Image credit: Northwestern University Medicine
This week kicked off Step 1: T-cell collection in the diagram, the first part of my journey with CAR-T cell therapy. We’re learning as we go, and already the exact timing of the steps is shifting. As of yesterday, my doctor is recommending two more rounds of TEDDI-R chemotherapy before actually getting CAR-T cell infusion, which means the infusion date and the 40+/- days in Chicago will be pushed back until very late February / early March. While it’s exhausting to think about 2 more rounds of chemo, the reasons are good: Dr. Gordon is pleased with the results of the first two rounds and thinks an additional 2 rounds will attack the cancer further before moving on to CAR-T.
The video below was recorded a few days ago during T cell collection. It’s a little recap of how things are going and how we hope CAR-T cell therapy will finally kill the lymphoma. Thanks for watching!
Prayer Points
We ask prayers for Chris to continue to maintain his weight, especially his muscle mass as he undergoes two more rounds. The TEDDI-R protocol has been rougher, which has inhibited exercise and a decreased appetite.
We ask for prayers for discernment and wisdom as we continue to pray about and work with others regarding our need for longer term housing in Grand Rapids.
Continued prayers for Becca and the kids, for health and well-being considering the overall length of this journey. May this journey draw us all closer to the Lord.
We praise God for allowing the T-cells to be collected even though Chris was fighting an infection. The team is confident it was a successful collection. Prayers for the lab and their expertise in the next phase.
Wonderful update, guys. Thanks for keeping us informed. Praying for healing from the respiratory infection and for patient endurance through everything that’s going on.
Praying!!
Thank you Chris and family for *educating* us. Your skills, gifts, and abilities are appreciated and highly visible here — bringing glory to God even in this troublesome, hard-to-understand chapter.
Chris, I’m really thankful for the video! I have many Bible versus on my thoughts but I just want you to know I’m very proud of you! God is with you! He is our rock, we are protected under Him. I’m so sorry your going through this. I’m sorry your family is going through this.
Love,
C.J.
May the Lord hold you close to Him during each and every step… And raise you up in health to return to your service for Him!
Thanks for this update and explanation, Chris. Praying that the collection was successful, the cells grow as they should, for you to get over the respiratory crud and stay heathy for the next steps of treatment. Holding you all in love and prayer.
Chris, thanks so much for the video update. I know it is a lot of work when you are in the midst of all this treatment. Wow, blood being sucked out of your neck like a vampire and then the blood swirling around getting the T-cells out. Praying for protection around your health as you get through the upper respiratory and nasal infection as well. Bless you and your family.
Love,
bro Dawson
Housers are lifting you up! Thanks for sharing your journey & trust in the Lord!
Thank you for sharing – God’s continued blessing for complete healing.
Chris, this really is fascinating, with the graphics you added to your video, too! I marvel along with you thinking about what’s available today – the advanced technologies that God has enabled scientists to discover! But, wondrous as it is, I’m sorry you have to undergo this treatment. Thank you for sharing specific prayer requests. I will pray! God’s got you, he’s got me, he’s got the whole world in his hands, as the children’s song goes. Simple song with a profound message! HUGS!!
Kathy
Thank you for that awesome little video with the full lawn description. Maybe they will have an opening for you there so you can explain it to any other patients that might be in your situation. Keep the faith which you already have and we are all wishing for you to pull through!
Thank you for that awesome little video with the full procedure description. Maybe they will have an opening for you there so you can explain it to any other patients that might be in your situation. Keep the faith which you already have and we are all wishing for you to pull through!
I’m not sure why the site will not allow me to repost things that I might’ve already said. I’m comfortable saying them again but posting board seems to want to reject them. 😰
Thank you for such an informative update. We are continuing to pray for you and Becca and the kids throughout this whole process, entrusting you to God’s loving care.
Hey Chris, thanks for the diagrams and explanation. I love that. and what a treat to be able to access that kind of advanced treatment. You and your family are being lifted up in prayer regularly for your medical team to be a healing arm of God for you and for you to be a powerful witness to them as well.
We are whispering all your names before the Father’s throne with great thanksgiving and heartfelt asking. Thank you for the updates and the diagram:)
We continue to pray each morning for you Chris. and each family member. Yet sometimes when leaving or even thinking of leaving a reply… words do not suffice… Many, many heartfelt prayers…
GOD’S Blessings of healing & comfort…
You’re all putting up a good fight and are an encouragement and inspiration to us all. And on top of that, you’re even giving us all a medical education! 😉 Praying for you all for every one of the prayer requests you mentioned. May each of you feel the presence of Jesus very closely.
Lauren
Thanks for this update. I love the video and hearing your explanation of this process. Incredible!! You guys have learned so much and I’m grateful for the way that you keep us all updated. Your family is in my near-constant thoughts and prayers. We’re thanking God for this amazing treatment and praying that his hands will be all over each and every step. Claiming His healing power for you. Love you all.
Joining our prayers with the many
Thank you for the video update educating us on what is happening with this next step of treatment for you. I am a visual learner, so that “road map” of what is being done was helpful. 🙂 Also, I can’t help but think how amazing(!) these medical processes are – thanks be to God. I will continue to pray the requests listed here.
Hello Chris: we don’t know each other but i found out about you through your missionary partners in Thailand.
Thank you for sharing your story as it unfolds. The medical part is fascinating. I praise God for all the technological improvements, the ongoing research and you being able to benefit from it. What a miracle. I do pray with everybody else for your healing not only of the lymphoma but your present cold and loneliness from your family and work. May the Lord bless you all today. In Jesus’ name.
Great to hear from you Chris. I will be praying for you all. May the Lord bring healing to your body.
God truly has fearfully & wonderfully made us! Thanks for letting us in on what is happening. Thankful that it is looking good for the collection. Praying on for maintained strength during these ongoing procedures. Praying for peace for all of you & God’s best at each step of this difficult journey. May it be clear as God says This is the way . Walk in it. & May you know His hand that holds you closely! You are His & He knows you!
Thank you for sharing the detailed information on the procedure Chris is experiencing.
God has provided amazing medical teams for Chris as he continues to fight this cancer.
We have been praying for all of you here at home as well as in our senior Oasis group
at Calvary.
You are blessed to have both sets of parents to assist with the children and keep them on track at school. So pleased to hear that they are all
participating in the Northview swim team
program too.
Love and prayers.
Judie Rudolph
Lieber Chris, Es ist so ein Segen, dass Du mit video (und auch mit Dronenphotographie) arbeiten kannst und so kreativ bist und uns allen gut erklären kannst, was jetzt mir Dir geschieht. Kann man dich mit Whatsapp im Krankenhaus besuchen?
Du weisst, dass meine Freunde von der Willkommenskirche in Berlin auch für dich beten.
Sei weiterhin so tapfer und voller Hoffnung.
Alles Liebe, Deine Barbara Carvill
Thank you for the video. It sounds like quite the journey. Now we understand much better. Praying for you all.
Prayers continue for Chris as he continues on this journey of healing. So thankful for you sharing details of treatments and your faith during this time. Praying for you and the kids as you all navigate these new changes. God provides for all our needs and your families story is proof of his faithfulness and love for his children. Love you guys
God truly has fearfully & wonderfully made us! Thanks for letting us in on what is happening. Thankful that it is looking good for the collection. Praying on for maintained strength during these ongoing procedures. Praying for peace for all of you & God’s best at each step of this difficult journey. May it be clear as God says This is the way . Walk in it. & May you know His hand that holds you closely! You are His & He knows you!
Wow! What an amazing process. Our bodies truly are marvelous works of God. Thanks for sharing. You and your whole family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping the antibiotics work soon to clear up your respiratory infection. You are strong and courageous and the Lord is with you! Sending love to you all.
Chris you are such an inspiration….soldiering on.You are such a testimony of God’s strength and grace.Will lift up requested prayers for exceptional outcomes,housing and family wellbeing.What a blessing to be part of God’s family.
Go Chris Go! You look and sound good. I remember my two days doing T-cell collection with the machine. Some strange experiences. Awesome explanation of the CAR T Cell treatment that is amazing. May the Lord bless the whole process from beginning to end. If you do high dose chemo before CAR T that can be rough intestinally. Blessings each step, stroke or pedal along the way.
Chris, Thank you for the update and explanation of the T-cell harvest. Thanking God for this amazing technology and praying that it will be effective. May God keep your body strong as you go through all of this. We are holding you and your family in our prayers.
We can feel a part of this process with you all because of the information and videos you are doing. It’s probably really hard sometimes to have such detailed communication, so thank you. My prayers are with you all. I’m begging God for healing, for strength, for muscle mass, for God to be the lifter of your heads, for long-term housing, and for the lab as they go through the next phase. Amen and Amen!
TCK Care & Education is praying for you weekly, and our prayer sheet goes to about 20 people.
Chris, Becca, Luka, Luis, Emalene: we pray for you each day, and sometimes multiple times. I know that God’s words to us are that when we are in need, Jesus Christ is our intercessor, Hebrews 7:25 assures us of this. Christ is also our advocate before our Father…..His Father…..I John 2:1……….so, He prays for us and He pleads for us before His Father. I find such great comfort and really feel strength as I know Jesus is interceding on my behalf…………how much does this help us endure a trial like yours? We cannot do this without His pleadings. He knows we can’t. Wise, Kind, Sovereign, Gentle, Loving………our Father, who is healing you Chris, who is caring for your whole family.
sorry, the comment that precedes this note was mine, and for Chris Fenton!
Thanks for the video and explanation. Ira and I watched it together and prayed for you all- Chris, Becca and the kids and esp Luis as the oldest. A very difficult journey and I particularly prayed you guys would get glimpses of Gods glory every day to encourage you and give you hope