Terrell & Rachel Balan

In May 2023, after having felt unwell for a few months, Terrell saw a physician who did a thorough exam and investigation - which included sending him for extensive blood work. Concerns resulting from his blood work resulted in a CT scan, and on June 14th Terrell's GP called with the results: a 9cm mass was found in Terrell's chest. His doctor was confident Terrell was battling some sort of lymphoma. Fast forward to today (July 21, 2023) and multiple appointments and a biopsy later, it has been confirmed that - at 28 years old - Terrell is battling Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On August 2, 2023, Terrell will go for a PET scan in Kelowna. This scan will provide information on stage, as well as give the doctors a baseline for how Terrell reacts to what will be 6 months of “ABVD” chemotherapy.

If you are reading this you have likely encountered Terrell or his wife Rachel in some capacity in your life. As Rachel's sister I am biased, yet I know them to be incredible people...

In our house, Terrell is known simply as "Uncle". Our girls adore him. Just before his diagnosis, Terrell helped our middle daughter, Charlotte (Charlie), catch her first-ever fish. Terrell is intentional, servant-hearted, and kind. He is a protector. Terrell loves the outdoors, golf, and cooking.

Rachel will always and forever be the best thing that happened to the Janzen Family. Without her, our family would have been way too boring (our other sister, Jessica, agrees). Rachel is hilarious, creative, hard-working, wise, and empathic. Rachel has an incredible eye for design, loves working outdoors in their yard, and loves shopping.

The first time Rachel saw Terrell she was in grade 9. Terrell, in grade 10, had walked past her in the hallway of their high school. Rachel immediately turned to her friend and stated, "I am going to marry him". In the fall of 2015, Terrell proposed atop a snowy mountain. In May 2016, they got married in Mexico. The Balans have done high school, post-secondary, moves, career starts and shifts, all together. Now, they are embarking on a journey they never imagined would be a part of their story.

Since finding out that Uncle is sick, Charlie has been praying that Terrell would feel "safe and calm", and that the police would help Uncle "to get to the doctors super-fast". A year from now, Charlie would love to be able to head back out on the boat with Uncle to catch fish #2. We are so, so thankful that Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma is very curable. Charlie's fishing trip hope is realistic. And, the journey between now and then will not be easy.

If you have been impacted at all by Terrell and/or Rachel, now is a great time to show them your support. When I pitched the idea of a Go Fund Me page to Terrell, his exact words were: "... I think that's fine... we do want to make it clear what [the funds] would be used for... we just don't want people to think we are just going to blow the money on random stuff, you know?"

We know, Terrell.

Terrell is also aware that, once he receives his "cancer number", he will have access to other supports. We will be working to pursue these. This Go Fund Me intends to fill in the other inevitable gaps and expenses.

So, to make it clear, funds raised would be put towards the following:

Would you join us in supporting The Balans financially? Come. Be a positive part of their story. Our money won't make Terrell's cancer go away, but it will play a part in making the next months less stressful for both of them.

Think about it. Pray about it. Pass on this link. Give generously.

Terrell & Rachel, we love you. You have a thunderous community here with you. The Lion of Judah "goes before you and behind you, and beside you, all around you, and within you, He is with you... In the morning, in the evening, in your coming, and your going, in your weeping, and rejoicing, He is for you." (The Blessing, song by Cody Carnes & Kari Jobe.)