On Christmas Eve, just as many of you were admiring the beauty of lights in your home, church, and community; while celebrating the birth of our Savior, Chris received the gift of news that CAR T cell therapy was approved by insurance. He will go to Northwestern in Chicago mid-January for the T-cells to be collected. Then, the cells will be sent to a lab to be re-engineered in the goal that once they are put back into his body (4+ weeks later) the new T-cells will be like the Terminator and terminate any remaining cancer.
We are at Round 2 of TEDDI-R, doing NYE and New Years Day chemo style, inpatient here downtown Grand Rapids, MI.
By God’s amazing grace:
– Chris is feeling better after two days of chemo than he was feeling last time around, despite having sinus and chest cough going into it. The doctors had him get a chest x-ray as a baseline precaution.
– We are so thankful to have spent a wonderful time with family over Christmas. The gifts I am most thankful for are the loving words shared between family members, the near endless playtime for my kids with family whom they know and love and who know and love them in return, and the break from the rigors of our current medical journey.
Prayer points:
-Pray against any complications that could delay God’s plans for Chris’s treatment. Chris needs enough T-cells to make the collection successful. We will update this blog and future ones when dates are firm.
-Prayers for good results for the Pet scan on January 6, and MRis the following week.
-Pray for a quick recovery for our family as we are all under the weather after being with extended family for the holidays.
We welcome you to join us as we trust God for all these things and the Lord’s plans in 2025!
I’m glad to hear about the t cells and I have prayed that the Lord would allow enough to be collected to wipe out the bad guys! May God give you comfort throughout this next time and thank you Lord that Chris felt better after this chemo session so far!
Dear Chris, Beca and children. Thanks for the updates. Marc and I are together in prayer . Love you all much.
Glad to hear the insurance came through. Praise the Lord! Praying for those t-cells and for all of you as you wait and as you recover. Sending lots of love from Savannah!
Happy and Hopeful New Year to all of you! Praying that all of these dots connect and that by God’s goodness and grace it will result in Chris’s healing! So glad you have been surrounding in love by blood family even as you are by the family of God!
Isaiah 50:7
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
I love the ‘image’ of setting our faces like flint; there are days when that is easier ‘said than done’, AMEN. I am so grateful for the result of the coverage of your insurance, that’s huge to my thinking. Feeling better this recent round of chemo is such an indicator of the Lord walking with you, holding you, directing the medications, guarding your family as they are a bit under the weather. He has prepared the way for you at Northwestern, and I already have a sense of His glory filling the entire procedure of collecting and then changing them to be just what God has ordained since forever. MRI’s, PET scans, all His. We praise Him for His glorious deeds on your behalf and each precious member of your family. XO
Ok we will keep praying from Indiana!! Appreciate the updates. Hugs.
Great to hear the update. We are praying for you all.
At conference and thinking of you all a lot. Thanks for the update!
We continue to pray each and every day for Chris and his complete healing. Daily prayers for Becca and your kids as well as other family members.
We so appreciate the updates so that we can be praying for your exact needs.
May each one of you feel God’s loving arms envelope you, may you know the peace that surpasses all understanding , and praying you continue trusting in the God healing and hope.
Much love and virtual hugs to each one of you.
LeRoy and Barb
Thanks for the update. Our hope too is in the one who makes all things new! Praying on for all of you as you wait for the new God is working out. Praying for complete return to health for Chris in God’s way & time. Thankful for the insurance approval!
Bekka,
We continue to pray for Chris, you each of the kids on your days through this process; are so thankful for the specific ways expressed we can pray.
May each of you heal and be confident of the Great Healer, God’s working in the big and small needs.
HALLELUJAH!! 💖 ❤️ 💖
Thanks be to God. Encouraged by this wonderful news and your faithfulness
Thanks for this very promising update and that the insurance came through! Glad to hear of the wonderful uplifting Christmas time together as a family.
Since our Designer God knows every hair on our heads and every cell in our bodies, I’m praying for Him to rally Chris’ body to produce a multitude of T-cells sufficient for a plentiful harvest later this month. The news about insurance coming through is such a YES! Isn’t God great to provide times of encouragement just when you need them?
Also praying for all of your immune systems to rally and knock out the holiday bugs that may have crept in over the holidays. We know He’s faithful, and we know He loves you. Hang in there, you guys! You have a multitude of prayer warriors backing you up, but best of all you have Jesus holding you close in His hands of love. Happy New Year, and may 2025 be a year full of family blessings and holy gifts for ALL of you.
Dear Hirt family,
We are blessed to be a part of those praying for you and your family has you go through this difficult time.
So encouraged to hear about approved treatments and Chris’ progress. We love you guys and are on our knees for you.
We so agree that our hope is in the one who makes all things new..
Blessings,
Rob & Chris Perrin
Praising God with you, and continuing in prayer, as well! We know He will continue watching over you all in the new year. Hugs!
We are rejoicing with you and praying in hope with you! Thank you for the updates. May you sense God’s Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster (from Isaiah 60:17b, NRSV).
The Lord reigns! Thanks for the updates, and love the picture of life … getting snowballs tossed at you, Chris. Keep on swinging, in Him!
In Christ,
Dawson
Becca – as always, your update is so beautifully written. It is good to hear some positive news and see your family enjoying times in the snow and with family. Prayers continue for Chris and your family, that God will restore full health.
God Bless all of you, our church is praying for you ,you are on our hearts ,Mission Team 1st Baptist,Collinsville…
Michael & I pray each and every morning for Chris.. Prayers to continue for each one of you as each has challenges with all that is going on . Smiling as I think of what I just read on your blog here as it is such good & hopeful news. Love the snowball photo !! Prayers for healing, comfort, peace…
Happy, Hopeful New Year. Not a doubt – GOD has wonderful plans for each of you and total healing for Chris !
Great news regarding your insurance coverage! Also good to hear that Chris is feeling better faster. We are praying that the potential for complete healing will be fully realized and that 2025 will be a year full of praises for His goodness.
Joining you in prayer and in trusting God!
So nice to chat with you a few weeks ago, Becca – even for just a few minutes in Aldi! 😀
So glad this promising treatment has been approved. I continue to pray.
“…….Chris received the gift of news that CAR T cell therapy was approved by insurance.” – we stand with you, thankful and praising God for this wonderful news! We will continue to pray, believing that He is listening and will answer.
Rejoicing with you and praying for you all to recover and Chris’ treatment to go forward. We love you all so much.
Rejoicing with you and praying for you all to recover and Chris’ treatment to go forward.
It’s so encouraging that what we focused our prayers on – the insurance approval – received God’s affirmative answer! We’ll keep praying for the other concerns.
That’s good news about the T cells. As I prayed, I imagined the Holy Spirit moving round Chris’s body, cleaning, tidying, strengthening, healing. It’s hard to imagine your cold snowy environment as I wake on a warm summery day. We are just back from two weeks away, tripping round New Zealand, spending Christmas and New year with friends and Family. New Year’s Eve was with Cambell and Adele in Wellington. It’s so great your kids could be with their couzies and play play play. This year was the first time our kids felt at home with their cousins as they are all adults now and can relate that way. A lot of their cousins are in their 30s!
So thankful for answered prayers that the insurance approved Chris’ treatment. I continue to pray for Christ and your whole family, especially you, Rebecca, as you are walking this hard road with Chris.
We are praying for you and all the family.
Praying for you daily. So thankful for this good news of the insurance. I’m amazed at all of the things that are possible and I pray that this treatment will act like the Terminator on all of the unhealthy cells. Praying for your pet scan today, / Monday the 6th. So glad that you are surrounded by loved ones who are pouring out love and encouragement into all of your lives. Huge hugs from the other side of the globe (which makes it an enormous hug). Lauren and Seth
Praying for you daily. So thankful for this good news of the insurance. I’m amazed at all of the things that are possible and I pray that this treatment will act like the Terminator on all of the unhealthy cells. Praying for your pet scan today / Monday the 6th. So glad that you are surrounded by loved ones who are pouring out love and encouragement into all of your lives. Huge hugs from the other side of the globe (which makes it an enormous hug). Lauren and Seth
Happy New Year! What a blessing that the CAR T therapy was approved. May God give good results from the scan today and the MRIs next week. May He bring healing to you all as you recover, and may He continue to make Himself known to each of you as you all walk this tough journey together.
Dear Chris and Family: Continued prayer for all requests, especially for complete healing, strength, energy, and Peace through out this journey knowing God is with each one of you every step of the way. He Loves you.