was somewhere around 6 hours long. The doctor removed 1/3 of his stomach and 2/3 of his esophagus along with several lymph nodes (which look good to the doctor but pathology will tell about that in a few days). Joe came thru it good.
Today (Tuesday) Joe is better after several hours of uncontrolled pain.
We are praising God that they didn't have to remove the entire stomach! Please help us praise God for His continued blessings on Bro. Joe and keep him in your prayers as he recovers.
Love from Joe and Sandra (by Sherry)