Help with Healing for Roger.

Hello~

Almost two years ago, our friend, Roger Tews, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He was feeling fine at the time, but because his family had a history of this terrible disease, he had been undergoing routine checks. At that checkup, a tumor was detected.

Roger and Deb met in college and, since marriage and graduation, have been a powerful team devoted to service. They've walked hand in hand while raising their two sons, committing themselves to decades of ministry, serving as teachers and youth leaders in Wisconsin and Michigan locations, followed by several years as youth care workers and house parents for at-risk youth at Rawhide Boys Ranch in New London, WI. Most recently, they combined their love of coffee with their love of serving people to establish a coffee shop. Working together, they have made The River Coffee and Cream the heart of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, nestled next to the Fox River just south of Green Bay.

However, over the past 2 years, they have found themselves fighting Roger’s esophageal cancer together. Because this form of cancer is one of the more difficult and risky to treat with surgery and the standard approach, Roger has been pursuing holistic treatments which have allowed for a better quality of life while working on the healing process. For over a year the cancer was kept at bay, with the tumor marker remaining at a low level, but in recent months there has been a sharp increase that efforts available locally have had limited success in tackling.

Just this past week, doors have opened for Roger to receive care at The Karlfeldt Center in Meridian, Idaho. In addition to other therapies at Meridian he will receive photodynamic therapy, used widely and with success in Germany (where it was first developed two decades ago), as well as other locations around the world. Basically, infrared laser light combined with a photosensitizer is used to act internally on the cancer, having a cancer-killing effect. Until this first two-week treatment is completed and healed, it is unknown whether or not another treatment will be necessary.

Although Roger has continued working throughout these almost two years, in recent months his employment has been modified. The time off and the cost of treatment will be significant and not covered by insurance. Many friends have asked how they can help, so we've set up this account in the hope that we can support Roger and Deb in getting the care Roger needs.

Deborah Tews expresses gratitude for any contribution you can provide for Roger Tews' treatment at The Karlfeldt Center in Meridian, Idaho, emphasizing the need for funds due to the cancer's difficulty to treat. Deb and Roger are grateful for the support and encouragement of their family, community, church family, and the many friends from far and near whom they have served or served with along the way.

We thank you in advance for any contribution you can provide. We ask too for your prayers for Roger, for ease of his pain, that he will have the energy and perseverance to do all required, and that this treatment will prove to be life-saving. To God be the glory.