Three weeks ago I was determined. I had just returned to Grand Rapids after visiting Chris when he started treatment in Chicago. It was clear that spring was right around the corner. To me, spring means leaves, and leaves were what I was trying to avoid — poison ivy leaves that is.
So I set out, pretty well covered and ready to conquer the poison ivy that was suffocating many of the trees on our new property. I like to preserve things, all kinds of things, and I was determined to preserve what trees we had, to the best of my abilities. To me, it was like the vines were cancer, killing the trees. It was very cathartic for me, as I cannot cure Chris of cancer but I could cure our yard of some of its suffocating poison ivy. Tree after tree I yanked up roots and pulled down vines with all my might, some the size of my forearm. It was a beautiful sight to see trees once strangled, some with 30 feet of vines, now freed.
1 Peter 2:16,23-24
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Two days later the reality set in. Though I was well-covered in clothing, I got poison ivy — and I got it bad. I knew I was allergic to poison ivy, though I mistsakenly believed it was only contact with the leaves. I was not aware that the vines and the roots could induce such a vicious allergic reaction. It’s been about 25 years since I had a previous reaction, mostly because Thailand doesn’t have poison ivy! I’m nearly recovered, thankfully.
I’m still learning, learning about poison ivy, learning about Christ, learning about loving my family during not-so-easy times.
Chris is doing quite well, had no contact with poison ivy, and had two good check-in appointments with his team at Northwestern. He continues to not have any negative side effects from CAR-T therapy. His bloodwork is all within “normal” for a patient who has had similar treatments. His blood markers may not return to normal for many more months as his body gradually recovers.
On Tuesday, April 15th, Chris will have a lumbar puncture, 4 MRIs, and a CT-PET scan. It will be his largest testing day to date. Then, the next day, we will meet with doctors and review results and hear their recommendations.
We anticipate him returning to Grand Rapids on Thursday evening!
Prayer Points
We thank God for allowing the kids and I to remain healthy so we could spend a good part of spring break with Chris!! We spent a short time downtown enjoying some classic Chicago sights.
Prayers for us all as we have one last week apart.
Prayers for testing, his medical team, and discernment for future decisions.
We continue to thank God for our medical team and of course our family support!
“We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger. I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life. And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends.”
Romans 5:9-11
We have perfect joy as those verses tell us. And the truth of who we are through Jesus Christ tells us that as his children by Grace, each one of you is being cared for and Heald to the glory of God. What a week to be able to see what he has done in Chris’s life and each of yours. Many of us continue to pray for Chris and each of you.
Our hearts are with on your journey.
Poison ivy is terrible, but not as terrible as having a journey with lymphoma. God healed me from mine. We pray God heals you and breathes his new life into every cell of your body. Every cell. We know of his love and of his mercy. So we pray that he will be also glorified in your healing. You are never far from our thoughts.
Praying Becca, Chris, Kids,
Will continue to for each of you in ways needed and praising God for his presence, provision, peace he has and will continue to bless you with even in poison ivy!
I react bad to poison ivy myself and poison oak! Especially after I was fighting a fire in a state park and I didn’t realize poison oak was burning and went home and took a bath. Had to get cortisone shot at the hospital to try and mellow it out from all over my body.
Really happy and praising God to hear that Chris has had no bad side effects!
May God give great wisdom to the doctors as they go over all the testing in the coming week!
What beautiful pictures and such perfect parallels…..I will be praying for April 15th day events and your soon to happen reunion as a family. May our Lord continue to bless you
So glad you didn’t burn the poison ivy! You don’t want to breathe in that nasty stuff. My husband spent hours cleaning out our new wooded lot from huge vines that were wrapped around the trees. He was well-covered and it still got through in spots.
You and Chris and your three precious kids are “on stage” as living sacrifices to show God’s work. He is working it all out for good since you are His called-out ones. He is with you in the fire.
Praying for you!
Lucas, how did you get as tall as your dad!? 😉
Good news that Chris was able to join the family for Spring Break in Chicago! I loved seeing your smiles in the photo! I will pray for Chris in prep and during the big day of testing. What a journey! As you testify, Rebecca and Chris, God is faithful! May you know more and more the depth of his love in Jesus.
Hello Hirt family
What a wonderful pic.All of you look so joyful on a beautiful spring day in Chi town by the “bean”.
Continued prayers for the upcoming week’s testing and results and the assurance of the Father’s abiding presence and care.
Praising God with your family for this amazing report!!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us all. Your transparency and pure trust in the Lord is a beautiful thing for all to see. Beautiful God!
Praying,
In Him,
Dawson
Wow, love that photo of the family together. How everyone has grown, and probably in many ways, not just height. Blessings to you all!
I am so sorry, Becca, for your body’s reaction to the nasty poison ivy. I was so hopeful that it would remain the small spot that you initially mentioned. So wonderful that you are nearly recovered! I was thrilled to read of Chris’ two good check-in appointments with his team at Northwestern and that he continues to not have any negative side effects from CAR-T therapy. Again, such wonderful news! I am so thankful, as I know that all of your are as well. I too am so thankful that you all were able to be together in Chicago during spring break – the picture of your family in front of the Chicago bean just makes me smile and say thank you, Jesus, for this gift to the Hirt family. I am praying about Chris’ April 15 appointment.
Thank you for sharing so beautifully and with such insight! Sorry to hear about the extra pain of poison ivy! We continue to hold Chris and all of you up before the Lord. It’s wonderful to see your family together, and I am so thankful that you were all healthy and able to be together for Spring Break. …trusting God with you, for the full day of testing and for all that comes afterwards.
Rob and Soni
You are all in my daily prayers and especially April 15. Becca it seems you too had to share in your own physical sufferings that your determination to eradicate the poison ivy brought on. It reminds me of all the poking, prodding, injecting Chris has willingly undergone to eradicate the unhealthy cells and bring new life just as your trees will experience new life.
Holy Week is soon. May those words “Jesus is Risen, He is Risen Indeed” be a sweet, sweet sound to the ears of the Hirt Family
Continuing to pray for your family!
So good you guys could all get together. Go Holy Spirit for full healing.
I’m sitting at the computer grinning after seeing your smiling family in front of the Bean. What joy it was to have Chris, Peggy and John in church this morning. And, Becca, I am thankful for your poison ivy relief. Am praying for all the testing on Tuesday and the consults on Wednesday. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing this amazing Hirt family to be reunited in Grand Rapids on Thursday. And, for listening to and answering the prayers of all of us who love them!!!!!
How encouraging! All praise to the King of Glory!
Love and prayers especially for Tuesday’s tests, for resulting discissions and plans, for return home later in the week and blessed (healthy) time together especially over Holy Week. Viv and Mark xox
Becca,
I’m thankful that you got treatment quickly for the poison ivy! Joan and I are praying for all. We will definitely lift up Chris’ testing day and the results as well as the consultation. We will be asking the Father to give Chris the greenlight to go home on Thursday! We love you all! How did your kids grow up so quickly? They boys are as tall as Chris!
Your sister in Christ,
Cindy
I’m praising God for the FREEDOM from poison ivy for your body Becca, and for the trees. I’m praising Him for no side effects for you Chris, and for the time you all could spend together in Chicago. Those smiles are priceless. I’m sure they aren’t always there, but praise God for the joy He gives even when things are tough. Thanks for the reminders that God is always with us and never leaves us.
Oh, dear Chris and Becca, our hearts are so tied up with yours…we long to hear that Chris is restored fully to family and ministry, that Becca’s poison ivy has been banished, that the kids are thriving. We realize there are likely to be remnants of challenge…true for all of us…but that a deepening maturity of grace and faith overshadow each day. Our prayers continue and we wait expectantly for next reports.
Praise God for whom all blessings follow. What a way to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.
Above comment from Nancy Dillaman
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. What a beautiful to celebrate Resurrection Sunday.