Changing what’s possible

Donald Lynd and his wife, Gail, have a lot to celebrate. For 78-year-old Donald, one year of clear imaging scans marked a major milestone in his cancer journey after chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapy offered renewed hope when standard treatments, including chemotherapy, were no longer effective. It’s also a significant moment for Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, as Lynd was the first patient to receive CAR T cell therapy through its new cellular therapy and stem cell transplantation program.

Lynd initially turned to Baptist MD Anderson for a second opinion after an MRI for persistent back pain revealed a mass. Maxim Norkin, MD, hematologist/oncologist and medical director of the Robert L. and Patricia A. Paquette Cellular Therapy Program, soon diagnosed him with follicular lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that may appear in your lymph nodes, bone marrow and other organs. A PET scan revealed the disease had spread and Lynd immediately started chemotherapy. While it initially appeared to shrink the cancer, follow-up tests showed the disease had returned.

“Unfortunately, chemotherapy wasn’t working for me, so we decided to try CAR T cell therapy, and it’s been the answer to my prayers,” Donald Lynd said.

How CAR T cell therapy works

CAR T cell therapy is a groundbreaking form of cellular immunotherapy that reprograms a patient’s own T cells – white blood cells that help the immune system fight disease – to recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. It’s primarily used for certain types of blood cancers, such as diffuse large B cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and is generally considered for patients who have not responded to standard treatments.

“CAR T cell therapy and other forms of cellular therapy have become options for patients without any good alternatives,” Dr. Norkin said. “CAR T cell therapy is associated with high response rates and long responses. In some cases, it has even cured patients with previously incurable and hard-to-treat cancers.”

Lynd’s treatment began with a five-hour process to collect his T cells. His blood was drawn through a specialized machine that separates these cells and returns the rest of his blood to his body. The T cells were then sent to a lab, genetically modified to fight his cancer and multiplied by the hundreds of millions.

Three weeks later, he traveled from his home in Alachua County to Jacksonville to undergo three days of intensive chemotherapy before the modified cells were infused back into his body. Lynd then spent 10 days in the oncology inpatient unit at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, as those undergoing this treatment require specialized monitoring and care. This was followed by eight weeks of regular visits with his health care team.

“I’ve never experienced anything so well-organized,” said Lynd. “My nurse coordinator and Dr. Norkin’s team were top-notch. They educated us every step of the way and took care of all the details. I felt like a VIP from the start.”

Gail Lynd was equally impressed with the level of care and support her husband received: “The staff were unbelievable. They were so supportive and really worked well together. And we are also so grateful to the Baptist Health Foundation for their support of the program.”

Baptist MD Anderson’s new cellular therapy and stem cell transplantation program offers potentially lifesaving treatments for hematologic (blood) cancers and other serious conditions. Modeled after the program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, it was established with an endowment from grateful patients Patricia and Bob Paquette.

The program plans to introduce stem cell transplantations in summer 2027, following the opening of a new inpatient unit at Baptist Jacksonville specifically designed to cater to the unique care needs of cellular therapy and oncology patients.

A life-changing treatment

Dr. Norkin said Lynd’s treatment is a powerful example of how CAR T cell therapy can offer new hope to patients with limited options, while also paving the way for Baptist MD Anderson to treat more patients as its cellular therapy program continues to expand.

“Mr. Lynd is one year post-transplant without any evidence of recurring disease, which is encouraging,” said Dr. Norkin, who added that Lynd will be closely monitored and have repeated imaging every six months to be sure that he remains in remission. “Now, he can return to life without any limitations.”

Donald Lynd has certainly returned to participating in some of his favorite activities like fishing and golfing.

“I’m 100% back to doing all the things I like to do,” he said.

So, what advice do the Lynds have for someone who finds themselves in Donald’s position?

“First, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion,” said Gail Lynd. “If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have found Dr. Norkin and his team and this highly specialized, targeted treatment.”

Donald Lynd added that if your doctor recommends CAR T cell therapy, don’t hesitate.

“CAR T has been a life changer,” Donald Lynd said, with his wife, Gail, adding: “A life changer and a life saver.”

For more information on the new cellular therapy and stem cell program, visit BaptistMDAnderson.com/CellularTherapy.