Roger Bennett Health Update
An Open Letter from Roger Bennett
Hello,
I know that it has seemed slow getting an update from me lately but my treatment situation has been changing almost daily and I wanted to wait until I knew the plan until I shared with you. Hopefully this will avoid rumors or confusion.
Here are the facts:
My cancer has indeed returned and seems to be much more aggressive this time. My counts are going up in a very fast manner. This is not good for a CLL patient. I'm beginning to feel the effects of it in my energy level.
The fear is that it looks as if this cancer,if left untreated, could change into an even more aggressive deadly form. So with that news, here is the plan.
In about 2 weeks I'll go back to Houston and will undergo a procedure which will remove many of my white blood cells. The Dr's say that it is similar to a dialysis machine. After collection the cells will be sent to a lab in Seattle where they will be,for lack of a better word, "supercharged". This will boost them from 100% to 1000% in their immunity power. This will take approx. 5 weeks. Then the treated cells will be re-infused into my system.
This is expected to help me get stronger and to beat back the progression of the CLL. Then at some date in the future I will need a bone marrow transplant. The timing on this is really up in the air. There is so much to be done with finding a donor and getting insurance approval. Concerning the donor.....if you are interested (as many have already expressed), don't call me or our office to inquire. The Dr's say the only way is for you to get in touch with the bone marrow registry at 1-800-2-MARROW. If you happen to be a m!
atch for me....you will be flagged and MD Anderson will be notified. I didn't realize it but this is a huge list of great people who have decided to be donors. Since I don't have any brothers or sisters this is my best hope. They also tell me that my chance of finding a donor based on my circumstances is 75-85% - a very good chance.
Now I know that this is not what any of us wanted to hear. But let me encourage you to be of good cheer. God has not failed me in the least.
This is just another opportunity for His strength to be perfected in my weakness!!!
Concerning Legacy Five....I intend to travel until the last possible day before this transplant and come back to work on the first day I'm released.
My calling hasn't changed just because my health has! The guys are 1000% behind me and I'm not finished yet! We are working on details to let me still be able to be a part of the concert with various high tech means.
I'll keep you posted.
Concerning the timing....I really don't know. It could be 4 months from now or it could be a year. I'm just trusting God's timing in all of this. Much less stress for me that way.
About my needs...I really ask that when you pray for me that you include my family. Debbie is yet again my rock through this valley and my kids Chelsea and Jordan are just great. But I know that there will be some long nights of worry, so please pray that Deb and the kids will stay encouraged and healthy themselves. Debbie will be keeping you up to date with any new details if I can't.
That's about it. Oh yes, one favor to me if you will. Please don't think that I'm holding anything out on you and press me for more details. I'm being 100% honest with you. I want to continue singing and playing the way God's called me to do and not become "Cancer boy". Thanks for understanding. Please don't treat me like I'm sick or dying...I want to keep this as real and normal as possible.(those of you who know me well are saying "when has he ever been normal"!)
Concerning alternate treatments....I have explored them all. And after much prayer and leading from the Lord...this is the path I've chosen...please don't be offended...just respect my decision.
OK...all the heavy stuff out of the way! whewww! Bottom line...I'm sick...so what? So are millions of other folks. (many of YOU) and we'll all just get through it as the grace of God allows!
Just remember...if I ever write a book about these days it will be called.....I've Got Cancer...Cancer doesn't have ME!
I love you so much! Your prayers in my behalf will be more effective than any treatment I will ever have.
In His Grip!
Roger Bennett
II Corinthians 4:16-18
Roger Bennett Health Update
An Open Letter from Roger Bennett
Hello,
I know that it has seemed slow getting an update from me lately but my treatment situation has been changing almost daily and I wanted to wait until I knew the plan until I shared with you. Hopefully this will avoid rumors or confusion.
Here are the facts:
My cancer has indeed returned and seems to be much more aggressive this time. My counts are going up in a very fast manner. This is not good for a CLL patient. I'm beginning to feel the effects of it in my energy level.
The fear is that it looks as if this cancer,if left untreated, could change into an even more aggressive deadly form. So with that news, here is the plan.
In about 2 weeks I'll go back to Houston and will undergo a procedure which will remove many of my white blood cells. The Dr's say that it is similar to a dialysis machine. After collection the cells will be sent to a lab in Seattle where they will be,for lack of a better word, "supercharged". This will boost them from 100% to 1000% in their immunity power. This will take approx. 5 weeks. Then the treated cells will be re-infused into my system.
This is expected to help me get stronger and to beat back the progression of the CLL. Then at some date in the future I will need a bone marrow transplant. The timing on this is really up in the air. There is so much to be done with finding a donor and getting insurance approval. Concerning the donor.....if you are interested (as many have already expressed), don't call me or our office to inquire. The Dr's say the only way is for you to get in touch with the bone marrow registry at 1-800-2-MARROW. If you happen to be a m!
atch for me....you will be flagged and MD Anderson will be notified. I didn't realize it but this is a huge list of great people who have decided to be donors. Since I don't have any brothers or sisters this is my best hope. They also tell me that my chance of finding a donor based on my circumstances is 75-85% - a very good chance.
Now I know that this is not what any of us wanted to hear. But let me encourage you to be of good cheer. God has not failed me in the least.
This is just another opportunity for His strength to be perfected in my weakness!!!
Concerning Legacy Five....I intend to travel until the last possible day before this transplant and come back to work on the first day I'm released.
My calling hasn't changed just because my health has! The guys are 1000% behind me and I'm not finished yet! We are working on details to let me still be able to be a part of the concert with various high tech means.
I'll keep you posted.
Concerning the timing....I really don't know. It could be 4 months from now or it could be a year. I'm just trusting God's timing in all of this. Much less stress for me that way.
About my needs...I really ask that when you pray for me that you include my family. Debbie is yet again my rock through this valley and my kids Chelsea and Jordan are just great. But I know that there will be some long nights of worry, so please pray that Deb and the kids will stay encouraged and healthy themselves. Debbie will be keeping you up to date with any new details if I can't.
That's about it. Oh yes, one favor to me if you will. Please don't think that I'm holding anything out on you and press me for more details. I'm being 100% honest with you. I want to continue singing and playing the way God's called me to do and not become "Cancer boy". Thanks for understanding. Please don't treat me like I'm sick or dying...I want to keep this as real and normal as possible.(those of you who know me well are saying "when has he ever been normal"!)
Concerning alternate treatments....I have explored them all. And after much prayer and leading from the Lord...this is the path I've chosen...please don't be offended...just respect my decision.
OK...all the heavy stuff out of the way! whewww! Bottom line...I'm sick...so what? So are millions of other folks. (many of YOU) and we'll all just get through it as the grace of God allows!
Just remember...if I ever write a book about these days it will be called.....I've Got Cancer...Cancer doesn't have ME!
I love you so much! Your prayers in my behalf will be more effective than any treatment I will ever have.
In His Grip!
Roger Bennett
II Corinthians 4:16-18
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Written: 10/31/2003 
Author: SGN
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