For over 25 years, my brother, Christopher Jenkins, has been in a relentless fight for his life. Since 1999, he has faced a staggering six separate cancer diagnoses across five different types of cancer.
He is currently back in the fight of his life against his most aggressive diagnosis yet: Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma. This comes after surviving:
- Hodgkin lymphoma (Initial diagnosis)
- Seminoma (Testicular cancer)
- Hodgkin lymphoma (Relapse)
- Renal Cell Carcinoma (resulting in the loss of one kidney)
- Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin lymphoma
Christopher is not only battling active cancer but also the severe, long-term damage caused by decades of intensive treatments. These complications have left him with:
- Organ Failure: Congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease in his one remaining kidney.
- Systemic Illness: Sarcoidosis (which nearly took his sight), Raynaud’s, and disseminated histoplasmosis.
- Chronic Pain & Fatigue: Severe neuropathy and surgically induced endocrine disorders that affect his daily energy and mobility.
Despite these overwhelming physical burdens, Christopher’s primary focus remains being a present, loving father and spouse to his three young children: Henry (3) and twins Merle and Althea (2) and wife: Miranda.
As Christopher undergoes treatment for this latest aggressive cancer, his family is facing a breaking point. The financial strain of frequent travel to Grand Rapids for specialized care, combined with his wife's need to take unpaid leave to care for him and their toddlers, has made it impossible to keep up with their essential bills.
I am reaching out for help for them with:
- Medical Travel & Lodging for his treatment team in Grand Rapids, MI.
- Essential Monthly Expenses to maintain their home while his wife is on unpaid leave.
Christopher is a miracle of resilience, but even the strongest person needs a community behind them. We are deeply grateful for any contribution, prayer, or share to help his family endure this difficult time.