Dear friends and supporters,

Many of you know our husband and father, Ben Sanders, from his decades of service to the campus of Arizona State University and the community of Tempe. Ben and Sarah are the directors of the Campus Christian Center (C3) and the Arizona Center for Christian Studies. Ben has also been involved in ministry to people experiencing homelessness.

We are now reaching out to our beloved community to ask for your financial and prayer support in his battle with cancer.

In December 2023, Ben began the most dramatic health challenge of his life. A colonoscopy led to the discovery of a malignant tumor in Ben’s colon and in January 2024 he underwent surgery to remove the tumor along with 1/3 of his colon. In February, he began chemotherapy as a precaution to prevent recurrence.

By March, his immune system had been severely damaged by the chemo and his health began to take a dive. He lost 35 pounds and was hospitalized for four days for severe dehydration, malnourishment, infection, pain and other complications, followed by five ER visits in one week in April.

He finally turned the corner in May, as he began to gain weight and energy and his CEA cancer marker dropped to normal. We gave thanks to God for his great mercy and prayed for Ben to remain cancer-free.

However, in August tests revealed a concerning spike in cancer markers in Ben’s blood. Further testing confirmed two spots of Stage 4 cancer had spread near his colon.

Consulting with Ben’s oncologist, our world was rocked when she estimated Ben would have 2-5 years to live, but only if he endured chemo treatments every two weeks for the rest of his life. We also received little reassurance from the oncologist that there was a plan to protect Ben from the excruciating complications of his previous chemo experience.

Ben respects science and medicine, and he thanks God for the expertise of the doctors who helped rid him of his first tumor. However, the one-size-fits-all approach to this new phase felt inadequate, and even life-threatening, considering Ben’s experience with a full-chemo regimen in the spring.

That’s when God sent us news of our friend Tammy Morrow, who had faced only weeks to live with stage 4 breast cancer that had spread throughout her body. She sought innovative treatment at Envita Medical Center in Scottsdale. One year later, Tammy is cancer-free.

After speaking with Tammy and doctors at Envita, we were impressed by the center’s integration of cutting-edge, targeted chemotherapy and naturopathic immune support. The treatments are customized based on tests that determine the exact drugs and compounds that are most effective in fighting each patient’s cancer. We learned that Envita regularly serves patients from around the world and exceeds response rates of top conventional cancer centers. We were also impressed by the Christian faith evidenced at Envita. Our friend Tammy related how often doctors or nurses stopped to pray for her during her treatments.

We have been praying for guidance and have peace about beginning treatment at Envita in January.

But, because this treatment is personalized oncology rather than a generic “standard of care,” it is not covered by insurance. So, we are faced with an estimated cost of $165,000.

Friends have urged us not to let money stand in the way of the best treatment for Ben. To that end, we are asking you, our friends, family, and community to help us pay for the treatments.

We are grateful to those who feel called to support us, whether financially or through prayers and encouragement. We trust in God’s providence to supply all our needs. Our lives are in His hands. Our thanks to you, our community and our Lord is never-ending.

Sincerely,

Sarah Sanders (wife) and Rebekah Sanders (daughter)