Pray for 14-year-old Lorelei Truett, suffering leukemia (Updated 6/5/21)

The Basilica parish family asks that you pray for 14-year-old Lorelei Truett, daughter of Lance and Ashley Truett. Lorelei was diagnosed with leukemia on April 27, 2021. After receiving the sacramental Anointing of the Sick, she began chemotherapy treatment on April 28 at T. C. Thompson Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. Her diagnosis is a rare type of leukemia, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, or MPAL.

Update May 28, 2021: Lorelei's first 30-day treatment did not put her into remission, and so she will return to T. C. Thompson Children's Hospital June 7 for a more aggressive 30-day treatment that will be much harder on her. Once Lorelei can go into remission, the Truett family will take her to Nashville for a bone marrow transplant. Please pray for Lorelei's healing and endurance for Lorelei and her family as they suffer the difficult months ahead.

Lorelei celebrated her 14th birthday on June 3, and she was able to be at home with her family and see a few friends.

Lorelei leaving hospital after her first 30-day treatment on 5/28/21

Below are some ways you can follow and support Lorelei's progress.

Caring Bridge Site for Lorelei

The family has created a Caring Bridge site that you can follow to see updates about Lorelei and to offer encouragement to her and her family. Click the link below to access the site, and follow the prompts to sign in or create an account as needed:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/prayers4lorelei

Medical Costs

The medical costs beyond what insurance covers are unbelievably high. The family appreciates any donations, but also understand if you are unable to give at this time. Prayers are very much appreciated and needed for Lorelei's healing.
GoFundMe
for Lorelei's medical treatment

Bone Marrow Donation

Lorelei is going to need a bone marrow transplant. If you’d like, you can go to bethematch.org and get a free test to see if you are a match to anyone needing a marrow transplant, including Lorelei. As always, the most important thing you can do is continue to pray.

Cards for Lorelei

You can mail cards, letters, or gifts to her home address and her parents will give them to her.

Miss Lorelei Truett
796 South Crest Road
Chattanooga, TN 37404

We will also be collecting cards for Lorelei in a marked basket in the Basilica vestibule. You can leave them in this basket or at the parish office, and we will deliver them to her family regularly.

About the Truett Family

The Truett family moved to Chattanooga a few years ago from the Murfreesboro area. Lance joined the Basilica RCIA program in 2019. He and the children received the Sacraments of Initiation in 2020 with the RCIA class on the Vigil of Pentecost. They immediately became active in our parish, as members of the Jubilate Deo Youth Schola, the Altar Servers, the Altar Ministry, and FEMAC (the Facilities, Engineering, and Maintenance Advisory Committee). Lorelei and her younger brothers Max and Clark are homeschooled students.

Here are photos of the Truett Family from Easter Sunday when they attended Mass at the Basilica, April 4, 2021.

Lorelei, Max, and Clark Truett

Prayers

The most important thing you can do is pray.

The Intercession of St. Philomena and St. Peregrine

Here are two saints whose intercession has helped people to be cured from leukemia.

St. Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, was martyred at the age of 13 and is a model of courage.

St. Peregrine, Priest, was cured overnight of a terrible cancer.