Sweeney Update

Today was a very big day for the Sweeneys. I will allow the two recaps I received via e-mail to sum it up. First, from Sweeney's good friend/mentor Tom:

"We got to spend about 4 hours with Mike today in his room in the Critical Care unit of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Mike was understandably tired after the past week of chemo to suppress his white blood cells, but he was feeling fairly well today. The most poignant moment for us was when they brought in the TIL cells for infusion. Mike’s doctor, a nurse and the two lab technicians who worked with Mike’s cells were all present for this 15-20 minute event. As we watched the nurse hang the bag with the TIL cells and connect the tube to the port in his vein, we all felt an incredible amount of anxiousness, adrenaline and a bit of awe. It’s hard to describe exactly what this felt like – maybe even a bit of fearfulness. In that moment, as the cells were going in, we all knew, in some sense, “this is it,” this is Sweeney’s best shot left, and that brought a strongest sense of the gravity of Mike’s condition I’ve experienced yet. Then Cabell, Jeff and I all prayed for Mike as the TIL cells dripped into his body and while all the aforementioned staff quietly and reverently bowed their heads. We shared with them that there were several hundred donors who had given more than $200,000 in order to pay for this procedure. They were impressed.

Then they impressed us. The lab technicians told us all about how the TIL cells are cultivated. They initially had about 37 million cells and they grew them into about 37 BILLION. Each cell multiplied by a factor of 1000 – and each of them is specifically hungry for Mike Sweeney’s melanoma tumors. They also told is that they have harvested cells like this in about 200 people but that so far only 23 people had their cells grow in the lab and then passed the next test – that the cells actually kill the tumor cells. So, in other words, only 10% of patients in this TIL therapy trial even get to the stage where Mike is. That’s also amazing.

We left hopeful that this, by all accounts, miraculous moment would have its fullest effect on Mike’s cancer. We prayed that it would and we trust the Lord from here. "

Did you read those numbers? And to think that the God who created and gives life to each of those cells is the very one we are able to access any time we want to through prayer...it blows me away.

And then the following from Cabell:
"So today was pretty amazing. More emotions than even I can sort through. I wish you all could have seen this room. I'll try to describe it. Sweeney in the bed on his right Dr. P Sweeney's melanoma doctor. Next to P was the head of the clinical trial. Next the 2 doctors who have been overseeing the cells in the lab (when I said they had been nursing those cells since mid April, one quickly clarified "Yes, April 13th is the day they came to us.") Then Dr. H, the head of the melanoma department, Connie our nurse for the day, then Jeff, then Tom and then me. All of us with masks and gloves circling the bed. Jeff, Tom and I with a hand on Sweeney- praying. Jeff, Tom and I prayed thanking God for the doctors, for his provision of this treatment, for you our friends who provided it...and of course begged God to use the cells to heal his body. It was all pretty intense.

As soon as the IV bag was empty, Sweeney told all the doctors how even though our insurance denied us God moved in our family and family of friends and raised the money in 3 weeks. They all knew the story already.

One of the doctors from the lab said they have harvested cells from about 250 patients, only about 48 of them have cells grow and respond in the lab, and of those 48, only 23- Sweeney being 24 have been able to receive this treatment. So to say that we are grateful is a failure of words.

When the crowd cleared out Jeff, Tom and I read every name on the donation list, thanking God for each person. All 435 names.

I hope that after the doctors get home and sort through the "that was really, really weird" response, I hope they feel valued, celebrated, appreciated. I hope God reminded them today of why they became doctors. I hope they will consider Christ and why we told God our hope was ultimately in Him and we will love Him even if He doesn't use TIL to heal Sweeney."

I was blown away by the BILLION number in Tom's e-mail, but I am equally in awe of the 435 number. I am reminded that that is only a small fraction of the people who have been following Sweeney's journey. It does not include the literal thousands of people who have been touched in some way by this story.

I am astounded by the fact that while our God is capable of doing as He pleases--not in need of any of our help--He allows us to be a part of the story. I cannot tell you how profoundly I experience the character of God simply from 'doing life' with others. I love that God created our hearts for relationships. Can you imagine life without them?

We don't know how Sweeney's story will end...but I know that I serve the One who does. He is purposeful, all-knowing and all-powerful. He has plans. None of this catches Him by surprise. He created the cells that course through my friend's veins. He granted wisdom and knowledge to the doctors and nurses treating him. He moved in the hearts of hundreds of people to give and to intercede.

He is a mighty, mighty God and He holds the world...you and me...my friends and family...and whatever issue you are burdened with/for...He holds it all in His Hands.