A New Door Is Opening: We’re Heading to MD Anderson

The last several weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, setbacks, phone calls, insurance battles, and most importantly..continued hope.

After completing 18 treatments and seeing such an incredible response to treatment, Chandler traveled to UCSF hopeful that surgery would be the next step. Unfortunately, after reviewing her case, the team at UCSF ultimately decided against moving forward with surgery because of the BRAF mutation associated with her cancer.

That news was incredibly difficult.

After everything Chandler had gone through to get to that appointment and after allowing herself to believe surgery might finally be within reach walking away without a surgical plan was mentally and emotionally taxing. But if there is one thing Chandler has continued to do throughout this entire journey, it is keep moving forward.

And now, another door has opened.

After what has felt like an endless battle with insurance, Chandler received a one time authorization to be evaluated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Even more encouraging, a renowned liver surgeon at MD Anderson has already reviewed Chandler’s case and scans and has told us he is excited to meet her. Chandler will meet with him next Friday, August 21 at 9:30 am CST. 

What makes this appointment feel especially hopeful is that he is fully aware of Chandler’s BRAF mutation and still wants to evaluate her for surgery. He has also ordered a new CT scan specifically for surgical mapping and planning.

We don’t know exactly what the plan will be yet. After Chandler meets with the team, they will determine whether surgery is something they can move forward with soon or whether the best path is to continue treatment for a while longer before surgery.

But for the first time since leaving UCSF, it feels like surgery may once again be a very real possibility.

Getting to MD Anderson has not been easy. There have been countless calls, authorizations, codes, denials, approvals, changes in travel plans, and moments where it felt like we were fighting just to get Chandler in the room with the right doctors.

Through all of it, Chandler has remained remarkably positive. UCSF was a disappointment, and there were certainly moments when it was hard not to feel defeated. But she has continued to believe that a “no” from one place does not mean the end of the road.

Maybe it was simply a redirection.

Chandler is heading to Houston feeling excited, hopeful, and ready to hear what MD Anderson has to say. She knows there are still unknowns ahead, but she is trusting that God is working even in the parts of this journey that haven’t made sense at the time.

We have prayed from the beginning for God to put Chandler in the right rooms, in front of the right doctors, at exactly the right time. We are choosing to believe that this next step is part of that plan.

So next week, we head to MD Anderson with open hearts and a whole lot of hope.

One appointment. One scan. One step at a time.

Please continue praying for Chandler, for her doctors, and specifically for wisdom and clarity as they determine the best path forward.

We are trusting God with the details.

Chandler will be receiving treatment number 20 this Friday before heading to Houston. She continues to amaze doctors and her family + friends with how well she is handling these treatments. 

She Chan. She Will. And God is not finished yet. 🤍