Updates
Update 12/10/09
So here we are a month later and I hate that it has taken this long for me to post an update here. I wish I could say it has been a month so filled with fun with friends and family that I just forgot to post on here, but unfortunately this month has found us in an even tougher battle and has taken all our strength to fight through. About a week after my last post I began to show signs of more spinal cord compression. Lindsay and I ended up back in the hospital for more scans and the doctors found the tumors had grown back and were cutting off my legs once again. It turned into quite a journey for us as we bounced from one hospital to another only to be told the surgeons did not want to operate for fear of doing more damage. We ended up back at the hospital of my original surgery with the great neurosurgeon who put in all my awesome titanium. So the weekend before Thanksgiving found me in surgery once again to relieve pressure on my spinal cord.
We spent a couple of days on the neuro icu hall before being transferred to a dedicated physical rehab hospital just in time for Thanksgiving and I’m still in here working every day on walking again. It is back to 3 hours a day of working out, getting a bit stronger and more stable each session, but it is a long journey trying to get back to where I was. My feet are still very numb and legs can be very shaky. We expect to be here until next week some time. I am pushing hard to get as strong as I can while I’m in here to take advantage of this dedicated time. Once we’re home things can get busy really fast. It has been a tough time feeling like I just did this not a month ago, but at the same time I realize I just did this and it can be done again. This was my fourth surgery in all and has been the hardest to get back up from. I just seem to be a tad more numb and tired and the pain level has increased. I wish this month had found me and Lindsay spending too much time with friends and enjoying life together, but it found us smacked in the face with another long hospital stay, enjoying hospital food and not so pleasant nurses.
Chris
Update 11/10/09
We have made it home. It has been a whirlwind of doctors visits and general craziness since we’ve been home. We’ve spent the last week and a half trying to get caught up with all of our doctors and all of our mail and trying to work some in between. It looks like I’m going to be able to get into a great physical therapy program, but it doesn’t start until December, so we are going to have to wait a couple of weeks. Our radiation oncologist believes he can come up with a plan to treat some of the areas in my spine. This is a huge step for us. The doctor in Houston didn’t think we would be able to get more radiation, so we are excited about the prospect of getting treatment.
We’re probably going to get started with this next week, so it will be back to the radiation grind. The grind of getting up every day and driving to the treatment center and laying on this flat, hard table for 20 min. or so. After treatment, we drive home and I take a nap because I’m exhausted and wake up, eat and then usually send the meal back up into a bucket of some sort. Not a fun daily schedule, but if it takes care of the tumors in my spine, I will gladly do it for 6 weeks. It does mean my work schedule will be pretty depleted and Lindsay will only be able to work a couple nights a week. It’s crazy how quickly trips to the doctors and treatments take up your entire schedule. I’ve got trips to my primary doctor, my medical oncologist, my radiation oncologist, and physical therapy and I can’t drive myself, so Lindsay has to be there to get me around. Just going to appointments is a full time job. It all gets to be so overwhelming, but the thought of adding radiation treatment to the mix seems like no problem. Something that is actually getting something done is a great thought. All these appointments to look at things, scanning this or that, gets old. It feels great to actually get things done.
The treatment is a bit scary, there is a possibility of burning up my spinal cord and frying all my nerves, not a pretty picture, but also the possibility of frying up all the tumors and getting some function back in my legs. The cool part is my radiation oncologist is awesome. He has been great through this whole process and was even recommended by the doctors in Houston as the best option for treatment. We believe he is going to come up with a great plan to burn things up.
So we are settling back into life, taking care of all our bills and day to day stuff. It feels great to be home. It has been quite a bit of getting settled. I’m in a wheelchair now, so getting the house wheelchair friendly and getting our daily routines down has been a wild process. We are getting there, still a bit to get figured out, but I think we’ve gotten to a good place in the trip. It was quite the journey of frustration followed by more frustration, but with a bit of “can do” attitude and a ton of grace, we have made it through. We are not blind to the amount of mercy that has been poured out to us, enabling us to persevere. We would have given up long ago if it was up to us, but the mercies of God have enabled us to push on. His grace IS sufficient for us. We can get through this with His strength pushing us through. We can feel the grace that enables us to move on. It is such a wonderful feeling to know I have reached the end of what I can do on my own, the end of me, but I will never reach the end of what He can do.
Chris
Update 10/30/09
Lindsay and I are sitting here in our lovely Hospital room getting very excited at the prospect of going home tomorrow. We think it could be a possibility and that is a great feeling. Thanks to all the prayers and the great doctors here, my rash has started shrinking and my training therapists have given the green light on me continuing my therapy in Dallas. We are coming up on being here nearly three weeks and that is more than enough for the two of us. Lindsay has stayed here in the room with me the entire time. Needless to say, the sleeping arrangements are not exactly comfortable for guests (a hard fold down chair) and she has had to be out of work the whole time. So we are sitting up tonight very ready and optimistic about a return to Big D and a little slice of normalcy.
Chris
Update 10/27/09
Well, I promised to get better at these updates so here we go. Lindsay and I had a wonderfully relaxed weekend with only a 1 hour workout on Saturday. Sunday morning we noticed a new rash appear on my stomach wrapping around to my back. It started small and light, but by today it has flared up and the doctors say it is Shingles, a nasty little rash that now hurts pretty bad and wraps from my navel to my spine. I woke up Tuesday morning running a fever and they found that I also now have a UTI. Apparently my immune system has been terribly depressed from all of the treatments and I am very susceptible to infections. This is just another obstacle we’re going to have to jump over in order to make it home. We’ve been here for two weeks now and they have moved my target release date back to Friday. It feels like the longer I stay here the more things seem to go wrong. The stronger I get the more things seem to come knocking me down. The more complications that pile on, the more freeing things become. It seems the more we are forced to face the easier it is to put all hope in our Father. When things are just so insanely impossible it really does make it so much easier to realize there is no possible way for us to get through this ourselves. Only God can carry us over these obstacles and we are relying on Him to make things happen. Thanks so much for all the prayers, I know we have an army out there praying us through this.
Chris
Update 10/23/09
Alright, so it’s about time for an update, sure maybe a bit overdue, but I promise to make this a better habit.
First, I need to thank everyone who has made this site possible. Paul Bruno, Yuri Star and all the folks at Church Media Group have worked so hard to get this site up and running and it has been a huge blessing. I can’t say thank you enough to these guys and their amazing heart to give as much as they could.
It has been a long road recovering from surgery in April. I spent three months in an awesome brace that kept my torso straight and stable, and began radiation treatment in June. After six weeks of treatment on my initial surgical zone, the doctors found two new sites of cancer. Now my hip and a higher vertebrae had new tumors and we decided to do some intense clinical trial radiation to slow them down. All along we have been trying to get into the MD Anderson cancer treatment center to get more treatment options, and finally were given an appointment for October 13th. Just getting the opportunity to be seen at MD Anderson has been a complete miracle and quite the story itself. The Saturday before our trip to Houston, I woke up with a little bit of heaviness in my legs, nothing big, just a bit tired. By Monday evening I could not walk and by the time we made it to Houston, 6am Tuesday morning, I could not feel my feet or legs. The wonderful doctors there jumped me from an ENT Surgeon to a Medical Oncologist to a Pain Specialist doctor to a Neurosurgeon and straight to a 2 hour MRI before we even made it to lunch. The doctors quickly discovered new tumors that have grown into my spinal canal and had started compressing my nerves. This is a very serious condition because once the nerves are dead, they’re gone. We were immediately scheduled for surgery and headed to the OR. Thanks to all the quick phone calls and texts and internet greatness we were able to get the prayer going and it was a huge relief knowing how many of you were out there praying as they wheeled me under the knife. After the surgery, I spent two days in ICU and now have been transferred to a rehabilitation hall. The doctors were able to pull the tumors away from the spinal cord, but there is still much disease up and down the spine. I’m now in the hospital, finishing up day 3 of rehab and feeling pretty good about how things are starting to come back. Each day I go through 3 hours of intense workouts that have been great at pushing me forward and I’m seeing progress in controlling my legs. My left leg is a good bit weaker than the right. The soles of my feet are numb and pretty much from my waist down feels like the great pins and needles asleep feeling. My ankles are very tough to control, but everyday I feel I have been getting a bit more control and strength. We have been told we’ll be here for a week or two, which does not fit into my schedule very well, but I guess we’ll make time for it.
That’s basically where we are at. Life is fast here in the hospital, hard to believe, but between workouts, doctor visits and tests it seems like a nonstop pace. Everything takes longer too because I need Lindsay to help me get around. So I am promising to make these updates more frequent and will start sharing more of what is going on. As any of you who know me can attest, I don’t have a knack for sugar coating life, so sometimes things might be ugly, sometimes great, but I promise whatever it is will be real. Thanks so much for all the prayer, love and support throughout this process, it really has meant the world to both me and Lindsay.
Chris
I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
Hi Chris, its Miss Connie from DFAG. I am so sorry to hear of your struggle, but want you to know I am praying daily for you.
As you may or may not know, my husband has alzhiemers. So like your wife, I am daily praying for a healing. Habakkuk 1:2 – stay strong.
Love Miss Connie
Dearest Chris and Lindsay,
When I heard of all that you are facing, my heart was immediately with you. I remember when I first met both of you (way before marriage), and what bright and wonderful people you were then…..I knew that God had great plans for you. It is wonderful to hear of all that God has done in you and through you over the years, and I am so blessed to know how God is using you. In this current situation, know that HE is an ever present help in trouble and HIS strength is perfect when our strength is gone. We are for you, too! We are standing with you, and are praying. We love you!
Charles and Jenny Ciepiel
Hello Chris, you don’t know us but we know all about you thanks to close friends and family. Carole and I will be prayin and working for you. We and our Church family (True Freedom Church) in Killeen, TX. will be pulling all our resourses for you. We are planning a motorcycle ride to raise money for your needs. We look forward to seeing you in person in October. Stay strong.
I don’t have anything new to say… just that we’re praying and praying. We’re praying for total healing, and soon. We love you. I don’t understand everything, but I know God is good and loves you more than you can imagine.
Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jannie
Hey Chris,
Just wanted to let you know that you’ve been on my heart lately and that I’ve been praying for you. You’re not forgotten. I hope to possibly see you when I return to the States. I’m in Singapore right now with my daughter attending to some family business.
Stay strong and be blessed.
Blessings,
Sheryll
I love you guys. I am praying for both of you. Fear NO evil. He is with you through everything.
First Day at MD Anderson! I pray for brilliant physicians, caring nurses and of course… healing. Love you both d-
Chris and Lindsay,
I am a member of True Freedon Church in Killeen, Texas and have you in my prayers. The bike run October 17th has had God in it from the begining so I know it will be amazing. God bless you both.
The Clifford family loves you Chris! I chuckled when I read you were going to keep it real! Don’t care for sugar coating either!
We are excited to hear about God’s great and wonderful work as He heals you from this disease. May God radically change our hearts as we focus in prayer continually standing in the GAP for your healing.
Just remember how precious you are to all of us Chris!
Lindsay….baby girl you have a tough road ahead but we lift you up to Christ! Be strong well knowing this will bring both you even closer together!
We love you!
Cheryl Clifford
Chris you and Lindsay are in our thoughts and prayers constantly. I admire your courage and rock-solid faith. You are an inspiration to all of us!
You have been on my heart and in my prayers. Our prayer group at FWC in McKinney have been praying for you as well. Mark 11:22-26 is the scripture I stood on during my bout with cancer. We can have whatever we ask if we believe and do not doubt. Read it over and over. Let it get into your spirit. John 15:7 is another good one that tells us if you abide in Him and He abides in you, you can ask what you will and it shall be done unto you. It is God’s desire that you be well and more than that, it’s a promise. Just receive it and thank him for it. It may not happen in a day or a week, but it will happen. Just keep believing!
Love & blessings,
Linda
Chris – Want you to know that you’re very much in our thoughts and prayers. We’ve prayed for you as a church body and will continue to lift you up, trusting the great physician to do what He has promised. May the Lord bless and strengthen you with LIFE LIFE LIFE — He has come that you might have LIFE, and LIFE abundantly!
Blessings and Love,
Scott and Beth Volk
scottvolk@me.com
Hey Chris,
Thanks so much for the update. I’ve been logging on to see if anything had changed since the last time I’d heard about your surgery at MD Anderson. Keep them coming. I’m so happy to hear that you’re recuperating and walking. Have been praying for you and Lindsay and will keep doing so.
BLESSINGS! Sheryll
Chris – We have never had the pleasure of meeting you in person, but had the pleasure of watching Lins grow up and love her dearly – thus we love you dearly. Know that you both are in our prayers for God’s mighty healing power to be shown through you. With lots of love – Ed, Tina, Corbin and Keaton Amaya
hey guys!
Janel and I love you guys and are praying for you. I’m glad I got to spend some time with you a few months back, and I wish I could come out and support you guys now. If Janel and I can do anything at all, just let me know.
Hi!
Since Janice CR told me about you God put you on my heart. You both seem like wonderful people and as you say – when you can’t do anything by yourself it has to be God. I pray that you will rest assure in that knowledge!
Swedish blessings!
Ciccie
Chris and Lindsay,
I am praying for you daily. God is more than able to carry you through this. His shoulders are huge so keep casting your care on Him! Love you both!
Michelle
I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side. I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope. I know you’ll never dump me in Hades; I’ll never even smell the stench of death. You’ve got my feet on the life-path, with your face shinning sun-joy all around.
Love u guys.
Love you guys! Praying like everyone else. We need to get out there, play cards and jam some deer steak. miss you!
Ben, Kristi, Aniston, Avery, Ayden, and Abi
Grace on you guys! Hope and mercy overwhelm you!
Chris and Missy Evans
Hey Chris:
I have been trying to get in touch to find out how you are doing. We are starting the last week of class, and everybody asks about you every day. I will give them the info on this site so they can all keep up with you. We are praying for you, and looking forward to the day when you walk into the room to teach the class again. Until then, we will carry on as best we can.
we are praying for you Chris and Lindsay… EN EL NOMBRE DE JESUS DECLARAMOS SANIDAD TOTAL SOBRE TU CUERPO…!!!
Chris & Lindsay–
I came across this site and read your story. I won’t try to predict God’s plan for your life or the outcome of your current trial. However, I would like to give both of you some encouraging words during these dark times.
The testing of our faith is necessary in producing something that we all need as Christians–perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to move forward in spite of opposition, trial and previous failure. It’s what keeps us motivated and focused. Perseverance can not be produce without the trials that test our faith. When we understand the purpose of trials and tribulation, we are able to all the more welcome them with genuine and pure joy as James encourages us to.
Others may see them as a hindrance, nuisance and unnecessary. But the true believer who understands God’s purpose, though at times fearful, will welcome them knowing that they are essential in his or her growth and to enhance knowledge of God.
My challenge to you both is to trust God, knowing there is purpose and He is in control. Welcome the trial with a spirit of pure joy, knowing that it will produce in you the stuff to persevere. Know that when you have endured and reached the God’s goal, you will be able to attest to the great things of God and inspire many around you. For that is how the past heroes of the faith have touched our lives.
God bless you both. I will pray for comfort, peace, mercy and healing.
Albert Rodriguez (Texas)
Chris,
Want you to know that we (and others in our church and families) are lifting you up in prayer. We are praying for strength for you and Lindsay and MIRACLES in your life. We TRUST our heavenly father to be with you and meet every need you have. He is FAITHFUL.
We love you,
Clyde and Carol Sheppard
Chris and Linds,
It was so good spending time with you. I’m so proud of you both. What amazing strength you have. I love reading your updates Chris. You have a great way of expressing yourself! God is in the midst of this situation. I am lifting up your hands! Love you…Mom (Vicki)
Hello man…God bless you…Im from Colombia and i wish you a miracle
God is Good…all the time..now im praying for you!!. i just was looking for some Julian Collazos videos when i saw your name..put your eyes in Jesus always and be strong whit the power of God…he take care of you….
Blessings!!!
Hey – thanks for the updates! love you both tuns! and expect nothing less than complete restoration! We serve a big God!
Chris
Your story I believe will be told to hundreds, I prophecy that upon you. Your story will be heard and it will glorify Christ, I see it I believe it and I look forward to it. Chris, keep your head up, Christ sees favor upon you and he will bless you and make many nations thru you, you are Christ son in whom Christ is well pleased with. We are praying for.
Gus and Michelle
Thanks for the update. I continue to pray for you and Lindsay. Expect a miracle. I’m sending you a care package with surprises in it. You will probably get it about Friday.
Lindsay & Chris – I just got in contact with your mom, Lindsay, and she told me about your website and what you two are going through. I will be praying and also will request prayer at our Care Group and from my e-mail friends who are Christians and know how to pray. The Lord our God is our Great Physician and He is carrying you two.
Love in Jesus,
Sherri Kilgas
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Special Thanks
A special thank you must go out to all the family and friends who have come to support and give guidance to Chris and Lindsay during this challenging time.
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