Catholics
Comments
-
Janet
Wonderful news. Prayers for your daughters continued good health
Sorry that I missed out on prayers with you last night it was date night with my husband. First time we have been alone for a long time. My SIL took my younger son for the weekend. It was great to have the alone time
Kay from philly. So sorry to hear about the SE. You are in my morning prayers this morning. I pray that you load is lightened and full strengthened regain0 -
Welcome and peace and wellness prayers for you FRANK AND LIZ!
Frank.... I have read the the HER2 gene is showing up in Stomach Cancer also. Herceptin is showing great results in treatment !!! Did they tell you the TYPE of stomach cancer you had? If the original " bad gene" that brought you to cancer was HER2... then it most likely the gene in your liver now... as it spread from your stomach...... so HERCEPTIN might just be your magic wand.... ~wink~
I just wanted to share this with you..... GOD and HOPE brother !
Love to you all!
Gods Love !
Laura
0 -
Laura--it would seem that based on what you are saying, is that HER2 +people should have an upper endoscopy---Fiberoptic scope inserted into stomach and upper duodenum for a looksee, as part of there post HER2 dx. Is that part of anything that you researched?
0 -
Kay,
So very sorry you are having nasty SE from the chemo. You are in my thoughts today and also in my prayers. I pray,
Jesus grant Kay relief form the pain in her bones, relief from the pins and needles pain in her hands and feet, and relief from her state of tiredness. I ask you Lord to restore my sister, Kay to complete and perfect health so she may continue to serve you and glorify you. I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
0 -
I don;t know if anyone has noticed, but I guess I have been playing the role of librarian. Kay who was so great at posting the Fatima prayers, I re-posted on the Prayer Thread and added the hyperlink that Theresa added to the original. AND when I see a prayer here from one member to another , I have re-posted it on the prayer thread or intention thread. The thought behind re-posting the prayer/intention from one to another, is that we don't know when the resolution may be. So, that if it happens that that particular intention hasn't been answered, it is on the intention thread for the next novena.
Which leads to the next thought as a result of my computer virus from last week. I was amazed at how many intentions I could remember by memory. Then realized we had said them for st Therese and into about the 4th day Of OUR LADY's. I might be repeating myself something sounds to familiar.
When we continue with our novena's, instead of repeating an intention that we had previously written , we should add only new ones. From page one on intentions, we each could edit our own with a statement of how the request worked out. For example. Gracie's mom's surgery----she is in remission---so that changes it from a prayer for her surgery to a prayer for her continued remission from ovarian ca.
This does multiple things 1. prevents duplication. On my on my own intention over two novenas I kept adding by number, without spacing , so, it was effectively one post. They are all active. 2. when someone like Gina and Betty that were so kind to run off and take them to a shrine, it reduces the paper and in particular the ink.
In the Thread header I believe we made a commitment to prayer for these intentions until resolution. Which truly means we are praying for the people from page one. Well we might have one resolution amongst five say, but the pages have to be run off. From experience of running off some other Thread pages. Each page translated to approximately to 11printed pages. So, if we don't keep our typing compressed and not repeating our intention because we have gone to a new novena-----we conserve on reading time and ink. I was literal in the header when I said there may be intentions that we may pray for , for many years.
So, dear friends if you concur, I ask you to look at your intentions and see if you can cut &paste new intentions that are similar to old intentions but may have something new--C&P it to the old one and then delete the new one. Then give a short edit like with Gracie's mom -edit remission 5/11.Come here and tell the story,but keep it short on the intention site.
And If you wish to say a prayer here which God bless you for that, If it seems it may be a long term thing than post it to the intentions site also. I guess we need a word or phrase at the end of the prayer/intention. " Posted to intention" "posted to prayer" so I don't come along and re-post it. As a good librarian putting the books back.
It may seem duplicative, but it isn't. Here we tell a story and then say a prayer The intentions site is effectively get to the point with minimal story.
Then there are times s&b's(sister and brothers) just offer a prayer. Well unless it goes to the prayer thread , the page turns and a wonderful prayer that can be shared over time is gone, So, when transferring a prayer, do something like "With thoughts for________(then prayer")
As usual overlong, but once we get it going this way ---we won't forget people that we are praying for,and if you get a virus you can do it from memory.
NAMASTE sheila
0 -
Laura
When I was first diagnosed I was told that I had a tumour in my stomach which was cancerous. Wasn't told that it was any particulr type of cancer. The chemo, surgery and 2nd lot of chemo worked in that when the 2nd lot of chemo was over and following a CT Scan I was given the all clear. However a few cancerous cells must have "escaped" and decided to take up residence in my liver. It was then that I was given a biopsy to test if the tumours were Her2+ and as it turned out they were. Hence I'm receiving Herceptin (actually I don't think that's the proper name of that drug.) I read the book about its development and it has turned around the lives of 1000s upon 1000s of women through out the world. As I explained above I'm the first person in N Ireland who is receiving Herceptin who has NOT had breast cancer and by implication the first male in N Ireland so I hope it has a positive effect on me.
It was first communion day in our parish on Saturday. The 10 30am mass on Sunday is the "children's mass" and traditionally the first communicants wear their outfits again, to that mass as well. At the offertory procession on Sunday ALL the 1st communicants take part and it is lovely to see all the little girls in their white dresses and veils and all the young boys in their little suits and new outfits all walking up the aisle. On the Saturday most families go out for a family meal or have a family gathering at home. You girls will understand this - in our parish on 1st communion day it is a fashion parade. The competion between the mothers to be the best dressed is ferocious lol.
It is my custom before mass to light 2 candles, one for my family and the other for myself in my fight with cancer. Yesterday when I lit my "cancer" candle and said an accompanying prayer I mentioned all those fighting cancer and in particular my warrior sisters on here.
Presently saying a novena to St Perigrene for myself as well as one to St Joseph (patron saint of workers) for number 2 princess in her search for a position. May I ask you to remember her in your prayers please? She has her 1st interview tomorrow - Tuesday.
take care and take it easy.
0 -
Hmmm... I must have missed something.... Kay did you change your name to toughcookie? :-) Thank you again for posting the novena.
Sheila - thanks for the reminder, I'll have to update my intentions post since St. Therese and St. Joseph helped me sell my house. Finally. It was a long haul.
Well, I found out that I cannot tolerate the heat anymore. I tried to do some gardening this weekend and everyone commented on my red face (which I felt). I was wiped out Saturday evening and into Sunday. Is it Tamoxifen, the antibiotic I'm on, menopause or a combination? So my daughter did most of the gardening and suggested I do in the inside chores. Bummer. I hate housecleaning!
Frank, I have a special devotion to St. Joseph. He's a good one for helping with employment. He helped me out when I was a single mother! And is still doing so.
God bless you all. Have a wonderful week!
0 -
Theresa-------most/many antibx's are sun sensitive-called photosensitivity, Antihypertensive's generally yes, I'd have to research the AI's. Basically, many drugs have photosensitivity. As far as housecleaning it is the most boring thing in the world to me, unless it has a creative aspect like figuiring out a new presentation /arrangement that I love. LOL Outside I have more forever flowers than real ones. Talk about xeriscaping(sic?).--------Congrats, on the house, with our last house it took a year. I'm embarrassed to say what we did with my mom's St Joseph statue, but it sold rapidly after that- I look back now and think how desparate we were to get it done. Greg was here in FL. a year until we could get it sold. St Joseph was buried in the backyard upside down facing north-That's desperation. How we came to do that I forget.
do you think I should re-post the st Joseph novena to the prayer thread? I had a thought just now, that I could create an index in the header of where to find a particular prayer i.e. a page number.
Kay I had the same Question?
Bless us all---sheila
0 -
Sheila..my cancer center told me that ..in many sites...the Her2 gene is showing,not that they arep linked...unless it goes stage 4...to another site...not meaning a new primary. So...just because someone has the gene mutated in the breast...or brain...or stomach....does not mean it could mutated to other organs...does this make since? So...if my her2 gene...in my body....became cancerous...that does not mean...that my brain..or stomach.with do the same. I am not sure in all the research ..my cancer center is seeing so much progress with Herceptin...for Her2...in the cancers that house it. So it make since that Frank would get this drug...not that they know her2 is what is cancerous in his liver...Frank.....I am happy you are able to get Heceptin! You'll make history!!
0 -
Laura it makes sense. The info explosion. It's so hard to keep on top of everything. I pushed my GI doc for a colonoscopy six months early because I had an inkling. Sure enough an unusual polyp. I found out that they have an oncotype dx score for colon ca. , but forgot to ask at last onc f/u if there's any ability to get one done if it's pre cancerous. Thanks for the explanation
Frank --Laura's right your case is going to be quoted in a lot of journals. First your doc will publish , then others will use his article as a reference and it's a domino effect. But then there are doc's that do ground breaking things and just aren't into publishing. It would really help others even just from the standpoint of the trouble you had with insurance.
Your communion story reminds me of ours as kids. The competition thing was evident then, Now it doesn't seem to be that way anymore
0 -
Sorry for the confusion. I was looking for a cool name. Kind of immature, huh? Well, I went for a little change any way.
Frank, you'll be famous!
Back in my day, communions were like that. Now, the kids are still dressed to the nines, but not so much the parents. Not that they're wearing jeans and sneakers. Does anyone remember getting a new dress, sping coat, white gloves, purse and shoes for Easter? That was the norm when I was a kid. Since I've had my kids I like to get them something they'll wear more than once. Not sure if this is a regional thing, but does anyone else celebrate May processions in May. We did (and Catholic schools here still do, although a little down played from what it used to be) complete with an eighth grade girls May Court, first grade girls who held their gowns like flower girls, a sacred heart group of eighth grade boys with first grade boys as an honor guard or something? The communion grade wore their communion outfits, confirmation grade wore their confirmation outfits and the rest of the eight graders wore their graduation outfits. Marched around several streets of South Philly. Every was out to watch. Culminated marching into church singing songs to the Blessed Mother (Ave Maria, Hail Holy Queen, others) and finally having the eighth grade May Queen crown the statue of the Blessed Mother with a wreath of flowers. It was the highlight of the year for students and parents. Practiced for an entire month I think. Really good memories.
0 -
Not that you wanna be famous for having cancer, right Frank? We all wish you had not had to join us... but are thankful... you are getting Herceptin!
Gods Love...Laura
0 -
Back from the hospital. Had a temp of 102.8. I don't think I've ever had a temp that high before or felt that sick before. They gave me a bag of IV fluids and some antibiotics. Took a lot of tests to see what is causing the fevers. Maybe an infection in the port? Not sure, but I feel so much better.
Hope everyone is having a great day.
0 -
Kay glad they didn't have to keep you. You may need fluids again tomorrow. We got to a point it was just part of the plan. Sometimes they find and answer and sometimes they don't.
Tough cookie was a cool name--------a don't mess with me or take me for granted type name .What's cool is the system lets you change more than once. So, now you are Kay 1963 vs Kay from Philly? Hope the feet are doing better--------L&H&P sheila
0 -
I do need a cooler name. I have to think about it.
I'm an accountant, so don't understand a lot of the medical stuff. My white count is good and the fever dropped to 101 in an hour after a couple of tylenols so I got to go home. I hate blood tests and every thing they stick or prod you with, but those IV fluids made me feel so much better. I would not mind going back to get that when it made such a difference in how I felt.
0 -
Kay - I'm glad you're feeling better. I don't remember having a fever during chemo, but I did get an infection during my SAVI radiation at the site where the appliance entered my skin. It was red and sensitive to the touch. My radiation onc put me on antibiotics and it cleared it right up! I'm sure it will be the same for you!
Sheila - thanks for the insight into the antibiotics and Tamoxifen making me sun and heat intolerant. I looked it up and the Tamox says to avoid sun exposure. Not very helpful. From different threads about it, I've read many women complain about the very same red-faced problem and once we get over-heated, it takes forever to cool down, unlike a hot flash. So, now I know. My antibiotic is amoxicillin, so I have a double whammy.
I'm going to post an interesting article that Skip sent to me about being a Catholic Feminist. :-)
And another post (link to) about the priest scandal and it puts a good perspective on it.
Peace and all good!
0 -
What is a Catholic Feminist?
BY Simcha Fisher
Many years ago, my husband spent part of each week traveling; and even when
he was home, he was so blitzed with jet lag that we hardly saw him. Life was
pretty awful. What made it worse was that our landlord was a very old
fashioned guy. He was sweet, kind, and generous to a fault-but he had a
hard time accepting that I, a woman, was the one who handled business
matters at home. I was the one who paid the rent, wrote the checks, knew how
much water we used, arranged for parking, mowed the lawn, and so on. But he
always insisted on waiting until my husband got home before he would discuss
any of these things with us. It was frustrating, but I didn't hold it
against him-he meant no harm, and we liked each other; he was just too old
to change his thinking. At the time, I was forcing myself to live at least
the exterior life of a very traditional wife and mother: long skirts in any
weather, long hair that didn't suit me, and all the trappings of an
anti-feminist. I was young, and just trying to figure out who I was. So it
was easiest to just find an admirable model and imitate it for all I was
worth. Still, even as I dutifully ironed and dusted, the landlord's
attitude rankled. I grumbled, "What if the whole world was like him? What
if I had to argue with the auto parts clerk to buy a headlight bulb, even
though I was the one replacing it? What if the bank required me to get my
husband's permission for this and that? And what if I wore skirts because
I'd be shunned if I didn't, and not because I felt like wearing them?"
My husband says I'm a feminist. I know many liberal feminists would recoil
in horror at that assessment: After all, I have all these kids, and I'm a
member in good standing with that horrible old misogynistic Church, with its
oppressive rules about reproduction and obedience. I'm pro-life and
wholeheartedly follow the Magisterium's teaching on the male priesthood
and contraception, and try to make the Blessed Virgin my model. So what
makes me a feminist? Some would say that all faithful Catholics are
feminists, because the Church is the most pro-woman organization around: The
Church honors and values the particular gifts of women, and demands that men
treat women with dignity and even a little bit of fear. John Paul II
famously called himself a "feminist pope"; and in practical terms, the
Church has probably done more for the physical well-being of women around
the world than any other charitable organization. Catholics who are
feminists recognize that, while so many true wrongs have been righted in the
last 50 years, the poor treatment of women in America has just been
displaced, not eradicated. So now, instead of corsets and
disenfranchisement, we have widespread pornography, abortion, and
abandonment of every kind. We have gained some necessary ground, but lost so
much else that is valuable in the process. Most of my Catholic friends see
the world this way. But are all faithful Catholics feminists? I think that
definition is far too broad. Some women just fall naturally into their
roles, and don't think about it at all. Maybe, as off-putting as it
sounds, a feminist is always someone who feels some distress or
dissatisfaction with the way women are treated-someone who agitates for
change. What change would I like to see? From the secular world: Stop
thinking of women as sex objects; but at the same time, stop thinking of
women as identical to men. Stop treating fertility like a disease; but stop
pretending that women can be full-time mothers and full-time careerists.
Stop blaming men for everything that is wrong with the world. It's
tiresome and counterproductive. From my fellow Catholics: Stop thinking of
women as objects who are here to save you from personal sexual sin; and stop
thinking of women as intellectually inferior to men. Stop assuming that all
women are meant to bear child after child no matter what; and stop
pretending that if women just tried a little harder, men would be happy all
the time. Stop blaming women for everything that is wrong with the Church.
It's cowardly and childish. That's for starters. But feminism is not all
about complaining and protesting. What I would like most of all is for women
to ask themselves honestly, without worrying about history or politics,
"What is it that I, as a woman, can do especially well? How can I help
other women do what they do well?" So, what do you think? Am I a feminist?
Are you? Should we just scrap this word altogether, or can we rehabilitate
it? Is there a better word?
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/what-is-a-catholic-feminist/0 -
Here is the article:
Priests, Abuse, and the Meltdown of a Culture
The lessons of an important new study.By: George Weigel
It was a bit longer, so I didn't want to post the whole thing. The link is active.
0 -
I love the feminist writing! Thanks for posting it! I am sending it to my daughter and to my son as well for they both will enjoy it! I will read the other one now.
Kay - so happy you are feeling better!
Have a good evening everyone and may God Bless each and every one of you!
Hugs, Sandy
0 -
Therasa-good researdh.
where is everybody??????????????????????????????????????????????????
0 -
I was wondering too... I don't post much but I am an avid reader on the thread. Sending love and prayers to all.
0 -
Hi ladies..
Been crazy around here...
Kay how are you doing??? I am praying you are feeling better each day!!!
Hi SAS!!!..MISS YOU XOXO
I have not posted much lately been crazy around here. My son is getting ready to graduate next weekend the 5th and my mil is coming trying to get things in order.. wow where did those 4 years go???
Hope everyone is having a peacful day and although I havent posted in awhile you are all in my thoughts and prayers
Namaste sisters!!!
xoxo
0 -
I think everyone is on summer hiatus! :-) I'll keep looking for some good articles to send along for our summer reading.
Yes, Sandy, I enjoyed that Catholic Feminist article too. :-) As everyone probably knows, I work in a "man's world" and as hard as I try to be a woman, there are times when I have to be assertive or pushy... traditionally male traits in our society. I try to be Christ-like and think of the Beautitudes, then next thing I know, I'm getting spun up because of work nonsense. And we really do have to think of the times not too long ago when women's voices were kept silent. Or our Muslim sisters who are covered from head to toe. But then we need some balance and realize that we are not called to be manly. We are called to be womanly. I loved it when we (Skip and I) were reading in Pope Benedict's Jesus of Nazareth how Luke made it a point to mention the women's roles in Christ's life. (Luke writes more about women than any of the others, I believe.)
Scripture: Luke 8:1-3
1 Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve
2 and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.They were not the roles of the Apostles. Our roles are unique and just as important in the church and community and family. God graces us all with our own unique talents where we need to provide fruit from them.
I hope everyone has a blessed day!
0 -
We read a great Reading from the Office this morning from the 2nd Century from probably one of our first Church Fathers, but it reads as if it were written today. And we think we've evolved so much since the times of Jesus! ;-)
Wikipedia (Some history)
"The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus is probably the earliest example of Christian apologetics, writings defending Christianity from its accusers. The Greek writer and recipient are not otherwise known, but the language and other textual evidence dates the work to the late 2nd century; some assume an even earlier date and count it among the Apostolic Fathers."From a letter to Diognetus
The Christian in the worldChristians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. Their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labour under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.
Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonour, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.
To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.
Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian's lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.
0 -
Theresa - love your 'summer reading' postings. My book club is reading The Infidel, written by a Muslim woman challenging treatment of women under Islam. So tragic.
I'm like you - when it's hot, I can only work outside either early in morning or after dinner when it is cool.
Kay - I hope by now you are feeling MUCH better.
Laura beagles - how are you doing? I know you were going thru a rough patch.
Laura estepp & Frank - like your new photos!
Sheila - I think all the boards have been quiet for some reason.
I'm about back to normal (well maybe 90%) since surgery and now looking around at ALL the things that need to be done that have been put off since this whole bc journey started - stain the deck, yardwork, find a painter, driveway - the list goes on & on. Overwhelming.
0 -
Good Morning Everyone!
I wanted to share a writing that I recently read with all of you for it touched my heart and I hope it will touch your heart as well.
Think
Of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand and finding it God's!
Of breathing a new air and finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm;
Of waking up and finding yourself HOME!
Robert E Selle
I hope everyone is having a blessed day!
Sandy
0 -
Sandy
Thanks the reading was lovely and just what I needed today
Wishing everyone a blessed day and my US friends a wonderful memorial weekend0 -
Hello All
Kay I have had 7 doses of H and the nurses have told me that the most common SEs during infusions are variations in body temp. from v. hot to cold to the extent that in 1 patient their teeth actually chattered. Another SE is heart being affected. Hope you are feeling much better Kay. Did you read on the other forum on which I post about my visits to Philly?
Janet I was told at an early stage in chemo not to sunbathe and to keep covered up in the sun and I'm assuming that H. is a form of chemo. BTW excessive sun is not something that you would normally worry about in Ireland lol. Thank you for your comment about my pic. However I have to tell you that that was taken just before last year's chemo and my curlyish hair is no more. My hair is now quite straight though beforehand if I needed a haircut and got caught out in the rain my hair just went into a mass of curls and at my age ! ! ! lol. So maybe I can do without the curls.
I'm on amoxicillin at present. I have a horrid cold - an office colleague very generously shared his cold with me lol. GPs normally won't perscribe antibiotics for a cold but probably like yourselves, because of our existing condition the Doc doesn't want it spreading and in particulr becoming a fever.
It's Friday and was supposed to go to an opera tonight and to a football match tomorrow night but not too sure with this cold. I'm also the lay reader at 12 00am mass on Sunday so with this stuffed nose the congregation won't understand a word I'm saying ! ! !
take care all, enjoy the weekend and be positive.
0 -
Thanks for the information Frank. I love your picture too. I did read about your visits. I know Wildwood well. I may have even seen you down there. We used to go all the time. I have had this fever since Monday night now and even with anti biotics, it's not getting any better. Guess I'm heading back to the doctor's today. I hope they don't put me in the hospital. As soon as the advil kick in, I feel absolutely fine, and as soon as they wear off it's up to over 102 and shivering again. Very frustrating.
I would love to hear you do a reading in church. Do you have a brogue?
0 -
Thanks for the information Frank. I love your picture too. I did read about your visits. I know Wildwood well. I may have even seen you down there. We used to go all the time. I have had this fever since Monday night now and even with anti biotics, it's not getting any better. Guess I'm heading back to the doctor's today. I hope they don't put me in the hospital. As soon as the advil kick in, I feel absolutely fine, and as soon as they wear off it's up to over 102 and shivering again. Very frustrating.
I would love to hear you do a reading in church. Do you have a brogue?
0
