The Big Day is Here

This is the day we’ve been waiting for—12.78 billion cloned T-cells were infused into Mark’s body, about half of which recognize cancer (that’s different than what we previously thought)! It felt like a party when the team arrived with the small blue cooler containing those precious cells (Mark calls them the cancer-seeking Mandalorian warriors)!! Dr. Urba waved from the hall. Dr. Taylor, our oncologist and research doctor, Dr. Eric Tran, who has been cloning the T-cells,  Kim, the clinical research nurse, and Roxanne, the nurse practitioner over advanced treatments, came in together at 2 pm. This procedure is a big deal! 

While Dr. Tran explained the process, the bag was hung, and the flow began. I caught some of Eric Tran’s remarks on video. (Links below) While Mark is the 7th to receive this particular type of T-cell therapy from Dr. Tran at this hospital, three of them were a different process. The two others using this process were not melanoma patients, so Mark is actually the first in his class! While various forms of T-cell therapy have been around for a long time and have become mainstream, only a few hospitals in the country use this particular cutting-edge therapy, so again, how fortunate we are to be here! 

The T-cell infusion was event-free; only some mild chills and fatigue followed. At 4:40 pm, the IL-2 was given, and for the first hour, it seemed that nothing was going to happen. Then, at 5:45, the rigors started, and they were the most intense he had ever had. He shook to the core for at least 20 minutes. It took 3 doses of Demerol to calm him down, which knocked him out for an hour or so. He’s been in and out since then. His blood pressure has dropped and although it is not to a dangerous level, it will need to be checked every two hours throughout the night. Depending on how his body responds, he could have another dose tomorrow, but this could be the only one. Mark is being well cared for—fantastic doctors and nurses. I’m so thankful that I can be here to care for him, as well. The love and support we have felt today, from you and heaven, has been tremendous! 

        (L-R: Dr. Matthew Taylor, Dr. Eric Tran, Roxanne Payne, Dr. Walter Urba, Kim Sutcliffe)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1bXtU2roFCwGtPY17 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xqrTPH8o9m6UQXXn8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/J9HnV46cUZdZEnv99

 

Update Thursday, October 28, 9 am:

Mark’s blood pressure was good through the night, and other indicators were positive, so another dose of IL-2 was given this morning at 7 am. An hour later, the dreaded rigors kicked in. He had 3 doses of Demerol, 1 Dilaudid, and some Zofran for nausea, so he was out for a while. His fever went up to almost 102 but has dropped. Currently, his blood pressure is 90/54, which is expected. He is groggy and fades in and out. Even when he is only partially coherent, he thanks every nurse and doctor who comes in. 

This morning I read this verse in Doctrine and Covenants 124:15, and felt that Mark’s name could be substituted for the one in the text, “And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant [Mark Hornibrook]; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord.”  When I read it to Mark, he said, with tears in his eyes, “I do love him!”