Filled from wonderful Thailand send offs, the kids and I made it back to the US on Sat morning October 12th. Since then we have been trying hard to stay awake, beat jet lag, and enjoy every moment we have had with the 8 cousins and two of Chris’s siblings and their spouses; all of who came to surprise Luis, Lucas and Emalene. Our kids were shocked. Let’s just say that when a middle schooler had tears in his eyes you know it held great significance. Maybe he wasn’t the only one with tears either…
Chris and I returned to Grand Rapids on Monday for a check in with his doctor on Tuesday. Grand Rapids gave us a warm welcome with gorgeous fall colors. Our aim for the week will be to get our home (a condo owned by generous friends) ready for the kids, get the chemo port “installed” (Wednesday), prepare for the start of school with a visit to NorthPointe (Thursday), and start the second round of chemo (Friday). Phew, what a week…
As a look back, Chris had a super appointment with Dr. Gordon at Northwestern. We feel blessed to have him and his team as part of his overall medical care. We appreciate his consideration and attention to various factors including genetics and family history. He has given us a glimpse of possible paths ahead for treatment. At this time Chris will continue to follow the chemo treatment plans outlined previously. This includes 8 rounds of a 4+ day hospital stay of for chemo IVs, every 14 days.
Prayer Needs
Please pray for us as the packing and unpacking for a family of 5 can be exhausting. It feels to me like It was just yesterday when I was packing in Grand Rapids for our return to Thailand.
Pray for the kids as they prepare their hearts for new friends and old friends. Pray they would be welcomed warmly and embraced as they are. Their first day at school will be Monday, the 21st.
Pray for Chris as he has been more tired with increased pain since Friday. After trying to lower his medication this week it seems like it is not time. The doctor started him on steroids again today and we hope they will help reduce pain to make everyday activities like walking and sleeping more comfortable.
Praise God for loving grandparents, fun cousins, and caring aunts and uncles who make the transition more fun!
We thank God for an uneventful flight and good health through the transition.
We are grateful to the Lord for many friends who helped get Becca to the finish line and came to help after she left to tidy up our house in hopes of finding subletters for the home we rent in Thailand. It was too much to think about making any future permanent decisions, therefore we left 99% of things.
Guide me O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing waters flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillars
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, be Thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s destruction
Land me safe on Canaan’s side
Songs of praises I will ever give to Thee
I will ever give to Thee.
We are trusting our Great Jehovah God to be everything you need, and all of the things that you don’t know you need.
We are praying boldly for Chris’ healing.
Grace
Praying for all you’ve asked us to pray for and know our loving Father has in his care;
A note from our granddaughter in Northpoint middle school- the students are so very excited about your Grands returning!
Nancy
Thankful for your safe arrival and for sweet family. We are praying.
Welcome back to GR – the fall colors are heavenly!
Glad for your uneventful journey to GR and praying for good settling in, relief from pain, and all the rest. Hugs from Dallas (where fall is finally arriving this evening).
I wept through Grace Fenton’s post thinking of you dear ones as our Great Jehovah carries you in His tender grace. May you know His nearness each day as you settle in once again to a new normal. You are His beloved!
Bonnie
May the Lord prepare the individual ways for each of you in your needs and desires. God knows them and He sure cares about those kiddos of yours. May He provide great and sensitive friends for your children and surround you parents with His mighty strength, peace, joy and hope.
We love you Hirt family! Seeing these photos, imagining the send off and surprise cousin welcome…. God is FAITHFUL each and every step of the journey. Kirk and I continue to pray for your precious family, for the upcoming treatments, smooth return to school again with old friends, settling into your new home for now, and some moments to breathe, reflect, and receive our Lord’s peace.
Holy Spirit, please come and invade this cancer out of Chris. Lord, your will be done. Lord we trust in you, to you we lift up our soul. We trust in you, we praise you, we thank you for Chris, Lord we thank you in advance for your healing hand. Please surround Becca and the kids. Please help them all feel your presence. In Jesus’s name Amen
Glad your travel and arrival went well. Praying for all of you. The CHC team is praying for Chris.
Praying for you all as you navigate all the specifics of treatments, symptoms, unpacking, and settling in. I’m so grateful Grand Rapids has been a soft place to land for you in these times. We love you!
Dear Chris and Becca, praying for peace, strength, and renewed trust and hope for you and the kids. I have two grandsons at Northpointe CHS. It’s a wonderful school.
Praying that the meds will be covered by insurance without any more delays. Praying for your meeting at 3:20 today Praying for your complete healing, Chris!
Becca, Chris, Luis, Lucas and Emalene,
I am praying Ephesians 3:20-21 over you.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Thank you for the update and specific prayer requests. Debbie and I are keeping you much in our thoughts and prayers. May God provide healing, strength and energy to Chris through the doctors and treatments. May all of you feel God’s presence, peace, and love in powerful ways. Praying for a good adjustment for the children at school. Sending our love.
Lord God, be with this family … the health concerns, the transitions, the new schedules, for Chris’ pain, the kids’ adjustments, and for Becca as she balances it all … and for a miracle of healing for Chris. Shepherd them, Jesus. Amen.
Hi Becca! I join Grace Fenton in her hymn song reminding us that we are all Pilgrims here… Warm Welcome to you and the kids and prayers for the transition in this your temporary resting place for now!! As for the healing! May it begin!! In Christ, Wendy
In addition to or prayers for Chris and certainly you, Becca, also… we have been and will be praying esp. for your kids. Our kids were going into 6th and 8th grades respectively when we left Oaxaca, Mexico with a rather uncertain future. In our case, we were not able to return there. We are praying esp. for a good friend for each of your kids and for some adult at each of their schools–teacher, counselor, administrator or staff person–who ‘gets’ them and is particularly sensitive to and affirming of their TCK journey. With our love in Christ, Dennis & Mary Lynn
We continue to pray for Chris’s healing and for your family as you go through yet another transition. And, we are thanking God for the special bonus blessing of cousin time and the joy that brings.
You probably don’t even remember us – Jim & Ruth from Wycliffe’s Training Camp/Equip. 😊 You haven’t heard from us, but we have followed your journey thru your updates and prayed for you. There is nothing more meaningful for me to add to what others have written, but to say “Amen” to It all. May you all five be fully aware of God’s loving arms around you. He has certainly blessed you with loving family & friends! 💟
Ruth (Jim moved to heaven one year ago.)
Dear Hirt Family! Praise God you had the window of time to serve that you did this last year. Right now, I pray that God will grant you mercies to heal, and to beat this cancer. I pray that your faith will not fail.
With love in Christ, Ken
Continuing to pray for you all! May the Lord sustain you and let you get a glimpse of the eternal weight of glory He is working through this trial. love and hugs!
Haha I see the Tshirt you are wearing Becca! What a great idea. Who is looking after Snoopy? And is Emalene’s a variation on Snoopy as well?
Continued prayers for God’s amazing power to heal Chris, grant him a long life to continue to bring Him glory.
Praying for the best transition for everyone else!
God loves you.
Praying for you all! What would we do if we did not know of the loving arms of Jesus that holds us all? When all seems out of control, God is leading and is in control. We are all with you guys! Thanks for the updates!
Praying on! Thank you Jesus who knows the end from the beginning & guides, protects, supplies, surprises. May His presence, love & care surround & sustain you all on the journey! Praying on boldly for Chris’s complete healing! You are greatly loved!