Hi Cindy, the magnets are used for opening up the blocked esophagus. Now that it is opened, John has to have gradual dilations to open it up further and to keep it open. Today the doctor told me that the only way to keep the esophagus open is to put in a temporary stent until everything around it heals. He hasn't done it so far because today John only had his first dilatation. The IR wants to see how much narrowing happens between now and the next dilation before he decides. His reason for the wait-and-see is that a stent in the esophagus opening may cause a choking sensation and he wants to avoid it if he can.

Anne Marie and Nancy14, it was so great to hear from you.