Good afternoon! The doctor visit went very well on Monday. They said that the left node area was negative for cancer and that the pathology report showed there were cancer cell in the right side but feel very confident that everything was removed. Joe will have to go back every 6 weeks for the next 2 years then every 3 months after that for 2 more years. He said that if it is going to come back it usually happens within the first 3 years. Joe felt really good the first few days after the surgery by that last few his has not felt very well. It is just going to take some time for his neck to heal. They weighed him on Monday and he is a whopping 154 pounds! No offence to those to weigh this but my Joe usually is around 190.

I wanted to request that everyone send a note or just something brief so I may put it in Joe's scrapbook. All the entries and comments from this blog are in there along with all the cards that we have received so I wanted to put any personal messages or letters you would like to send in there also. This is something we will never forget and I wanted to make something for Joe to look back at because most of the time his was on medicine and did not know everything that was happening.

If you want to send it by mail our address is:
1421 Roundhill Road
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

or Email: crystallent@peoplepc.com

God Bless,
Crystal

Joe is doing great. He has been sleeping quite a bit the last 2 days which is good. His neck has been sore with all the staples. They cut through the muscles in his neck so it will be sore for a while. The swelling has not gone down enough to see if you will be able to notice that there is missing tissue in his neck. His staples will come out on Monday and then just recovery from there. We are not sure what the follow-up schedule will be but should find out on Monday. We are grateful to God that he put all the people in our lives to guide us to the best doctors. We could not have gotten through any of this without God, our church family, family and friends by our sides the whole time. The last five months seem like years to me and I am glad they are behind us.

God Bless,
Crystal

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!! We are finally home and it felt so great to get the wonderful new yesterday that there was no cancer in the primary location (Tonsil and Tongue). They were able to cut out the cancer that was in the right lymph node and surrounding area and the left lymph node and surrounding area. The left side did not show any cancer but the doctor wanted to be sure and remove them because they were enlarged and wanted to test them further. The incisions are pretty wild looking because the go from his ear down close to his adams apple. The left incision is not as big as the right side but still big. They have staples in them now which will be removed Monday morning. Joe feels as good as he did when he went in yesterday for the surgery except he has pain in his neck. They gave him pain medicine and hopefully will only have to take it the rest of this week.

Joe has always had a peace and believed that God was going to heal him and yesterday Joe said that it is was a great verbal confirmation from the doctor that it was true. He has had such a great attitude about this the whole time. Of course we all have our moment of the flesh side getting involved because nobody is perfect. Thanks to all thoes prayers that have been said and give all the glory to GOD! It only takes a musturd seed!!!!!!!

God Bless,
Crystal

We recently got in from visiting with Joe and Crystal. The update is fabulous news--the doctors were able to remove his left lymph node and some surrounding tissue, less than on the right side. They feel confident they removed all of it and will get pathology reports soon to confirm this. Yeah, God!!

Crystal requested prayer for Joe's saliva glands. One side was destroyed with radiation and now the other side isn't producing either. Please pray this is a temporary thing!

Crystal will give more details tomorrow. Joe's doing so well and he's hoping to come home tomorrow but may have to wait until Thursday.

Keep lifting Joe and family up in prayer!

Blessings to all! Stephanie

Just got the update from Crystal: Joe's tonsils and tongue are clear of cancer---Praise God!!! His right lymph (this is were the growth was coming from) node had cancer but was completely removed along with surrounding tissue. The doctors were working on his left lymph node now. Crystal said this was good news:)

Keep praying!! And we'll post more soon:)

Hello all! I just got word from Crystal about Joe. He went back to surgery around 9:30 AM and they expect it to take about 2 hours. Crystal says Joe had a great attitude. He really is amazing, isn't he?

As soon as I get an update, I'll post it.

Please keep the prayers coming!!!!

Stephanie

I wanted to let everyone know that we have to be at UAB 6:30am December 5th. I think the surgery will be about 8:00am. I will be at the North Pavilion waiting area after they take Joe into the operating room. I will let you know as soon as possible how he is doing and when he will be in his room. He will spend the night at UAB and hopefully go home sometime on Wednesday. Joe has a great peace about tomorrow and we know that we are in Gods hands!

God Bless and Pray Hard,
Crystal

www.geoffgottlieb.org/wp-content/joe-2.wvx This is the link to the CBS 42 story.

Joe is feeling a whole lot stronger which is good for his surgery on Tuesday. Our insurance is now covering his boost (it will have more vitamins and things he really needs right now) but we still need bottled water for him to put through his tube. The more fluids that he gets in his body a day the better. He is moving around more so he is burning calories and needs even more to replenish his system. He is still light headed quite often and still has to be careful. Joe looks so much better just in the last 2 weeks. I think everyone has noticed an improvement which is great. Hope to see everyone Sunday at the nature trail 1:30. (Remember this is a surprise for Joe)

God Bless,
Crystal