1. Since Last Report (December, 2007)

To say that a great deal has happened since my last report would be a gross understatement!

Barnes Hospital Test

• On January 7, 2008, I had blood work done and a CT scan (first in 3 months). The results were not what we were expecting … BUT I reminded my family that the greater the problem, the greater the glory that God will receive!!
• The CT results indicated the cancer had metastasized to 4 spots on the liver and a couple of lymph nodes near the pancreas. This makes me a stage IV pancreatic cancer patient. With this news, we felt we needed more direction from the Lord as to what we do next. To make a long story short, we felt the Lord definitely directed us to the Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA), in Tulsa OK (one of four of these centers). The primary reason is because we were told the facility administers conventional treatment (but with more advanced technology than many other cancer facilities) AND offers alternative therapies … which we’re more interested in. So, after requesting a 30-day leave of absence from work, off we headed to “red clay country!”

CTCA (Tulsa, OK)

• It was a 2 ½ week experience we will never forget! To say that my wife and I were treated like a king and a queen at CTCA till we came home this past Sunday, 2/3, is NOT an exaggeration!!
• One neat thing is that the expert various doctors and the testing facilities and the admin offices and the wonderful cafeteria that prepared organic-based meals were all under one roof and easily accessible. But the main trait of CTCA that attracted our attention is that the employees, from the COO (whom we met) down to the janitor, treated people incredibly nice with a sincere caring attitude. CTCA exercises what is known as the “mother standard” - “treat all the patients and each other as if they were your own mother.” And they practiced it big time. I have never been treated better in all my life, anywhere!!
• For more information on all the CTCAs, go to www.cancercenter.com .
• Near the end of the visit at CTCA, I received the recommendations from the ten or so doctors involved in my case. They were: option 1 (their choice) of 5 weeks of radiation 5 days each week and low dosage chemotherapy, followed by heavier doses of chemotherapy, and option 2 of heavy doses of chemotherapy followed by radiation - but NO mention of the alternative treatments we had discussed in the early part of our visit. When we pressed this issue, we then learned that CTCA only does alternative therapies AFTER you agree to do some conventional treatment - not the answer that pleased us or agreed with what we had been told before we went to CTCA.
• So, we immediately began to look elsewhere for the alternative treatment methods we had researched and were interested in pursuing.

2. Near Future Plans

• Earlier this past week, we felt the Lord gave us clear direction on which of three doctors employing alternative therapies we should use. The regimen consists of three parts: (1) diet [even stricter than I have been on, with no meat, no dairy products, and no fruit (ugh!!)], (2) supplements and greens juicing (not carrot juicing), including heavy dosages of liquid vitamin C and bio-immune powder supplements (which the doctor invented and is famous for), and (3) detoxification. I have ordered the first 30 day supply of this oral-based product, which I received just late today.
• I am excited about getting started on this regimen, primarily because this doctor has had a very high success rate with his pancreatic (and all other) cancer patients. “Success” in the sense that the cancer is totally remitted and disappears from the body (that’s the reason for the detoxification)!!! I am getting excited thinking about when God takes care of this situation and I am able to declare His glory and victory in all of this.
• Whether I’m on this regimen for 30 days, 60 days, or 3 months and beyond is unknown at the moment, although the doctor reports success in a matter of weeks or a few months.
• In light of this new alternative treatment plan, my prayer requests are two: (1) That I would have little or no side effects from the regimen. I understand that headaches and flu-like symptoms are not uncommon. (2) Secondly, that the process would be completed on the “quicker” side of the timeline rather than the “longer” - IF that’s God’s perfect will for my situation. I know He will bring me through this, and I will leave the timing up to Him!!

Thanks so much again for your encouraging communication - e-mails, cards, calls, etc. Please know your comments, thoughts, and prayers to the Lord are genuinely appreciated every time!! I will be eternally grateful for this strong support I have received for nine months now! Because of your support, I am still around to write this!! ;-) I say that because of a couple of stats I heard just recently: (1) 97% - 98% of pancreatic patients in the U.S. die, and (2) 95% die within 6 months of initial diagnosis. So, I am “beating the odds” big time… because of God answering all of your prayers! May you be sincerely thanked, and to Him be all the glory!!!

God bless.
Lonnie

Friends and Prayer Partners,

1. Christmas

It’s Christmas Eve and undoubtedly many of you are celebrating this special time of the year with your families at this very moment. I pray the Lord makes it a very joyous celebration for you because of your unselfish thoughts and prayers for me over the last 7months. God HAS and CONTINUES to answer your prayers!!

The fact that I can compose this note and you can understand it (well, hopefully!!) speaks volumes, and reminds me again that the Christ of Christmas is still in charge. If you will pardon my old time theology and some of my (outdated but “still up to date”) favorite expressions of this holiday season:

Jesus IS the reason for the season.
Wise men STILL seek Him.

2. Since Last Report (October, 2007)

I am still following my diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds with regular carrot/greens juicing, with little or no meat (occasional salmon and natural beef or chicken), no dairy products (or organic only), and no refined sugar products. Can you imagine going through Thanksgiving and now Christmas with no sweet desserts? I think that’s against the U. S. Constitution, isn’t it … something like “cruel and unusual punishment!”:)

“Small But Important” Miracles

• Last Friday, 12/19, I finished my 8th week back to work! Though I’ve missed some hours each week due to doctor appointments and working odd hours and taking some “restful time off” (thanks to my very kind boss Kathy for permitting this), it has been pretty much full time. To God be the glory!!
• Since my last report two months ago, I have taken little or no Metformin for my Type II diabetes and my blood sugar levels have been fairly normal. Again, I give God the credit here! It’s as if he’s telling me that He can take care of the diabetes along with the cancer, and l know He can!!!
• Many weeks ago now the Lord allowed “an angel of the Lord” (that’s what I call her!) to cross paths with my daughter. Bottom line: the angel that the Lord sent us has had cancer herself for some years, has whipped it with the alternative treatment approach through the Lord, has a degree in the health field, has researched more than you an imagine regarding the diet and nutrition method, and feels it’s “her ministry” to help and educate people like me on these same subjects! To say she has been a tremendous blessing is a gross understatement. She will remain nameless, but I would much appreciate you saying a prayer for her too.
• A visit to my oncologist a week ago (he’s merely monitoring my vital signs and my overall condition since I’m not following his treatment advice of radiation and chemotherapy - which is frankly irritating him these days) resulted in blood work done. Results: Other than the “cancer marker” being elevated (but not at the same rate as previous readings!), all my blood tests were very normal. Whereas last time, seven readings were out of range, this time only three were, and just slightly out of range.

So you can readily see, God is responding to your petitions, and consequently, has been very good to me.

3. Near Future Plans

• Continue my full-time work. “Somebody” has to pay for all those Christmas gifts my wife bought for the 4 grand daughters and others!! :)
• Would like to gain some weight if at all possible. At last report I weighed around 160 pounds. Two and one half months later I am now around 152 pounds. I seem to have settled in at this latest figure as I have weighed between 151.5 and 153.0 the last three weeks. Hallelujah!
• I’m scheduled to have another CT scan in January, 2008, right after the holidays are completed. What this will show is strictly in God’s hands, but I’m optimistic in Him!!
• Thanks so much again for your encouraging communication - e-mails, cards, calls, etc. Please know your comments, thoughts, and prayers to the Lord are genuinely appreciated every time!! I will be eternally grateful for this strong support I have received for seven months now!

God bless.
Lonnie

Friends and Prayer Partners,


1.	Please forgive me for being very tardy with this update. However,
again, let me initially express deep appreciation to ALL of you for
your thoughts and prayers. I have told many of you that God IS
answering your prayers and He really IS (see specifics below).

2.	Latest Miracle

·        Two weekends ago I was not feeling well, had a high fever,
and the doctor told Donna to take me to the emergency room. After being
seen at Barnes Jewish Hospital ER late Saturday night, they admitted me,
thinking I had an infection/inflammation somewhere that they wanted
to find.

·        They did find it … as a result of a CT scan of my abdominal
area.  They found the metal stent had moved a little “upstream”, allowing
some blockage, and indeed causing some inflammation. Solution was to
insert a second stent … into the previous one in telescopic-like fashion.
This procedure went very well with no after effects. Thank you Lord!!

·        But the MAJOR miracle was the CT scan results. To quote the
official report, the tumor is “grossly unchanged.” It has not grown or
spread elsewhere in my body!! So, in five months (since May 2007 when
I was first diagnosed), the cancer has stayed the same!

·        This is no small thing! The nurse practitioner to my surgeon
said she has seen many pancreatic cancer patients after 5 months go in
the opposite direction. A doctor friend and others have expressed the
same thing to me; this indeed is a miracle! Though it has been on our
refrigeratorfor many years, the little magnet sign that says, “We don’t 
believe in miracles; we rely on them!” could never be more true.

·        Of course, for this another miracle, I have all of you to
thank for your thoughts and prayers. God rarely does things “on His own”, 
but when asked, He responds!!

3.	Near Future Plans

·        I plan to be back at work full time in just a few days, on
Monday, October 22. I feel I am well enough (and gaining in strength) to
do this. Besides, four months is long enough to be away from the Boeing
company and all my friends there. Amazingly, the company has survived
while I’ve been gone!!  ;-)

·        I continue to follow my diet of fruits, vegetables, grains,
nuts, and seeds, with little or no meat, no dairy products, and no refined
sugar products (boy, do I miss that Breyers Ice Cream!!). I’m also taking
carrot/green vegetables juices and supplements to keep my immune system
strong. My family has been kind and supportive of me and has even
joined me in this “tough food challenge.” I also now have a
2 ½ year oldgranddaughter Julianna who says in her cute way, 
“I want some real food–I want some “begetables”!!!”

·        I’m not scheduled to have another CT scan until January, 2008
unless the Lord wants to show everyone what He is doing or has done,
and allows me get sick again sooner!  ;-)

Thanks so much again for your encouraging communication - e-mails,
cards, calls, etc. Please know your comments, thoughts, and prayers to
the Lord are genuinely appreciated every time!! I will be eternally grateful
for this strong support I have received for five months now!

God bless.

Lonnie

Friends and Prayer Partners,

1. I’m sorry it has been three weeks since you last heard from me. Again, let me initially express deep appreciation to ALL of you for your thoughts and prayers. I can’t look inside my body of course, but I feel in my heart God HAS begun a work of healing, and I am EXPECTING this TO happen in HIS perfect timing.

2. How I’m Feeling

Many have asked me this question, and I am very grateful to tell you that I am feeling very good - gaining in strength weekly, and feeling no pain. I have expressed to people that I’m feeling so good that if the doctors had not told me I have pancreatic cancer, I would not know it! Thanks be to God for this!

3. Life-Changing Trip

The trip Donna and I made to the diet and nutrition resort in North Carolina is one we will never forget, and will undoubtedly change our lifestyle-our eating habits for sure. In a word or two, we have gone to a fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds diet only, … WITHOUT any meat, dairy, or refined sugar products. You may want to read that again slowly as that may seem impossible for this “meat and potatoes” country boy!

Time will not permit me to tell you what all we learned that week but let me put it in a few simple sentences:

a. God designed our body to literally “heal itself’ (even of cancer) if we treat it correctly by giving it proper diet, nutrition, exercise, sunshine, fresh air, and by trusting in God and His Word that our body is HIS temple, etc.

b. Since the body has millions of cells that die each day, and it reproduces ALL of them in our body over the span of a year, it behooves us to feed these cells with the proper nutrients to make these cells strong, healthy and able to do the function for which God designed them.

c. Our bodies were not designed to accept “chemicals and foreign substances” into our body, and doing so hinders and weaken cells from doing their job. The end result is the body’s immune system breaks down and then diseases result. Malnutrition (absence of proper nutrients) aids in bringing on diseases such as cancer.

What I’m doing right now is building my immune system up by feeding it proper nutrients as well as ingesting some organic supplements. When the body is properly nourished, the good cells have the strength to recognize and get rid of the bad cells, like cancer.

4. Near Future Plans

I have made several phone calls the last two weeks to follow up on going to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX for a second opinion on my overall situation. Unfortunately, I ran into a “snag” last Friday, but will still pursue this. I will continue to do “whatever necessary within my power” to strengthen my body’s cells’ proper functioning - including ridding itself of those cancer cells! I am praying for wisdom on WHEN to ask doctor for another CAT scan, to see what God has done!

Thanks again for your encouraging comments, thoughts, and prayers. Please know they will be sincerely cherished forever. They are very effective for me and my family at this time!

God bless.

Lonnie

Friends and Prayer Partners,

1. It has been over two weeks since some of you have heard from me, and some are hearing from me for the very first time. Let me first express deep appreciation to ALL for your thoughts and prayers. They ARE working, as my family and I feel a divine “peace” about my situation, and know that it is really God’s battle, not mine!! And He has never lost one yet! (See-This just in! Below)

2. Where We’ve Been

· Diagnosed with diabetes and pancreatic cancer 2nd week of May, 2007

· “Whipple surgical procedure” attempted June 21; surgeon unable to remove tumor because it is intertwined with blood vessels going to the liver

· Resumed “normal” eating for a diabetic a couple of weeks ago, and have been gaining in strength gradually since

· Replaced temporary plastic stint in bile duct with permanent metal stint on Tuesday, July 31

· Visited with oncologist and nutritionist at Barnes Jewish Hospital in STL for first time week of August 6-10; their recommendations: chemotherapy and radiation coupled with a healthy diet

*** THIS JUST IN !!! ***

* Minutes ago I received word from a nurse practitioner at Barnes that the results of my CAT scan yesterday, Thursday 8/9, are as follows: no change in the mass size, no change in the lymph nodes, and no change in the lining of the abdomen, etc. The scan results are identical to the one I had 3 months ago.

* Furthermore, she said the results of my blood work two days before are the numbers of a “normal healthy person.”

* By faith, the miracle has begun!!

3. Where We’re Going

· Based on research and study, transitioning already to a mostly fruit and vegetable diet (now for a “meat and potatoes country boy”, this could be a miracle in and of itself!!).

· Plans underway to go to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX in the near future for a second opinion on my overall situation.

· During week of August 12-17, Donna and I will be attending a “bed and breakfast type resort” for information on Biblically-based diet and nutrition, as well as a little rest and relaxation - AND communicating with the Lord!!

Thanks again for your encouraging comments, thoughts, and prayers. Please know they will be sincerely cherished forever! We covet your continued prayers.

God bless.

Lonnie

If you wish to respond or contact me, please reply to lonnie.b.brown@sbcglobal.net 

Good Evening “Everyone”,
 
I know it has been two weeks since I sent a “mass e-mail”, and I wanted
to bring you up to speed, not that a great deal has changed, but some
positive things have occurred!!

*	First, I now have all catheters, bandages, needles, etc. removed
from my body that I can now take a shower without having to be taped up
and look like a zip-lock bag or scotch tape commercial !! ;-) Wow, is it
easy to take the “simple things in life” for granted.


*	More importantly, I have been able to eat “real food” for the last
two weeks without any stomach-related incidents. Though my appetite is
still not where it was (which is a good thing in some ways!!), it appears to
be getting stronger each day. So does my “taste,” which I lost to a degree
having not eaten for 2 1/2 weeks.

	
*	I think my weight has leveled off, and people have stated that they
think I look great. Of course I tell them that they probably need new
glasses!  ;-) The weight loss since I initially became sick a couple of
months ago has been around 35 pounds. I just don’t necessarily
recommend the “methodology” to get there!!  ;-)


*	I was able to be in church this morning for the first time in a
month, and how very wonderful that was!!!! Pastor preached a great
message about “How To Make Difficult Decisions” which was very germane to my
situation (and many others). Isn’t it great to know that God knows
exactly what you need to hear too.

Upcoming Events

*	Feeling well enough that my family and I will be able to go out of
town for a brief vacation this week (Tuesday thru Thursday) not very
far away from St. Louis. Our BIG vacation out of state for late July had to
be cancelled of course, but this will be a good substitute.

*	On Tuesday, July 31, I will have my second “ERCP procedure” - this
time to replace the temporary plastic stent in my bile duct with a
permanent metal one.

*	The oncologist at Barnes I will be seeing initially, Dr. Joel Picus,
has my records on his desk to review. We should be seeing him in
probably 2-3 weeks for the first time, but don’t know for sure yet exactly what
day.

*	We are exploring a place to get a “second opinion”, and may be doing
that out of state in the future as well.

Your cards, e-mails, phone calls, etc. have been VERY uplifting and
encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to do this. As always, sincere
thanks for your thoughts and prayers! I really am feeling good, and
YOUR prayers ARE making a difference. I am expecting a FULL recovery in
whatever time God wants it and however He wants it!!!

By the way, we learned earlier this week that Donna’s brother Bob (8
years older than her) has recently been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and
bone marrow cancer! Please remember Bob in your prayers as well.

God bless,

Lonnie

If you wish to respond or contact me, please reply to lonnie.b.brown@sbcglobal.net 

Good Evening “Everyone”,

Donna and I went and saw the surgeon today. Here is the update on my situation based on that visit:

• Had staples and stitches removed.
• Can now eat (Hallelujah!!!) … soft foods, no foods with refined sugar and preferably low fat. Today I’ve had part of a banana, toast, soup, pudding, etc. Am taking it slow as it is obvious my stomach is not “very familiar” with food yet. Hard to imagine Lonnie Brown saying that!! ;-) It WILL be a while before I can have steak and lobster!! ;-)
• Will still be using the “TPN bag” this week, but half the amount I was getting … to still insure some calories, nutrition, medicines, vitamins, are entering my system. I lost about seven pounds while home this last week down to about 193, but expect that to level out and possibly start back up later this week.
• Doctor wants to give the stomach/incision area about 2 -3 weeks to heal and get better before:

1. I have plastic stint in bile duct replaced with metal one on July 25
2. Donna and I meet with an oncologist (yet to be named) and discuss radiation/chemotherapy options with him/her. Of course, we will be talking to “Dr. Jesus” about this same subject!!

As always, sincere thanks for your thoughts and prayers! I really am feeling good, and continue to have very little pain. God has indeed been very good!!

Will keep you informed if anything changes.

God bless,
Lonnie

Our hearts are so appreciative for your prayers for our family. Dad (Lonnie Brown) came home from the hospital on Sunday, July 1st. He is receiving his nutrition from a TPN port as he is not able to eat any food yet. His stomach is still in “shock” from the part of the surgery that they were able to do. On Monday the doctor will decide if he is ready to eat again. After 2 weeks with no food you can imagine how anxious he is.

Below is part of a Word we received the week before Dad went into surgery. This Word was given to Dad’s pastor by a proven prophet that was praying for my dad’s church. This is one of three Words that we are standing on. God does not lie. We will believe the report of the Lord.

You will recognize this “crossing over” by the moving of the miraculous power of God that will be evident. Watch Bro. Brown. I cannot say how he will “recover” from this illness, be it through the miraculous touch of God or through natural means, but pay attention to him, because as he overcomes this seemingly “impossible” situation, you will recognize that the “crossing over” is underway. I think that this will be a kind of “sign” for you. Bro. Brown is a key vessel, and as God brings the victory in this area that before seemed “threatening” and “hopeless”, it will confirm what has been spoken already, and will cause the faith of many to skyrocket, paving the way for the miraculous.

This “crossing over” will not happen in one day. It will be a process. However, the process itself will be relatively short in duration. It could be measured in weeks or months, but not years and years. There will be a time when you will sense this crossing over is “underway” - but when it is “complete” (a short period of time later), you will be on the other side of the Jordan River.

We believe that God will remove this cancer completely. Our spirits are high. Your prayers and support have made this difference. Thank you!

Jason, Kimberly and the Brown Family