Good Morning From Chicago Gary and i had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Block and his staff yesterday. The end result is that Gary requires a surgery that requires a top surgeon. Dr. Block gave us several contacts in California and we will start calling them today![...]

Tommorow morning at 4:30 am we leave for The Block Medical Center in Chicago for a consultation. We will be meeting with Dr. Block and his staff this Thursday at 12:00. Gary is weak but a real warrior! Please pray for our time in Chicago. We are asking for physical strength for Gary, clarity regarding possible treatment options and cancer diagnosis questions. Lastly peace please pray the we will be patient and make decsions in peace and not in fear. Praise report as of Sunday our home in Palm Springs is in escrow. ...we are greatful and look forward to be out from under the financial responsibility. Thank you for your faithfulness and endurance. Its off season we are training hard getting ready for the big game!! Team Barton loves you and we are so greatful for your love and support! Lets knock out cancer together!

Hello family and friends, This is Caleb and my mom has asked me to write a blog to inform and update everyone on dads condition and current events. It has not been long since the entire family gathered together at the hospital to say goodbye to dad. His physical condition was in such a state that the doctors and medicine had very little to offer. It did not take a medical degree to realize what was going on, one look at dad and it was clear. It was mind blowing, a miracle, when he left the hospital. Not only did he leave the hospital but his physical condition steadily increased. Over the last three month dad has put on around 28 pounds. He weighed 129lbs when he left the hospital and was up to 157lbs just over a week ago. He walked everyday he could, building stamina and strength. In the hospital, dad was too weak to stand and he did not have the strength to walk for some time. Amazingly, I saw him walk several miles up and down hills with Paul at Christmas time. The goal has been to gain enough weight and strength to be able to travel to a cancer center and potentially have surgery and aggressive treatment. Dad is closer than ever to this goal! He has shown incredible strength, doing everything in his power to get better and showing great faith in the areas that are uncontrollable. With that being said, the last week and a half, two weeks, have not been good. Dad has not eaten in eight days and has been vomiting several times a day. His doctor reduced the TPN Tube Feeding, with hopes that dad could consume more whole good calories. He did this, but he was unable to do it for long. The consumption caused a partial blockage and a looping of the bowels. Dad's belly is swollen and he is still unable to eat. Everyday he cannot eat, and the TPN is not increased, he loses weight and strength. Along side those physical ailments, he is very uncomfortable.To sum it up, dad has made incredible progress but he is suffering right now. Please pray for the blockage and the looped bowel to cease so that dad can eat and continue to gain strength. Pray for favor with the doctors and that the TPN will be increased quickly. Here is some great news. Dad was able to confirm an appointment at the Block Cancer Center with Dr. Block. The Block Center is one of the top cancer centers in the world. Please pray that the insurance will be accepted by Block. Also, that the financial needs for the trip will be met. My mom has talked to Cancer Centers of America, the highest rated cancer treatment center in the U.S. to see if they will accept dad's insurance and schedule an appointment. Pray for this as well, that dad will be able to get the best treatment out there.

As i was writing you all yesterday i took a break and took Gary's temperature. He had a fever and in the word of living with Cancer that's a symptom we must pay attention to. The fever kept climbing so its off to the ER we go. We were seen blood tests were done....exray's too. Gary was admitted into the hospital with Sepsis an infection of the blood and a bowel obstruction. This morning he is responding to the medications and in the next hour they will be going into the gtube site to check for infection and any other complications. Thank you for your posts and prayers! We love u Go Team Barton!

If there are two things Cancer is teaching me, they are to remain flexible and to ask for help when needed, both things I have always struggled with but am making progress towards getting better at doing.[...]