Hey everyone, it’s my pleasure to have interviewed Jim Ferrell on my YouTube channel, Almost Catholic, the Journey Home. Jim, a retired first responder, is a man who really should not be alive.

This blog tells Jim’s story of resilience, faith, and hope. If you are suffering now, Jim’s story will encourage you to keep the faith going forward in hope.

This is Jim’s Story: A Journey of Resilience, Faith and Hope

My journey with Cancer did not begin with a single lump or a doctor’s visit. In a way, it started before I was even born.

The Cancer had already left its imprint on my family. I grew up hearing about an aunt I never met. She sadly lost her life to Cancer and later witnessed another aunt succumb to leukaemia in the 1970s.

Then, in 1979, my father—who had quit smoking after a mild cardiac event—was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. I watched him fight, explore alternative treatments, and ultimately resign himself to his fate.

From those early experiences, I carried a deep-seated belief that Cancer would one day come for me, too.

That day arrived in April 2008 when I absentmindedly rested my head on my left hand and felt a lump behind my ear. Something inside me knew—this was it.

The Long Road to Diagnosis

Despite my certainty, the road to diagnosis was anything but swift. My longtime physician was retiring, and his inexperienced replacement dismissed my concerns. I endured rounds of antibiotics, blood tests, and misdiagnoses. Meanwhile, the symptoms mounted—drenching night sweats, extreme fatigue, and visibly swollen lymph nodes.

After advocating for myself and seeking a second opinion. I met with an ENT specialist who finally voiced what I already suspected: “We have to be concerned about lymphoma.” A biopsy was urgently needed. The first surgeon’s schedule was too full to accommodate the speed at which my condition was worsening.

Fortunately, my wife, my steadfast advocate, secured an appointment with another surgeon who performed the biopsy the very next day.

The pathology report was inconclusive. My oncologist, who was nearing retirement, uttered the dreaded word: “Wait.” That was the moment we knew it was time to run—run toward a specialist who would act.

Finding the Right Doctor

Our search led us to Dr. Andrei Shustov at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. He reviewed my pathology report. And conducted further testing, and delivered a diagnosis I had never heard before: Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified. It was a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma with a grim prognosis.

Dr. Shustov, a specialist in rare T-Cell lymphomas, immediately took charge. My body was riddled with tumors—too many to count. The treatment needed to be aggressive. He prescribed a regimen of CHOEP-14, followed by GVD chemotherapy. It was brutal. But against the odds, my scans showed a complete response.

The Relapse and the Fight for Survival

Two months later, the Cancer returned. My doctor’s reaction was one of determined urgency: “I want to get this one while it’s a baby.” That resolve gave me strength.

A clinical trial for a new drug, Romidepsin, opened just in time. It worked. I experienced an unprecedented four-and-a-half-year remission. But then, new symptoms emerged—joint pain, swelling, an unrelenting cough. Another biopsy revealed the lymphoma had mutated into Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma. The battle was far from over.

Over the years, I cycled through multiple treatments, experimental drugs, and trials. Some failed, some helped temporarily, but the Cancer remained relentless.

By the time we received our third consecutive scan with the stark conclusion—progression—I knew our options were dwindling.

The Miracle of a Stem Cell Transplant

Dr. Shustov, refusing to accept defeat, proposed a last resort: a stem cell transplant. There were no suitable donors in the national or global registries. We turned to my children, and miraculously, both were a match. We chose my 26 year old son as my donor.

A transplant is not a cure, but it offers a fighting chance. I developed Graft versus Host Disease. This is when the new immune system attacks the body. But that very response was also my best weapon against the Cancer’s return.

A Changed Life, A New Perspective

Receiving my son’s stem cells altered more than just my blood type. I also inherited his severe food allergies, a daily reminder of the incredible sacrifice and gift he gave me.

This journey has reshaped my life in profound ways. My faith, which had always been strong, deepened. I have received the Sacrament of Anointing (“Last Rites”) more times than I can count. My marriage grew stronger. Cancer took so much. Yet it also gave me a greater appreciation for life, love, and the moments that truly matter.

Lessons from the Journey

After more than a decade of battling an unpredictable and aggressive disease, I have learned a few things:

1. Be Your Own Advocate. If a doctor says “wait,” find one who won’t.
2. Seek the Right Specialist. A general oncologist is not enough for rare cancers. Find an expert who is passionate about your specific disease.
3. Consider Clinical Trials. They are not just a last resort; they can be a lifeline.
4. Lean on Your Support System. My wife’s unwavering advocacy saved my life multiple times.
5. Faith and Perspective Matter. I no longer believe in coincidence—there were too many providential moments along the way.

The Fight Continues

Reflecting on this journey, I realize that despite the pain, uncertainty, and fear, I would not choose to undo it. Cancer is not just a diagnosis; it is a journey marked by uncertainty, struggle, and resilience.

This experience has intensified the beauty of life. And as someone famously said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

I am still here. And I am still fighting.

If you have Cancer or any other dangerous disease or aliment. Please search for your local support group and Catholic Church. Please submit any prayer requests you may have in the comments.  

VIDEO PART ONE

AUDIO PODCAST PART TWO