Surprising Prayer Request
August 4th, 2009Two Days
I just received some shocking news.
My sister developed a problem in her lung, and she was afraid to have it treated locally. There was a small possibility that it could be cancer, and she was afraid a clumsy biopsy would cause it to spread. So she went to the Mayo Clinic to have it done. The overwhelming likelihood was that it was a fungal infection, but she did not want to take a chance.
She has been gone since Friday. As part of her diagnostic treatment, they biopsied a lymph node in her shoulder. While it appears that her lung problem is a relatively harmless and completely curable fungus, the doctors now believe she probably has lymphoma. She had no symptoms whatsoever, and it does not appear to be related to her lung issue. She is devastated. You have to imagine how this worked. She went to her doctor today to get a report on a fungal infection, and instead, he told her she probably has cancer. The oddest thing about it is that she has smoked heavily since she was a teenager, and our family has a history of lung cancer, yet she may have a cancer which is not in her lung and which is unrelated to smoking.
I am not doing too badly right now, but I was reeling a while ago. This is my only sibling, and we have been trying to build a relationship in middle age. Now this happens.
There is still a possibility the biopsy will ultimately come up negative. We won’t know until Thursday. Obviously, that is what I’ll be praying for.
The negative side of this is very obvious. But the positive side can’t be ignored. She had no symptoms. She had no reason to think she might have cancer. But she took extraordinary measures to have a minor problem treated, and as a result of what could reasonably be called irrational behavior, this problem was discovered. Think how much worse it would have been, had she done things differently. Months or years from now, she might have developed symptoms, and she might have been diagnosed with a late-stage cancer. It’s remarkable, when you think about it. You can’t say she has been lucky overall, but finding this problem now was a real blessing, and it was highly, highly unlikely.
I do not ask why God “lets” things happen to me or my family. I refuse to question him. This is a time to draw closer to him and gain his assistance and look for solutions. I am not going to ruin that by reacting like a spoiled child.
I would appreciate it if people would pray for her. I am going to pray that the biopsy result will be negative. I’ll get people at my church to pray. I’ll be fasting. We should have the answer on Thursday.
It’s funny, but during my prayers today, I felt positively enveloped by the presence of God, and I did not understand why. At the moment, I feel an inexplicable sense of warmth and comfort, and it disturbs me a little, because I was so upset earlier, and it doesn’t seem right to feel better. I hope what I’m feeling is God’s hand and not the result of some deficiency in my makeup.
Thanks in advance. I know a lot of you will come through with prayer, and it will mean more to me than a stack of gold bars.
August 4th, 2009 at 8:46 PM
My sympathies. You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:05 PM
I cannot imagine not praying for your sister. She will remain in my prayers as you do.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Praying for her.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:56 PM
2 years ago I spent12 days in the hospita lwith doctors doing every test under the sun,, thinking I had lymphoma. To day this day they don’t know what the problem was. I think it was prayed away. I want this for your sister. Remember though,lymphoma is not a death sentence. We have modern medicine with God guiding their hands.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:44 AM
I don’t pray, but I hope your sister will be alright. Maybe that’s a prayer in its own way. I dunno.
Anyway, best to her and you.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:45 AM
Steve—You have helped me more than you will ever know with the spiritual journey you have graciously shared with us (as well as your awesome humor and insight). I can only try to pay you back with my fervent prayers for you and your family.
August 5th, 2009 at 9:29 AM
A couple years back, I went in for some tests due to my ongoing stomach issues (which symptoms were ultimately tied to a relatively harmless hiatal hernia).
While looking, they found my early stage colon cancer, which would ultimately have either killed me or required extensive nasty chemo tratment and such. I had surgery, but went into it healthy and relatively well/strong – and have been clear since. No chemo, no ongoing issues. This may be a blessing (finding something early, inadvertently whilst looking ofr something else).
August 5th, 2009 at 11:04 AM
It’s funny, but during my prayers today, I felt positively enveloped by the presence of God, and I did not understand why. At the moment, I feel an inexplicable sense of warmth and comfort, and it disturbs me a little, because I was so upset earlier, and it doesn’t seem right to feel better.
Steve,
That feeling is what is often described as, “the peace that goes beyond all understanding”. You are very blessed to have that feeling.
Your sister is in my prayers.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Steve,
The Lord promised in His word that He would not leave you alone but would send you a comforter, the Holy Spirit. It seems He has done that.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Steve,
I will be praying for your sister and you big time. When it’s time to call out prayer requests for the sick during Shabbat service, I’ll add your sister and you. There should be some Jewish doctors at shul. Perhaps that will help. ;^) (Or maybe it’s that the prayer of the Mothers of Jewish doctors carries a lot of weight. Certainly more insistent.)
Thanks, btw, for saying more about the parrots in your postings. I greatly enjoy the stories.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Thanks for the help, Tziporah. You might put in a word for Marv. He managed to get out of his cage yesterday, even though the food door was screwed down pretty tight, and of course, he climbed on Maynard’s cage. I ended a prayer session and walked in and saw him up there and nearly had a heart attack. I couldn’t find any injuries, but this morning there were a few drops of blood in the cage. I’m not sure Maynard bit him; he may have cut himself on a bird toy he was destroying.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Oh My Gosh.
Just a few drops of blood? Sounds like Marvin will be just fine, thank goodness.
Sierra, my cockatiel, decided once that a long blood feather would be much better as a right now chew toy than a someday tail feather. Lots of blood. I threw on some flour and ran her to the emergency vet, which washed off her bloodied back and tail and carefully pulled out the blood feather. I had found out how to get the mild mannered Sierra mad. Mess up her gorgeous white and yellow feathers with flour! She was ticked at me! After the vet technician finished cleaning off all the feathers, Sierra was her usual twinkly-eyed sweetheart self again.
Hashem’s blessing be on you and your sister, Steve.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:36 PM
It’s pretty awful, seeing a small bird bleed, knowing how little blood they contain to begin with. I’m glad your problem worked out. I lost my first grey this way, and Marvin has an incredible ability to escape, so I was very unhappy to see him on top of that cage.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Best wishes to your sister. I hope the whole thing turns out to be a false alarm.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I’ll be praying for your sister and for you as well.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Steve, I have been praying for your sister this whole time. I also pray that you and she are able to heal your relationship. I am really stunned with this latest news. You are both in my prayers. God Bless!
August 5th, 2009 at 3:25 PM
I will lift her and your family in prayer.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:47 PM
My wife and I are praying.
August 6th, 2009 at 8:29 AM
Your efforts at healing your family have, in part prepared you for this. God is in control and your faithfulness has been apparent. I will join in the praying. I know what you are feeling since my sister is still in treatment for her cancer. If you need any comfort, let me know. In the meantime, do what you can to spend time with your sister. God can heal more than just the physical in this time.