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Alan Buterworth Family Update
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Newsletters - click "Get Resource" to see complete PDF version with photos and more
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Entries from
March 2007
2006 Year in review - Russia
Saturday, March 10, 2007 :: 379 Views :: Documents
2006 Year in Review for ministries of Apple of His Eye - Russia
2006 year in review - North America
Saturday, March 10, 2007 :: 446 Views :: Documents
This document gives a pictoral review of our activities in 2006.
A Close up Look at The Apple of His Eye
Thursday, March 08, 2007 :: 471 Views :: Documents
This is a core document for our mission organization which in short order will give you insight to who we are and what we are doing by the grace of God!
2006 Church Presentation list
Tuesday, March 06, 2007 :: 404 Views :: Documents
Jan Cohen Memoir
Friday, March 02, 2007 :: 531 Views :: Documents
Janice Anne (Isbell) Cohen
Jan was born at an early age on April 3, 1950 in Hobart, Oklahoma, the first daughter of Edgar and Martha Lou Isbell.
The Isbells ended up settling in Grand Coulee, Washington. Jan’s father was a high school math a science teacher, and one of the town judges. Jan’s mother was an elementary school music teacher and choir director and organist in their church. Both Jan and her sister Beth were gifted with voices like angels.
Jan graduated in 1967 from Grand Coulee High School as class valedictorian. She attended the University of Washington for her undergraduate studies in music and vocal performance. She was an organist and choir director of a Seattle area church.
Jan and one of her best friends and college roommate, Kate Smith (nee Holloway), were destined to sing opera. Kate was dating my roommate, Will Blades, and on February 21, 1971, they set us up on a blind date.
This was a true “love at first sight” meeting, for from the moment I saw her, I knew that this was the love of my life. Two years after that first date, we were married in Gig Harbor, Washington. I was in law school at the time, and Jan thought she was marrying a “soon-to-be criminal lawyer”. But God had other plans. I grew up NOT believing in Jesus. I am Jewish. I was told that Jewishness and Jesus did not go together.
Jan knew how important it was that I come to faith and so she prayed for me. In December of 1973, God’s grace flooded my life and I received His gift of salvation. Shortly after that, Jan’s mom let it be known that she had Huntington’s Disease. I had never heard of it before, so that sent me to the books to find out more.
What is Huntington’s Disease?
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a devastating, degenerative brain disorder for which there is, at present, no effective treatment or cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual’s ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Eventually, the person with HD becomes totally dependent upon others for his or her care. Huntington’s Disease profoundly affects the lives of entire families: emotionally, socially and economically.
Named for Dr. George Huntington, who first described this hereditary disorder in 1872, HD is now recognized as one of the more common genetic disorders. More than a quarter of a million Americans have HD or are “at risk” of inheriting the disease from an affected parent. HD affects as many people as Hemophilia, Cystic Fibrosis or muscular dystrophy.
Early symptoms of Huntington’s Disease may affect cognitive ability or mobility and include depression, mood swings, forgetfulness, clumsiness, involuntary twitching and lack of coordination. As the disease progresses, concentration and short-term memory diminish and involuntary movements of the head, trunk and limbs increase. Walking, speaking and swallowing abilities deteriorate. Eventually the person is unable to care for him or herself. Death follows from complications such as choking, infection or heart failure.
HD typically begins in mid-life, between the ages of 30 and 45, though onset may occur as early as the age of 2. Children who develop the juvenile form of the disease rarely live to adulthood. HD affects males and females equally and crosses all ethnic and racial boundaries. Each child of a person with HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the fatal gene. Everyone who carries the gene will develop the disease. In 1993, the HD gene was isolated and a direct genetic test developed which can accurately determine whether a person carries the HD gene. The test cannot predict when symptoms will begin. However, in the absence of a cure, some individuals “at risk” elect not to take the test.
In 1976, Jan and I dedicated ourselves to becoming full-time missionaries. Even though my own parents had disowned me because of my faith in Jesus, Jan’s family was always supportive. Most of our assignments were on the east coast of the US – so we could only visit her family every few years. It took time to save up monies to fly. Those visits
were like snapshots in time. We could see the devastation that HD took on Jan’s mom. But her faith never wavered!
At her funeral in 1986, we celebrated life with songs and tears. At the end of the service, Jan’s sister arranged for each person to take a helium filled balloon outside. “We are sending a welcome home present to Marty,” she told us. I still see those balloons ascending heavenward... and I could almost hear a whisper in the wind, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
In 1990, following the birth of our fifth child, Jan went to a neurologist for testing to see if she had the disease. The discovery of he gene was yet a few years down the road. With her family history, she had a 50/50 chance of developing the disease. The doctor said it was clear she was in the early stages.
For the better part of 20 years, we had considered the possibilities. With no cure on the horizon, what does on do with this kind of information. Pray! Pray some more! And keep on praying!
The progress of the disease is slow in some. I am convinced that the multiplied prayers of thousands (literally!) for Jan have enabled her to remain still on her feet today (2005) though she falls a lot. In fact, as I write, she has an amazing shiner of a black eye from a fall a couple of days ago. But Jan continues to battle on. Her spirits are not diminished though her body is failing her.
Her once angelic singing voice has long ago left – though we are blessed to have a recoding of her voice on her CD, Proclaim His Name Exalted.
We have taught each of our five children that from the moment of our birth we are all dying. Jan just happens to know what it is in her case. But there are still days to live, family events to celebrate (1 college grad, three weddings, one grandchild, victories in school and life) and we are blessed beyond what we deserve.
As Jan loses ground, she still allows me the luxury to travel and speak in churches around the US. Our goal is to be in 40 churches a year (for nearly 30 years now!). Our youngest, Lizzy, and our daughter Sarah who lives in St. Louis, have been a great help to enable me to leave home on Saturday, fly somewhere, and return home Sunday. (See our web site: www.aohems.org).
One of Jan’s joys is following the St. Louis Cardinals team. While it has been several years since she has gone to the stadium, she watches every single game on TV on our big screen in the living room. She knows all the players and their positions! I know when a home run has been hit because she is whooping up a storm. She really gets into the season, and was so disappointed by not winning the world series last year that the final games left her in tears. But then she said, let’s go get them next year.
Jan treasures the notes that people write to her on the back of the envelopes when offerings are received for our ministry. She has several thousand now – each one matters. And when she has harder days because HD messes with the brain chemistry, we pray and take notice that others are praying too.
Much research is going on to try to stop HD. Each of our five children are “at risk” 50/50. But in the Cohen family our hope is NOT in these earthly bodies, our hope is in the Lord.
Your prayers for her, and for me as I assist her, count for so very much!
Thank you!
Yours in Y’shua - Mrs. Cohen’s favorite husband - Steve.
1 Cor. 15:58!
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