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  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304
    edited December 2012

    sas - I always say a Memorare, probably has to do with my mother-in-law (RIP Rose), she was instrumental in my conversion, and when we'd visit, whenever anything came up that needed prayers she'd stop everything and say a Memorare, we continued that with our family. Plus, I never seem to be able to make it all the way through a Novena without forgetting a day or two, or..... Embarassed

  • DiamondGirl
    DiamondGirl Member Posts: 695
    edited December 2012

    Sas and all,

    I just prayed the novena, joining you all to pray for FuzzyLemon.

    God Bless!

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    LindaKr--knew there was a reason for the special devotion. Very special memory of MIL Rose :) Understand re: 9 day novena's. I've always felt that I'd be forgiven for missing a day and just added a day(or two). My thinking was better to pray with the intention than not to pray b/c of a man made time limit of 24 hrs in a day. Rationalization...well. I believe the universe is bigger than our clock LOL. :)

    Diamondgirl--so happy to see you. Thank you for praying the novena for Fuzzy :) I know your devotion to prayer and the length of your list.

    Update on Fuzzy: She has two infections--one with her surgical flap--may lose it--still iffy. Other a hospital acquired infection. Has a PICC line with IV antibx's at home now. Still quite ill. Prayers appreciated. I'm sure when things are better she will come and thank you all, but she's having trouble typing b/c of drug s.e's.

    Her hospital admission was a nightmare of errors. My instincts that she was in severe trouble were, regretfully, on mark. At one point she stopped breathing after her pain med was administered.

    THANKS TO ALL THAT HAVE PRAYED FOR FUZZY

    Penny--You're on my calendar for the 31st to do a 9 hour novena. Whom would you like the novena too. If not the Archangels, I will find whom you choose and bring it here in time for the 31st. :)

    Theresa--If you pop in, am I making to liberal use suggestion of the 9 hour novena. You know you are my source for all doctrinal questions. Love to you and Skip :)

    Keep TerasonTuscon in your prayers . She went MIA in Aug and hasn't posted since.

    Thinking of Tink and Sagina too. If you popin love to you and miss you.

    Continued prayers for dm &dmacw's Dad who entered hospice three weeks ago with terminal bladder CA.DM was with us in the last novena. She is at her dad's bedside.

    Mary Hugs!

    Namaste sheila

  • redwolf8812
    redwolf8812 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2012

    Sheila - St. Michael the archangel would be great.  Many thanks.

    - Penny

  • thefuzzylemon
    thefuzzylemon Member Posts: 631
    edited December 2012

    Hello everyone...I'd like to thank each of you for your prayers and thoughts during my latest procedure malfunction. SAS really went above and beyond to get information out for me and then prayers from everyone she connects with. I am Finally on the mend I think...and I feel very blessed, very loved and tonight I pray for each of you...for health, happiness, strength, wisdom and the greatest love. Thank you again. This really meant so much to me.

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Fuzzy, so glad you're up to posting! says a huge amount how your improving.Prayers continuing.

    All heard from dmacw, her dad is holding his own. Continued prayers requested :)

    Will repost a story of Linda-Ranch re : her hospice journey with her Dad. It is brilliantly written.

    Penny-Inspiration--I have the Novena on my calendar, but have always tried to figure out away to keep a calendar here on BCO. That each of us can track whatever it is we want to track. Mind was working on it after I posted  to you. A new thread. Once I get it done I'll bring the link. Yoohoo. I had asked the Mods to do something similar2-3 novenas ago when they said I couldn't post on other threads announcements of the novenas. But this should be even better.

    Have a blessfuland blissful day Namaste sheila

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Linda-Ranch…NMJoined: Oct 2012Posts: 70

    reposted from Ma111 thread

    Dec  1, 2012 11:40 AM Linda-Ranching-in-the-mTns wrote:

    Hope I am not out of place here.

    I was caretaker for my father: first a year of fighting esophogeal cancer (chemo/radiation and a million doctor visits and treatments) - then his caretaker in Hospice after he had a seizure and they found a stage 4 brain tumor.

    I was honored to help him say his goodbyes and I participated fulling in his last living and his leaving. My sister and I shared the responsibility of his funeral/life celebration -- and then helping my mother cope with her new widow-hood and financial changes after 61 years of marriage to the best man I had ever known.

    In May I was diagnosed with my own cancer (BC - had a dbl mastectomy and immediate recon Nov 6).

    I am realizing now how my experience with Dad's cancer and death was an incredible blessing -- I learned so much -- and wanted to share a couple of ideas with you wonderful women who are facing Stage 4.

    It wasn't easy or convienent to be a caretaker for over a year. But it was a phenomenal opportuinty to love my father, honor my parents, experience life with an intensity that no one who hasn't lived with death can comprehend. For those of you who may fear you are over-taxing your loved ones... please know that you are also providing them with a wonderful blessing, a vital experience -- and helping them prepare for what lies ahead after you are gone.

    Every single one of us will die. No one escapes it.

    Hospice was a Godsend. Dad's Hospice was in Kansas City, but they are everywhere -- and for anyone who may not have reasearched yet -- Hospice is FREE and provides incredible and compassionate care in an extremely supportive (non-hospital-like) setting. Dad's was like a very comfortable upscale hotel -- we were there a month, with the best of care - morphine as needed, and a lovely room which included a sleeping couch and comfortable fold-out cot for family. Meals and a million cookies/cupcakes were available for the families 24/7, as well as grief therapists and clergy.

    My Dad taught Boy Scouts for over 50 years. Every day we spent in the (very nice) garden at Hospice, sitting with nature. When it seemed Death was imminent -- one of the nurses suggested they could roll Dad's bed outside into the garden, so he could die surrounded by natural beauty. It was perfect -- for 4 days and 3 nights, Dad and I camped in the garden and never came back inside. We watched the leaves turn red and yellow. We watched the contellations pass over, and talked by the light of the moon. We shared the sun rises and sun sets. He died under the stars... and I will forever be thankful for our last shared experience -- I likened it to his base camp, supported by family and friends, while he waited to make his final ascent.

    Another (potentially helpful) thing I would like to share is about the practicality of what happens after death. I see many of you are making practical preparations, so perhaps a few words from someone who did this last year would be helpful. We chose cremation, because it allowed us more time to prepare the service (we wrote the service ourselves) and a breather-space for Mom to adjust before having to see all their friends at the funeral. Cremation allowed us to wait 2 weeks to have the service. It also was incredibly cheaper - we saved thousands over a casket/etc -- and provided our own urn (I was a potter for years, and so we used my Dad's favorite cookie jar, which I had made).

    We also created a 3-sided poster board in Hospice, while Dad was still with us... and covered it with photos of Dad with family and friends. It was a wonderful opportunity to reminice about good times we all shared, and marvel at how young and beautiful we all (and especially my Dad) once were... pre-cancer, pre-old-age. We then used that at the funeral service, and my mother loves looking at it still.

    Lastly, I would like to share how fortunate I feel to have had deep conversations about Death and the Afterlife with my Dad during that last month. Even though we were very very close, we had never discussed those things. And I would like to reassure you that (at least for me) what I thought would be a tragic and debilitating loss -- was instead a huge opening of Spirit and Love.

    I now see my father in every stunning mountain vista. I see him in every glorious sunset and sunrise. And more than that -- I feel his presence, every time I think of him -- which is often. There are no boundaries now. In my perception of the afterlife -- he can be anywhere at anytime. He is here. He is everywhere. I feel him here as I write this now... and it feels good. :)

    Helping Dad through his cancer and death changed me forever and continues to bring me gratitude and a much-deeper appreciation for this beautiful life here on earth. Helping him prepared me for my own BC experience -- because from the first diagnosis, I KNEW that just as there was beauty and epiphany in my sharing of Dad's death -- my own cancer experience will also bring me unknown blessings. Already it has caused me to let down my vain facade, and exposed me as fully human - both frail and strong -- to my lover. It has allowed him to show me the incredible kind of man he is -- and I know we are experiencing a MUCH deeper connection because of the cancer now in our life.

    Lastly -- I would like to tell you about a conversation Dad and I had about a week before he died.

    I was (at the time) 56 years old. My entire life I have had a pretty miserable track record with men.

    I jokingly told Dad that once he was in heaven -- if he found himself with some spare time... I would be very receptive to his 'meddling' -- Could he help send me a great man?

    He chuckled and told me he would.

    I was corresponding with several men through E-Harmony at the time -- via my laptop every night as I lay in Dad's room at Hospice. I often couldn't sleep, because Dad would awake with a start - disoriented, attempting to leap out of bed to "go clean the garage" -- but he was too weak to stand -- so it was important that I be ready to reassure him and keep him in bed. Anyway, after that conversation with Dad --  one wonderful man on E-Harmony began to quickly emerge as the total 'keeper'. He was a wildlife biologist, who lives on an incredibly beautiful ranch in the mountains. My father (the old Boy Scout) would have loved this place. He would have loved the conversations about elk, deer, land management. He would have loved this kind, gentle angel of a man with whom I now live -- and it comforts me to see Dad's hand in sending him to me. No one could have done a better job, and no one but Dad could have known how perfectly we would connect.

    I urge you to consider having these sorts of conversations with your own loved ones. Whether you can follow through from the other side or not -- it will bring your families MUCH joy to see your "meddling' in their happiness, even after you are gone. And who knows -- maybe you can actually pull some strings.

    We are all made of energy. The first law of thermodynamics is that energy can't be created or destroyed -- it can only change form and move from place to place. 

    So it must be with life energy, too. Somehow -- our energy goes on. We simply change form, and move to another place.

    Love and Light to you all -- You may not know it -- but you are a gift -- and you are unknowingly bestowing blessings to all around you.

    Linda

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Penny---it's done ---thanks for the inspiration

    Link to NEW THREAD : "TO DO & REMEMBER LIST/CALLENDAR

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/26/topic/797809?page=1#idx_3

  • mnmom
    mnmom Member Posts: 1,841
    edited December 2012

    Popping in to say hi, well wishes & prayers for all!

    Life continues to be a great stuggle at times but especially the last month with 'heavy' family issues. posting on intention thread.

  • MENA1954
    MENA1954 Member Posts: 111
    edited December 2012

    I was wondering, since all of us in this forum are Catholics, I am going to ask the following question



    " how many believe in Miracles?"



    " has anyone had a Miracle happen to them?"



    Mena

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Mena1954--yes I believe in miricales, but hesitate to say something is a miricale. So, I keep the word to myself and pray in Thanksgiving. I talk of things being guided. What I marvel at in those circumstances, is there is an occurrence in a time of need. From that occurence in a time of need, something is changed. That change impacts me to the core of my being and beliefs. From the deepest part of me I believe that the occurence and change could not have been random when they are that important.

    Mena BtW Welcome we haven't met, Yours in Christ, sheila

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    To All: dmacw is in need of prayers. She is feeling overwhelmed with the care of her Dad in hospice.

    Mnmom, continuing to keep you close in thought and prayer, will read your intention. Bless you. You have come so far on a road that is so rocky. Your faith will keep you safe in His arms. Join us for the novena on the 31st. It is being said that day for Penny's ablation procedure success, but all will be remebered too.
    L&H&P's sheila 

    Mnmom--Read your intention, sweetie,

    1.contact the county health department & welfare office and ask for a Social worker consult for elligibility for services for yourself and the children. It may take several calls and transfers to get to the right department. If I remember correctly , you already have a case worker.

    2.Most states have insurance for children, this might be the easiest to solve. 

    3. Google--"pre-existing condition insurance" and or "pre-existing condition insurance premium". I only learned of it last week in re: to someonelse. I haven't yet followed up on it, other than the name. If I learn of anything, I will let you know.

    4. Pm me re: son that is suicidal.

  • michelleo13
    michelleo13 Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2012

    Hi everyone,

    Ma111, thanks for sharing your experience with us.

    Mena, yes I do believe in miracles. I'm not sure I can say one has happened to me, but I do believe they happen.

    In case I don't get on here again before Christmas, I wish you all a peaceful and blessed Christmas. Prayers and blessings to you all.

    Michelle

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Michello--hello, the story on hospice was reposted from Ma111's thread. The story was written by Linda-Ranch. Ma111 passed away this summer, but her thread "A Place to talk of Death and Dying" issues continues under the watchful eye of BON. Ma's thread has much helpful information as well as a place to share all thoughts. Pg 18 has some very practical preparation info. I'll bring the link for page one. The info on all the pages is not just for the dying. We don't know the hour or manner of our demise, being prepared is a gift that we can give our dear ones. So, preparation is for all.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=8&id=770023&page=1

  • mnmom
    mnmom Member Posts: 1,841
    edited December 2012

    Michelle, wishing you & each of us a peaceful Holiday season.

    Sheila, thank you.

    Mena, I beleive in miracles also. ( I am not Catholic, however I have been welcomed on this site).

  • bcbarbie10
    bcbarbie10 Member Posts: 148
    edited December 2012

    Mena, believe in miracles. Some things are hard to explain. I have seen that many times.



    Merry Christmas to all, and a blessed New Year for all of us.



    Keep each other in our prayers. ❄⛄☀🌲🍸🍰✈

  • redwolf8812
    redwolf8812 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2012

    I witness a miracle every time I attend Mass, when God uses the priest to turn the bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It never fails to amaze me.

    Laughing Penny

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited December 2012

    I don't come in often but I often read and pray for all of us.

    Mena I think miracles might mean different thins to different people, but I too believe. I've seen the impossible be possible andthings work out well with no real explanation of how it could happen. I believe in God therefore I believe in miracles--zi don't see the sky opening or waters parting or death become life, but I've been blessed to experience the unexplainable.

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited December 2012

    Just wishing u all a very Blesst and healthy Christmas.

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304
    edited December 2012

    May your Presence, Prince of Peace, bless the world with peace, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief. Wishing all a Blessed Christmas! 

  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 156
    edited December 2012

    I have been AWOL here since starting a temp job - long commute and long hours and I don't know for sure how long it's lasting. Have a lead on a couple more. By the time I get off work, then go to exercise class if I can get there in time (being on tamoxifen I try to go at least 5 days a week), get home and shower and change and eat, it's after 9pm. I'm wiped out and so behind on email and web stuff. But it's good, it's better to be living a "normal" life than deal with active cancer, so I'll take it. 

    I am grateful to see Frank posted an update in here - both bad news and good news, but at least there is some hope for the new drug! Penny glad to hear you also had some good news mixed in with the not so great news. At least some of the tumors got smaller! 

    All of you - I think of you daily and remember you in my rosary every day. I pray daily our cancer doesn't return or gets better for those in active treatment, and I pray everyone has the best life they can.

    Cheri

  • mkkjd60
    mkkjd60 Member Posts: 136
    edited December 2012

    Merry Christmas my friends! I continue to keep you in my prayers. Please continue to keep my mom in yours as she embarks on a clinical trial. Gods many blessings upon all of us. Mary

  • redwolf8812
    redwolf8812 Member Posts: 580
    edited December 2012

    Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy Christmas season. As usual, the holidays came upon us too fast and are going by in a blur. My family and I enjoyed Christmas Eve Mass and a quiet dinner at home. Christmas Day was both joyful and chaotic as we also celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday with family and friends. Hoping to see more family tomorrow.

    I'm so grateful to God for our faith. I know how traumatic a stage 4 cancer diagnosis is, but it seems even worse for those who don't believe in God. I've come across many different types of people throughout this journey, and without a doubt, those without faith in God's Faithfulness appear to suffer so much more, both emotionally and physically. They just seem so...sad. Please pray that the Lord claims them and shows His Truth in them.

    It's not that I don't ever get mad or sad, but for the most part, I find myself looking forward to everlasting peace and eternal happiness. I know that I will face Judgment, but I know that I will also be forever in the presence of the One Who Loves Me Most. You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get every Christmas? In Heaven, we'll have that ALL THE TIME! And I'll finally have superpowers! Not just the ones I make up in my head - LOL. And then, when we face the Final Judgment, my soul will be reunited with a glorified body! No pain, no self-image problems! How sweet it will be! And I look forward to spending this Eternity with all my loved ones - those who have gone before me and those who will come after me.

    I told my family they are not to use this illness as an excuse to be less than the people God wants them to be. It's ok to grieve for a bit (after all, didn't Jesus Himself weep when he heard of the death of His friend, Lazarus?) But then they are to praise God and carry on. One day we'll all be enjoying Heaven and God's new earth, just like He promised. Imagine being able to take a hike in the woods or sleep under the stars without fear of tick bites (still trying to figure out why ticks were created in the first place). The world will once again be as perfect as He intended it.

    Most of all, I look forward to seeing true happiness and contentment on the faces of my husband and children. They think I don't see the worry and fear, but I know it's there. It lurks just below the surface, just waiting for the right moment to take over their thoughts. By the Grace of God, His Peace, that surpasses all understanding, carries them through.

    So Monday - the ablation is still scheduled for 9am. I think it'll take a couple of months to find out how successful it was, and in the meantime, I believe the oncologist wants me back on chemo. So I'm asking you yet again for more prayers. Prayers for guidance and for successul treatments. I've enjoyed these last few weeks without chemo and thank God for the nice break. But it's time to put the armor back on and get back into fighting mode.

    Laughing Penny

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    NOVENA TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

    (pray for 9 days or 9 hours straight)

    Glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of His followers, against whom the powers of hell are Unchained. Guard with special care our Holy Father, the Pope, and our bishops, priests, all our religious and lay people, and especially the children.

    St. Michael, watch over Penny and us during life, defend Penny and us against the assaults of the demon, and assist Penny and us especially at the hour of death. Help Penny and us achieve the happiness of beholding God face to face for all eternity. Amen.

    St. Michael, intercede for Penny an us  with God in all my necessities, especially That Penny's liver abaltion be successful on dec31st 2012.,as well as for others in need this moment. Obtain for me a favorable outcome in the matter I recommend to you. Mighty prince of the heavenly host, and victor over rebellious spirits, remember me for I am weak and sinful and so prone to pride and ambition. Be for me, I pray, my powerful aid in temptation and difficulty, and above all do not forsake me in my last struggle with the powers of evil. Amen.

    http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/38/topic/738190?page=302

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    Penny sent this to some that have been on multiple novenas with us. :) Their will be a 9 hour novena on Dec 31st for Redwolf--Penny. She will be going through a procedure that will kill the remaining cancer cells in her liver,please, join us in this 9 hour novena, if you can. L&H&P's sheila Notified many , but not as many as usual. Penny if you want to notify anyone I'd suggest C&P, but let me put the link here first. Duh should have done that before I sent PM's Ugh, decided to put in novena box in case these two get separated :)

  • michelleo13
    michelleo13 Member Posts: 116
    edited December 2012

    Thanks for the message Sheila. I'll join you in the Novena on the 31st. Penny, I pray for you daily and totally agree that our faith helps us deal with our diagnosis and treatments. My cancer journey would have been so much more difficult if I didn't have faith. I decided early on that I would put my trust in God. It gave me a sense of peace.

    Could I ask for your prayers for Ken, a young man from my church who is in the final stages of leukemia? He was diagnosed 4 years ago, was treated but had a recurrence and now doctors have told him there is no more treatment for him. Very sad.

    God's peace and blessings to you all in the new year!  Michelle

  • LindaKR
    LindaKR Member Posts: 1,304
    edited December 2012

    Penny - what a beautiful post.  I too am so thankful for my faith!  Will be praying for you.

    God Bless you,

    Linda

  • kslansky
    kslansky Member Posts: 112
    edited December 2012

    Penny, thank you for your wonderful words of faith!



    I am so glad that I found this thread. I feel so blessed to be in the company of such faith filled women!

    Count me in on the Novena.

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092
    edited December 2012

    What's gotten me through every procedure/test/surgery -

    God is with you in all that you do ~ Genesis 21:22

    I saw it on a plaque before I went in for my initial biopsy and was shaking so hard on the inside.  It has become my prayer.  My mantra.   

  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 15,894
    edited December 2012

    LeeA that's very powerful sassy

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