Christopher Nordell

By Sandy Hendriks

Christopher Nordell, owner of the denture clinic in James Bay, has been diagnosed with cancer. Those who are lucky enough to know him describe him as a positive, helpful, kind, loving person whose imprint on the community has been huge. He has supported and helped many causes in his time at the clinic. Because he is an avid golfer, he sponsors the VI Pro Golf Tour.

Others know him through his business. Anyone who enters his clinic is treated with kindness, dignity and compassion, whether he could help the potential client or not. Not many people know that Chris has frequently assisted those who have struggled to improve their health and life-situation by giving his time, skill and materials to these clients with respectful consideration. No fanfare or acknowledgment was required or expected. Chris just wanted to help wherever he could.

But now Chris has a rare form of renal (kidney) cancer which has already spread to his lungs. Because the only option for his treatment was an experimental drug, he enrolled in the trial testing of it. In spite of incredibly debilitating side effects, he pushed through, continuing to be available for his patients. Unfortunately, the participation in this experiment did not have the desired effect. The cancer persisted.

Consequently, Chris and his wife, Zabrina looked for another solution. They found a treatment developed by Robert Gorter, MD and PhD, in Cologne, Germany.

Dr. Stelmaschuk, a dentist in James Bay, identifies this treatment as dendritic therapy. The process involves using the patient’s dendritic cells which are a part of the immune system, and the first to inform the body that something, such as a tumor, doesn’t belong. In his column, “Sweet Tooth News,” Dr. Stelmaschuk describes the treatment process: “dendritic cells and tumor cells are harvested from the patient, then a receptor site on the dendritic cell that can fit the tumor protein sequence is found. This is a custom vaccine.” The vaccine is then injected into the patient, kickstarting the immune system response. Dr. Stelmaschuk says, “It’s strong medicine.” Also expensive.

Because this treatment is available only in Germany, Chris must travel and pay for costs incurred in his quest for restored health.

Employees at Chris’s clinic have been raising funds for Chris’s cancer fighting campaign. If you’d like to help, you can make a donation through any Coast Capital Savings Credit Union to the “Christopher Nordell—In Trust” account until June 25.  Alternatively, you can make a donation anytime at his office in James Bay Square.