How it all began..........

Around October 8 Ron had noticed that he had had a really bad cold and cough that just wouldnt go away. A few days later he noticed a lump had developed under his left arm pit, he was at the dermetologists for a different problem and showed her the lump. She said that it was probably because of the sickeness that he had and it was an inflamed lymph node due to infection, she told him to watch it and if it didnt go away within a month to go to his family practice dr. A few days went by and the lump was growning and becoming more and more uncomfortable so Ron decided it was time to get it looked at. So Monday the 15 he headed to the family Dr. who also agreed that is was because of the cold and infection that he was fighting, but in order to treat it they needed to know what kind of infection they were dealing with, so the dr sent him to get a chest x-ray and ultrasound done of the lump, the chest x-ray came back with spots on his lungs, which they were still thinking was part of the infection so they sent him to get a cat scan done. The next day we were all stunned, shocked and in dis-belief when the doctor called and said that he a extremly large mass on his kidney. Words cannot describe how horrible that call was! Word quickly spread around the family, ward and stake. The stake President, pres martin who is also a close family friend just right on setting up a stake wide fast... he sent out this letter to all of the bishops in the stake..... "Brethren, I implore your earnest consideration for one of our brethren, Bishop Ron Beckstrand. Bishop Beckstrand has been made aware that a very large tumor has developed on his kidney. He has had multiple tests and will undergo a biopsy of tissue tomorrow (Friday). The results of this biopsy will determine the course of action, but there is no easy answer. If the tumor is benign he clearly has some other serious issues and if the tumor is malignant the fight will be especially difficult. I would like to request you and your families immediate prayers for Bishop Beckstrand and his family. I would further request that you make EVERY effort to alert your ward leadership (by phone, email or door to door) to prepare for a special fast on Sunday. Announcing the fast during sacrament meeting will be the last resort and will leave many unaware and some will want to start their fast before the meetings begin. Please ask your Quorum and Relief Society leadership to reach out to their groups and auxiliary members on Friday and Saturday to request the faith and prayers of everyone who is willing to participate. The effort is to petition the Lord that Bishop Ron will have the help he needs to bear up under this significant trial and that his family will be strengthened. If it be the will of the Lord that the tumor is benign, that would be the best outcome for which we could hope and pray. Conversely, if they find that the tumor is malignant that the way will be made clear that Bishop Beckstrand and his family can face that outcome with faith and courage and be confident that the Lord will sustain them through whatever course they may be asked to walk. You have my greatest appreciation for your help in this matter. President Martin That Sunday was one of the most spiritual days I have ever had, not only had the entire stake fasted for my dad but sooooo many others had been made aware and joined in the fast. After the block that sunday Pres Martin invited the whole ward to join on bended knee to end the fast in behalf of my dad. How could you be anything but spiturally uplifted. It was a great day. Even my Emma who had just turned six fasted with us, I told her she only needed to do breakfast but she said she would be fine and went without breakfast and lunch, I was one proud momma! The next day Ron and Lori had an appointment with the Urologists at IMC hospital. His name is Dr Bishoff, we know without a doubt that Ron and Lori were guided to him. He has been the greatest doctor! The doctor said more then likely the tumor was cancer and that it had spread to his lungs, at one point my dad said to the doctor, "i thought once it spread to the lungs that you where a goner" dr bishoff quickly responded saying "you get that thought right out of your head, the treaments have come such along way, I dont want you thinking that ever again." The doctor orderd a bone scan and another abdominal scan for the next day and surgery on wednesday to remove his left kidney and the tumor. So they went and did the bone scan and left the hospital with no results. Now here is where this blog is going to come in handy, so there are no rumors just facts. Wednesday morning, the morning of the surgery Dr bishoff called my dad, he told my dad that no other cancer had been found in his body (meaning no cancer in his bones or no new cancer that they didnt already know about) well my dad got so excited to hear no cancer, that he thought just that, no cancer, so he is running around holding his arms up in the air while talking to the doc, not listening the the rest of the conversation, silly dad!!!! So you better believe that we were all freaking out!!!!!! I ran in the door and just about tackled my dad! What an answer to all the prayers!!! So we head off to the hospital on cloud 9! Here are some pictures of dad before they took him to the operating room. Maggie came to keep everyone entertained!

They took dad up to the operating room then took us to the waiting room, where Dr Bishoff came to tell us it would be about an hour until the operation started (the hospital is just a hurry up and wait kinda place) my mom said thank you so much for calling us this morning and that we couldnt believe that he didnt have cancer, you should have seen the look on the Doctors face, he said "no, just no new cancer, so its not in his bones" oh, crap, dang it, wow, that really sucks!!!! But the doctor quickly reminded us that it was fantastic news that is hadnt spread to his bones!!! I even asked the Doctor not to tell dad til after the surgery but the doctor said that was not fair and he would go up and tell him. Wow what a downer, but we remembered how much worse it would have been if it had spread to his bones so we where very very gratfeul for that blessing. After the surgery the Doctor came down and said that it was a beautiful and text book surgery, the tumor ended up being 13 cm, the size of a grapefruit. And they took out two swollen lymph nodes while they where in there. We had a list of questions to ask him, one of which was, what stage is it in. It is T3M1N1 meaning stage 3 cancer, node positive, and metastized to one location, the lungs. He has 2 spots on his lungs that they are going to watch. After the surgery Dad was in a lot of pain and really disoriented from the surgery. That was the hardest part of this whole ordeal. No one likes to see their hero down and out like that! The next day I came up to see him and I couldn't believe my eyes, he was up WALKING!!!! Holy cow, amazing! And even more amazing, they sent him home that day. They told him he had to get up and walk around the unit 4 times, be able to pee (or that fun catheter would be put in again, which dad was in no way going to let happen) and have some bowl sounds going on in his tummy. The doctor said he was about two days ahead of schedule for post operation so he decided to go home! What a tropper. So, sorry for the long post, just have to get everyone up to date. As far as the treatment goes, he will be on a pill call Sutane, he will take it everyday for 30 days, the 30 days off and repeat that for at least a year. We know that everything that has gone on is in the lords hands and he will bless us at this difficult time! But we have already seen miracles happen and Im sure will see many more to come! Comments are most welcomed and we be a great way to lift spirits! We have the best family and friends and have received so much love and support, thank you soooo much!!!