News
May 18th Update
This May 18th, 2010, Update Was Sent Out By Email To Everyone On My Mailing List.
_____________________________
Dear Family Members & Friends:
As I write this, I have just returned from an appointment with Doctor Steve Fu, who is an Oncologist here in The Dalles, Oregon. We had a long, honest, truthful and open conversation about where I am in this battle for my life. He held nothing back, because I wouldn't let him.
With that said, I want you to know... even though it may be hard for you to believe, or fully understand... that I do not accept colon cancer in my body. In fact, I totally reject it, completely. Or, said another way, I am not admitting to anyone... especially to the devil and other demons... that "I have" colon cancer. What I am going to tell you in this email is what "the doctors say" I have.
In very basic terms, he told me I am in Stage 4 (out of 5 stages) of this colon cancer disease.
He (also) showed me the CT scan and explained what it revealed.
He showed me at least two dozen, maybe more, cancer cells in my liver, all of which will have to be removed with chemo-radiation therapy, if they can all be removed that is.
There is, also, a very large cancer mass on my lower right bowel. This is the one that is causing most, if not all, of the constant pain and discomfort I'm having, as well as it is causing some obstruction to fluids passing normally through my body in the way they should. If it gets to a stage where it is completely blocking off bodily fluids passing through my system, then I am will be in a very, very serious life or death situation.
He believes that particular cancer cell can be removed surgically.
He says there is a "possibility" that a surgeon can remove the large cancer cell on my bowel by using laposcopic surgery (just 3 or 4 holes in my stomach and lower extremities), as opposed to being cut open from breastbone to my lower extremities. We won't know that for sure, however, until I can talk to a surgeon.
In terms of "life expectancy" after removal of the large cancer cell, and after removal of the cancer cells in my liver by chemo-radiation therapy, he was very honest in telling me that I "may" have another 2 years to live. That much I already knew from my own research on the Internet of Stage 4 patients - which is the stage I'm in.
When I told him I had "plans" of driving my Recreational Vehicle (RV) from Oregon to Dallas, Texas on June 1st - so I can check into the hospital there and have the large cancer mass removed, first, he advised... very strongly... for me not to do that.
Primarily because, he says, of the possibility of a blood clout forming and rushing into my heart and lungs, as well as the possibility of me (simply) passing out without warning or advanced notice could happen, among other things that could happen.
Additionally, he said that "could" happen in some remote part of the country between Oregon and Texas, where there are no adequate medical facilities, nor trained medical doctors, to immediately treat me. For those of you who have traveled from Oregon to Texas, you probably know there are long stretches of highway where there is, literally, nothing. No towns, or anything else.
So - his concern about those plans is very real, and were well received. He told me truthfully that he honestly did not think I would make it all the way to Texas, even if I had to stop often to deal with the pain and other things. In other words, a "normal" 3 or 4 day drive could turn into a week, or more.
And, right now, "time" is just not on my side.
His recommendation is that I have surgery immediately to remove the large cancer mass on my lower right bowel and, far more importantly, that I have that surgery done here in The Dalles, Oregon - before even thinking about going to Texas.
After that mass has been removed, then I would have a little more "time" to explore the other treatment - which is chemo-radiation therapy - and, perhaps, I could (at that time) get to Texas for that treatment without too many additional problems.
Thankfully, Doctor Steve Fu is a "believer" in Jesus Christ. He shared his personal testimony and faith with me and, at the end of our appointment, took time to pray for me, and for my complete, sudden, and instantaneous healing of this disease.
So - it looks as though my original plan for driving my RV to Texas is pretty much out of the question.
Which brings me to another alternative I have - which is to fly immediately to Dallas and check in with the hospital and medical doctors - and get this large cancer mass removed immediately.
My reason for wanting to get to Dallas is, as I've said before, so I can be near my daughter and her family and, of course, so I can have my other children nearby when I go into surgery, and afterwards.
If I have the surgery done here in Oregon, then I won't have any family members here to look to for whatever support they can give me, and only a few close friends who may - or, may not - be willing to help me after the surgery.
So - it appears I am going to have to make a decision very quickly (perhaps in the next 24-hours) on the two (2) options available to me as of today, which again are...
(1) To fly to Dallas, instead of drive, as quickly as I can. Based on my conversation with Doctor Fu, it appears the sooner I can get there before, or much sooner than, June 1st, the better it will be for me. Because... as I said... and as Doctor Fu said... "time" is just not on my side at the moment. To be honest, even in me talking to him about the idea of flying to Dallas as quickly as I can, Doctor Fu was still concerned about the time factor...
Or, choosing the second option, which is...
(2) To have the surgery done here in Oregon as quickly as possible, and see what kind of "support" I can get from the few friends I have here after surgery. And, then, some time after the recovery period, look at getting to Dallas for the chemo-radiation therapy on the cancer cells in my liver.
The thing is, though, regardless of which decision I choose in the next 24-hours, or less, both options have a very practical and realistic side as well.
And that, pure and simple, is the fact that I just do not have the money to fly to Texas, or to pay someone to take care of me after the surgery - regardless of whether I have it done here in Oregon or Texas.
Isn't that a sad state of affairs for someone to be in? I think so. Even if it was someone else, other than me, in this kind of situation, I would have to wonder how they could let themselves be caught in a situation where "money" dictated whether or not they live or die, and for how long, you know?
In my previous emails, I was very open and honest with you about the fact that I needed help financially to be able to get all the treatment I need in order to save my life, or prolong it beyond another 5 years, hopefully.
I told you honestly and truly that I needed your help, as well as the help of as many others I could get to help me.
Please understand, that subject or issue of asking you for help was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, because I am just not the kind of man who normally ask others to help me, regardless of what my circumstances may be.
I told you I did not want you to "give" me any of your money, too, but... rather... that you could help me by, simply, buying a product or service of your choice... for yourself... from my website, at...
http://www.awesome-photographs.com
What you do not know is that I sent those emails out to more than 200 family members, associates, and friends, worldwide. Who... in many cases ... sent those emails on to other people around the world, not only with the hope others would pray for me but, at the same time, might be willing to help me financially through all of this.
Todate, as of today, May 18th, out of all those hundreds or thousands of people who know what is going on in my life right now, only 2 people have made a purchase of the products on my website. Only 2 out of an unknown number of people worldwide who say they are praying for me.
I know finances are tough for everyone worldwide. Believe me, I know this from personal experience. I know, too, you just may not have the money to do even some of the things you want to do for your own family, or for yourself, without even giving my request any consideration or thought. I understand that, completely, believe me.
And, because I know all this, that is why it is very difficult for me to even ask you to help me. But... by, simply, buying something for yourself, you will be helping me financially, pure and simple.
But, again, in this email I am going to ask you to do that for me today. I simply do not have any other way of raising the money I need right now, or am going to need in the days ahead.
For those of you who have been in a similar situation as I find myself in today... both medically, physically, and financially... you already know some of the struggles I'm having as I write this. Being mature human beings, one and all, you know there is a "practical" side of any medical treatment, and that bills have to be paid. I'm no exception to that rule, I assure you.
When I go into surgery, and for an unknown period of time afterwards, any business income - above and beyond my US Navy retirement and Social Security income - is going to come to a sudden halt. Like you and everyone else in the world, I do "work" for a living. I do that through my Internet businesses. And, if I come out of surgery alive, I will continue to "work", just like billions of others worldwide.
But, for an unknown period of time that income just won't be coming in. And, from the "practical and realistic" side of all this, I just cannot afford for that to happen.
So - once again, I'm going to ask you to help me in a practical way and, as I said, buy a product or service from my website for yourself. That's all. The cookbooks, alone, that you'll find on my website, are a great value, and at a very good price, too.
http://www.awesome-photographs.com
In closing, I don't believe I (personally) will be emailing you again for some time now. This may be my last email... from emailkenbutler@gmail.com. I have to talk with my daughter this evening in Texas and make a decision by tomorrow about all of this... or, about what options and steps I need to take within the next day or so.
I will, however, ask my daughter, Traci, to let you know what is happening. She will do that from the special email account I have set up for her, at...
kbutler042143@gmail.com
Once more I ask you from the bottom of my heart to pray... pray... pray... for me, and ask as many others as you can, too, to pray for me. Ask them, too, to help me in a practical, realistic, financial way... by buying something for themselves on my website.
I want you to know, more than anything else, that I am believing "still" in a miraculous and instant healing of this deadly disease and... all by myself... here in my RV for the next 24 to 48 hours... I am going to be on my knees constantly asking God for that complete healing.
I'm going to be asking Him for a supernatural, divine revealation, or personal presence of His glory - beyond any shadow of doubt - that He has walked into my RV with me and touched me and healed me completely of this.
I do not want to die from colon cancer. I do not want to have surgery. I do not want to live just another 2 years, "maybe".
What I want is to be healed completely of this, totally, instantaneously, and miraculously. And, I want that to happen in the next 24 to 48 hours, before I come to having to make a decision for surgery.
Can He do it? You better believe He can. I believe He can. And, I am betting my entire life on that fact, too.
So - pray with me. Agree with me. And, ask Him to touch me, so I do not have to go through surgery and everything else I've explained in this email. Don't just say you will pray for me but, rather, spend some earnest, dedicated, special time in prayer for me.
Thank you so much for your prayers, one and all.
Again, please forgive me for not making this particular email one of those more "personal" emails, but I have very little time in getting this email out to 200+ people before having to make some major, life-threatening decisions.
Take care of yourself, and may God bless you. I hope to be talking to you again soon.
Sincerely,
Ken Butler
__________
P.S. - Any comments, opinions, or words of encouragement you want me to know can be sent to the following email address.
kbutler042143@gmail.com
As I write this, I have just returned from an appointment with Doctor Steve Fu, who is an Oncologist here in The Dalles, Oregon. We had a long, honest, truthful and open conversation about where I am in this battle for my life. He held nothing back, because I wouldn't let him.
With that said, I want you to know... even though it may be hard for you to believe, or fully understand... that I do not accept colon cancer in my body. In fact, I totally reject it, completely. Or, said another way, I am not admitting to anyone... especially to the devil and other demons... that "I have" colon cancer. What I am going to tell you in this email is what "the doctors say" I have.
In very basic terms, he told me I am in Stage 4 (out of 5 stages) of this colon cancer disease.
He (also) showed me the CT scan and explained what it revealed.
He showed me at least two dozen, maybe more, cancer cells in my liver, all of which will have to be removed with chemo-radiation therapy, if they can all be removed that is.
There is, also, a very large cancer mass on my lower right bowel. This is the one that is causing most, if not all, of the constant pain and discomfort I'm having, as well as it is causing some obstruction to fluids passing normally through my body in the way they should. If it gets to a stage where it is completely blocking off bodily fluids passing through my system, then I am will be in a very, very serious life or death situation.
He believes that particular cancer cell can be removed surgically.
He says there is a "possibility" that a surgeon can remove the large cancer cell on my bowel by using laposcopic surgery (just 3 or 4 holes in my stomach and lower extremities), as opposed to being cut open from breastbone to my lower extremities. We won't know that for sure, however, until I can talk to a surgeon.
In terms of "life expectancy" after removal of the large cancer cell, and after removal of the cancer cells in my liver by chemo-radiation therapy, he was very honest in telling me that I "may" have another 2 years to live. That much I already knew from my own research on the Internet of Stage 4 patients - which is the stage I'm in.
When I told him I had "plans" of driving my Recreational Vehicle (RV) from Oregon to Dallas, Texas on June 1st - so I can check into the hospital there and have the large cancer mass removed, first, he advised... very strongly... for me not to do that.
Primarily because, he says, of the possibility of a blood clout forming and rushing into my heart and lungs, as well as the possibility of me (simply) passing out without warning or advanced notice could happen, among other things that could happen.
Additionally, he said that "could" happen in some remote part of the country between Oregon and Texas, where there are no adequate medical facilities, nor trained medical doctors, to immediately treat me. For those of you who have traveled from Oregon to Texas, you probably know there are long stretches of highway where there is, literally, nothing. No towns, or anything else.
So - his concern about those plans is very real, and were well received. He told me truthfully that he honestly did not think I would make it all the way to Texas, even if I had to stop often to deal with the pain and other things. In other words, a "normal" 3 or 4 day drive could turn into a week, or more.
And, right now, "time" is just not on my side.
His recommendation is that I have surgery immediately to remove the large cancer mass on my lower right bowel and, far more importantly, that I have that surgery done here in The Dalles, Oregon - before even thinking about going to Texas.
After that mass has been removed, then I would have a little more "time" to explore the other treatment - which is chemo-radiation therapy - and, perhaps, I could (at that time) get to Texas for that treatment without too many additional problems.
Thankfully, Doctor Steve Fu is a "believer" in Jesus Christ. He shared his personal testimony and faith with me and, at the end of our appointment, took time to pray for me, and for my complete, sudden, and instantaneous healing of this disease.
So - it looks as though my original plan for driving my RV to Texas is pretty much out of the question.
Which brings me to another alternative I have - which is to fly immediately to Dallas and check in with the hospital and medical doctors - and get this large cancer mass removed immediately.
My reason for wanting to get to Dallas is, as I've said before, so I can be near my daughter and her family and, of course, so I can have my other children nearby when I go into surgery, and afterwards.
If I have the surgery done here in Oregon, then I won't have any family members here to look to for whatever support they can give me, and only a few close friends who may - or, may not - be willing to help me after the surgery.
So - it appears I am going to have to make a decision very quickly (perhaps in the next 24-hours) on the two (2) options available to me as of today, which again are...
(1) To fly to Dallas, instead of drive, as quickly as I can. Based on my conversation with Doctor Fu, it appears the sooner I can get there before, or much sooner than, June 1st, the better it will be for me. Because... as I said... and as Doctor Fu said... "time" is just not on my side at the moment. To be honest, even in me talking to him about the idea of flying to Dallas as quickly as I can, Doctor Fu was still concerned about the time factor...
Or, choosing the second option, which is...
(2) To have the surgery done here in Oregon as quickly as possible, and see what kind of "support" I can get from the few friends I have here after surgery. And, then, some time after the recovery period, look at getting to Dallas for the chemo-radiation therapy on the cancer cells in my liver.
The thing is, though, regardless of which decision I choose in the next 24-hours, or less, both options have a very practical and realistic side as well.
And that, pure and simple, is the fact that I just do not have the money to fly to Texas, or to pay someone to take care of me after the surgery - regardless of whether I have it done here in Oregon or Texas.
Isn't that a sad state of affairs for someone to be in? I think so. Even if it was someone else, other than me, in this kind of situation, I would have to wonder how they could let themselves be caught in a situation where "money" dictated whether or not they live or die, and for how long, you know?
In my previous emails, I was very open and honest with you about the fact that I needed help financially to be able to get all the treatment I need in order to save my life, or prolong it beyond another 5 years, hopefully.
I told you honestly and truly that I needed your help, as well as the help of as many others I could get to help me.
Please understand, that subject or issue of asking you for help was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, because I am just not the kind of man who normally ask others to help me, regardless of what my circumstances may be.
I told you I did not want you to "give" me any of your money, too, but... rather... that you could help me by, simply, buying a product or service of your choice... for yourself... from my website, at...
http://www.awesome-photographs.com
What you do not know is that I sent those emails out to more than 200 family members, associates, and friends, worldwide. Who... in many cases ... sent those emails on to other people around the world, not only with the hope others would pray for me but, at the same time, might be willing to help me financially through all of this.
Todate, as of today, May 18th, out of all those hundreds or thousands of people who know what is going on in my life right now, only 2 people have made a purchase of the products on my website. Only 2 out of an unknown number of people worldwide who say they are praying for me.
I know finances are tough for everyone worldwide. Believe me, I know this from personal experience. I know, too, you just may not have the money to do even some of the things you want to do for your own family, or for yourself, without even giving my request any consideration or thought. I understand that, completely, believe me.
And, because I know all this, that is why it is very difficult for me to even ask you to help me. But... by, simply, buying something for yourself, you will be helping me financially, pure and simple.
But, again, in this email I am going to ask you to do that for me today. I simply do not have any other way of raising the money I need right now, or am going to need in the days ahead.
For those of you who have been in a similar situation as I find myself in today... both medically, physically, and financially... you already know some of the struggles I'm having as I write this. Being mature human beings, one and all, you know there is a "practical" side of any medical treatment, and that bills have to be paid. I'm no exception to that rule, I assure you.
When I go into surgery, and for an unknown period of time afterwards, any business income - above and beyond my US Navy retirement and Social Security income - is going to come to a sudden halt. Like you and everyone else in the world, I do "work" for a living. I do that through my Internet businesses. And, if I come out of surgery alive, I will continue to "work", just like billions of others worldwide.
But, for an unknown period of time that income just won't be coming in. And, from the "practical and realistic" side of all this, I just cannot afford for that to happen.
So - once again, I'm going to ask you to help me in a practical way and, as I said, buy a product or service from my website for yourself. That's all. The cookbooks, alone, that you'll find on my website, are a great value, and at a very good price, too.
http://www.awesome-photographs.com
In closing, I don't believe I (personally) will be emailing you again for some time now. This may be my last email... from emailkenbutler@gmail.com. I have to talk with my daughter this evening in Texas and make a decision by tomorrow about all of this... or, about what options and steps I need to take within the next day or so.
I will, however, ask my daughter, Traci, to let you know what is happening. She will do that from the special email account I have set up for her, at...
kbutler042143@gmail.com
Once more I ask you from the bottom of my heart to pray... pray... pray... for me, and ask as many others as you can, too, to pray for me. Ask them, too, to help me in a practical, realistic, financial way... by buying something for themselves on my website.
I want you to know, more than anything else, that I am believing "still" in a miraculous and instant healing of this deadly disease and... all by myself... here in my RV for the next 24 to 48 hours... I am going to be on my knees constantly asking God for that complete healing.
I'm going to be asking Him for a supernatural, divine revealation, or personal presence of His glory - beyond any shadow of doubt - that He has walked into my RV with me and touched me and healed me completely of this.
I do not want to die from colon cancer. I do not want to have surgery. I do not want to live just another 2 years, "maybe".
What I want is to be healed completely of this, totally, instantaneously, and miraculously. And, I want that to happen in the next 24 to 48 hours, before I come to having to make a decision for surgery.
Can He do it? You better believe He can. I believe He can. And, I am betting my entire life on that fact, too.
So - pray with me. Agree with me. And, ask Him to touch me, so I do not have to go through surgery and everything else I've explained in this email. Don't just say you will pray for me but, rather, spend some earnest, dedicated, special time in prayer for me.
Thank you so much for your prayers, one and all.
Again, please forgive me for not making this particular email one of those more "personal" emails, but I have very little time in getting this email out to 200+ people before having to make some major, life-threatening decisions.
Take care of yourself, and may God bless you. I hope to be talking to you again soon.
Sincerely,
Ken Butler
__________
P.S. - Any comments, opinions, or words of encouragement you want me to know can be sent to the following email address.
kbutler042143@gmail.com