For those of you unaware, Jan had surgery Monday for a swollen lymph node in her neck. It turned out to be a metastatic squamous cell cancer. Usually only found in elderly men who smoke and/or drink excessively. The primary appears to have been some leftover tonsil tissue at the base of her tongue. (Tonsillectomy at age seven.) Her surgeon, the excellent Dr. Charles Theivagt, feels that he removed all of the primary, as well as the affected node and everything else in her left neck. (She had a modified radical neck procedure. Her comment? ‘I look like Frankenstein!’ She said it with a smirk. I think she looks just beautiful.)
She spent seven hours in surgery Monday. She came home yesterday. She is doing well, in great spirits. As you know, she hates to be sick or incapacitated. I don’t know if she is more 1) in pain or 2) simply annoyed by the inconvenience. She may need some radiation (or even some chemotherapy at worst-case). But apparently, according to our oncologists, pathologists and surgeon, these cell types do very well in young, otherwise healthy folks.
Thank you for your prayers and help. We trust God to see us through, and to heal our wife and mama completely. It has been an incredible, heart-wrenching, soul-draining ride. We went in expecting a branchial-cleft cyst or simple lymph node removal. And we were overwhelmed.
More, we’re amazed by the grace of God poured out in the love and prayers of friends and family, in the hope provided by scripture, in the comfort of hugs, food and those who have stayed with us and visited.
I think, oddly, that the trees we put up all over the house on Sunday are an encouragement. The lights of the Christmas season make our time of trial more hopeful.
If you would, please lift up Jan and I in prayer, and our children, Sam, Seth, Elijah and Elysa. We believe that she will be completely healed of this, and we would love your assistance.
Sincerely,
Edwin
PS If you are a friend or family who hasn’t heard, we aren’t trying to keep you out of the loop. We’re just still in recovery mode. It all happened rather fast!
It sounds as if you have been blindsided, which unfortunately is the way of cancer. I will keep Jan and you and your children in my prayers. God is with you in all of this and He will sustain you.
I will keep Jan and your family in my prayers. I hope she heals completely.
debbo
14 years ago
You, Jan and your family are in my prayers. She is so bless to have you guys.
Tracy Morgan
14 years ago
Dr. Leap,
Please know I will be praying for Jan, you and your children.Praying Psalm 91- please know your OCA family is here for you. Please let me know if we can do anything.
Partners in Prayer,
Tracy Morgan
Dodie Barr
14 years ago
Jan and family, We are praying for you all. If there is anything our family can do, please call on us. I will try to call later to see if you need anything. God is so good, and He will heal Jan.
Gaby
14 years ago
Praying for Jan and for the whole family. I read your blog from time to time and enjoy your outlook very much and also appreciate your standing bold and compassionately for Christ our Lord. May He who watches over all of us grant peace, comfort and strength for Jan at this time. Amen.
Laurie Berg
14 years ago
Jan, Ed, Sam, Seth, Elijah and Elysa,
Please know the entire Berg family is praying ever so hard for Jan’s recovery and that God will give all of you the strength to get through it all. Our hearts are with you in this time. We love you all.
Laurie, Chris, Justin, Jake, Andrew and Luke
Roy Stingfellow
14 years ago
Ed,
Give Jan our best as we pray for a speedy recovery after a very difficult surgery. We offer praise for a wonderful surgeon who obviously proved quite capable when performing a dramatic operation. We are relieved to hear that the outlook is good. We will continue to pray for a rapid recovery, courage and peace in dealing with any subsequent therapy, and complete healing.
Roy
mamadoc
14 years ago
So very sorry. Will be praying for all of you.
Earl Rhudy
14 years ago
Again, we are still praying for you and family. I pray that God gives you peace and comfort thru this. And of course,if there is ANYTHING that we can do, don’t hesitate to call us.
David & Lisa Lowery, Alexander, Adam & Tanner
14 years ago
Leap Family,
We were so sorry to hear about Jan. Please know that she has been in our prayers this week and will continue to be. Praying for her COMPLETE healing. Jan has too much to do in mama’ing those four babies to be sick! Which by the way she does SO EXTREMELY WELL!!! Jan is a wonderful person and I have always thought the world of her.
Love & Prayers,
David, Lisa, Alexander, Adam & Tanner Lowery
Mandy Davidson
14 years ago
Cancer is no match for Jan Mahon Leap! Jan is gonna Chuck Norris that cancer and make it forget how to spell its own name. Go, Jan! I love you!
Jeff & JoAnn Heaton
14 years ago
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. God is the great physican he heals one way or another. Jan, I will pray for you because I understand Mom can’t be sick. Ed you are a wonderful husband and your love for Jan shows more than you know. You have great strong and faithful kids. God will get you through. Look up when the trials of this earth have you down. If anything is needed please let us know.
God Bless
jim and rosemarie gilbert (PRC)
14 years ago
Just read your blog. Will be remembering your whole family in prayer – what is “confusion” to us is “order” to God.We read Psalm 91 today….. may it be a blessing and comfort to you both. In Christian love.
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/edwinleap.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":100,"top_media_type":"none","featured_image_url":false,"featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"EdwinLeap.com","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"EdwinLeap.com","form_subtitle":"If you enjoy the content you read here, please consider dropping something in the tip jar!","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much! I appreciate the tip!","payment_confirmation_title":"EdwinLeap.com","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
God bless .
It sounds as if you have been blindsided, which unfortunately is the way of cancer. I will keep Jan and you and your children in my prayers. God is with you in all of this and He will sustain you.
Ditto what Emmy said. So very sorry to hear.
I will keep Jan and your family in my prayers. I hope she heals completely.
You, Jan and your family are in my prayers. She is so bless to have you guys.
Dr. Leap,
Please know I will be praying for Jan, you and your children.Praying Psalm 91- please know your OCA family is here for you. Please let me know if we can do anything.
Partners in Prayer,
Tracy Morgan
Jan and family, We are praying for you all. If there is anything our family can do, please call on us. I will try to call later to see if you need anything. God is so good, and He will heal Jan.
Praying for Jan and for the whole family. I read your blog from time to time and enjoy your outlook very much and also appreciate your standing bold and compassionately for Christ our Lord. May He who watches over all of us grant peace, comfort and strength for Jan at this time. Amen.
Jan, Ed, Sam, Seth, Elijah and Elysa,
Please know the entire Berg family is praying ever so hard for Jan’s recovery and that God will give all of you the strength to get through it all. Our hearts are with you in this time. We love you all.
Laurie, Chris, Justin, Jake, Andrew and Luke
Ed,
Give Jan our best as we pray for a speedy recovery after a very difficult surgery. We offer praise for a wonderful surgeon who obviously proved quite capable when performing a dramatic operation. We are relieved to hear that the outlook is good. We will continue to pray for a rapid recovery, courage and peace in dealing with any subsequent therapy, and complete healing.
Roy
So very sorry. Will be praying for all of you.
Again, we are still praying for you and family. I pray that God gives you peace and comfort thru this. And of course,if there is ANYTHING that we can do, don’t hesitate to call us.
Leap Family,
We were so sorry to hear about Jan. Please know that she has been in our prayers this week and will continue to be. Praying for her COMPLETE healing. Jan has too much to do in mama’ing those four babies to be sick! Which by the way she does SO EXTREMELY WELL!!! Jan is a wonderful person and I have always thought the world of her.
Love & Prayers,
David, Lisa, Alexander, Adam & Tanner Lowery
Cancer is no match for Jan Mahon Leap! Jan is gonna Chuck Norris that cancer and make it forget how to spell its own name. Go, Jan! I love you!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. God is the great physican he heals one way or another. Jan, I will pray for you because I understand Mom can’t be sick. Ed you are a wonderful husband and your love for Jan shows more than you know. You have great strong and faithful kids. God will get you through. Look up when the trials of this earth have you down. If anything is needed please let us know.
God Bless
Just read your blog. Will be remembering your whole family in prayer – what is “confusion” to us is “order” to God.We read Psalm 91 today….. may it be a blessing and comfort to you both. In Christian love.