Thank you all for your support. It has struck me that it can't often happen that being told you have a year to live is the cause of such rejoicing. But I'm very happy happy with the news too.
Wonderful news, Robert.
I had a moment of real worry when I saw the count of new posts on this thread. It so often means bad news. Glad to see things turn out!
Upholding you in God's loving presence, @idj, @Robert Armin and all those going through this shadow of death.
My mum's just surfacing now from her third bout of three-weekly chemo - the side effects this time were horrible. She's about to start a weekly regime, well next Thursday anyway. Who knows the joys......
((( @idj ))) Please keep us updated!
((( @ThunderBunk and mum )))
((( @Robert Armin ))) Such good news!
((( @Galilit ))) Prayers always
((( From all affected by this evil disease )))
I'm having tremendous pain and trouble moving around since taking a hard full-body fall on Saturday morning. Nothing was broken (I know this because I spent the day in the ER, having X-rays and CT scans), but you couldn't prove it from my pain levels and immobility. I'm grateful to have you all on my team.
I don't often post, but I read most days. You are in my daily thoughts and prayers. My recent check up mammogram was clear, but I'm still having unwanted side effects from the hormonetherapy. Seeing oncologist next week and the gynae/ surgeon the fortnight after. Hopefully something can be done.
Ross, Robert, Galilit, idj, et al...may God give you all that you need.
Holding all those in pain and all those in anxiety in the light of love and compassion.
I have been reading Barbara Ehrenreich's Natural Causes, her 2018 investigation of the ways in which our collective struggles to extend life and battle ill health are sometimes anything but life-affirming. The cures and treatments sometimes do seem worse than the cures, ameliorations, remissions, etc. they purport to strive for. Her discussion of the role(s) of macrophages (and other types of cells) in both the destruction and metastasis of cancer cells is particularly unsettling. She writes, "If there is a lesson here it has to do with humility. For all our vaunted intelligence and 'complexity,' we are not the sole authors of our destinies or of anything else."
While not an actual lab-coat-wearing practitioner of scientific research, Ehrenreich holds a Ph.D in cell biology and appears, at least to this layperson, to be keeping abreast of developments in her field.
"If there is a lesson here it has to do with humility. For all our vaunted intelligence and 'complexity,' we are not the sole authors of our destinies or of anything else."
ISTM that this chimes in (sort of) with the Ministry of Healing practised in, umm, sensible Christian churches. That is to say, 'healing' may not necessarily mean the complete eradication of a Fell Complaint, but may mean being given the humility, and grace, to accept it, and to do something positive with it.
Does that make sense? I'm not really quite sure what I mean...
Perhaps it's relevant to quote Ron Ferguson, a former Leader of the Iona Community and later the minister of St Magnus in Kirkwall (also a very wise and funny writer). He once wrote that when we are praying we’d better make sure we know the difference between curing and healing when we’re asking God for help. He later elaborated:
“I'd heard a radio programme in which a woman said she'd prayed for her husband - who was suffering from cancer - to be healed. Her husband did die, but before his death they discussed the matter, and he said he'd felt more "whole" than at any time in his life, even though his cancer was worsening. He was ready to meet his Maker, and that, for him, was a form of healing/wholeness/health. I think that makes sense”.
Perhaps it's relevant to quote Ron Ferguson, a former Leader of the Iona Community and later the minister of St Magnus in Kirkwall (also a very wise and funny writer). He once wrote that when we are praying we’d better make sure we know the difference between curing and healing when we’re asking God for help. He later elaborated:
“I'd heard a radio programme in which a woman said she'd prayed for her husband - who was suffering from cancer - to be healed. Her husband did die, but before his death they discussed the matter, and he said he'd felt more "whole" than at any time in his life, even though his cancer was worsening. He was ready to meet his Maker, and that, for him, was a form of healing/wholeness/health. I think that makes sense”.
Please pray for N and her family. She died yesterday, leaving a husband and three children (16, 14 and 11). I haven't seen much of her since her diagnosis (mid November) due to my own condition, and the speed with which the cancer moved has shocked me. Her family are in bits.
So sorry for your loss, RA - may N. rest in peace.
[tangent]
ST - Ron Ferguson is indeed a very good, wise and funny man. He succeeded Bill Cant, the minister who married us, at St. Magnus and we got to know him when we came back for holidays.
[/tangent]
(((For N and all who love her)))
<votive> For @Robert Armin, for @idj, for @Dormouse, For @Galilit, and for all who suffer from this monstrous disease,
I’m back in hospital, with pneumonia (unless it’s heart), severe pain, and what not. I hope I can return to my home and felines very soon.
(((For N and all who love her)))
<votive> For @Robert Armin, for @idj, for @Dormouse, For @Galilit, and for all who suffer from this monstrous disease,
I’m back in hospital, with pneumonia (unless it’s heart), severe pain, and what not. I hope I can return to my home and felines very soon.
[flexes arms, cracks knuckles] Can I bag you a cardiologist? Got some curare arrows, right here.
Comments
I had a moment of real worry when I saw the count of new posts on this thread. It so often means bad news. Glad to see things turn out!
My mum's just surfacing now from her third bout of three-weekly chemo - the side effects this time were horrible. She's about to start a weekly regime, well next Thursday anyway. Who knows the joys......
Oh, I'm so sorry to read this.
May the Lord lift his face on you, muffle your pain and give you peace.
@idj , please keep us updated, if you can.
🕯 @idj
🕯 @ThunderBunk's mum
Hugs for ((idj)), if acceptable.
Continued prayers for all. May you find comfort from us who care, both known and unknown to you.
🕯 @ThunderBunk's mum
((( @ThunderBunk and mum )))
((( @Robert Armin ))) Such good news!
((( @Galilit ))) Prayers always
((( From all affected by this evil disease )))
I'm having tremendous pain and trouble moving around since taking a hard full-body fall on Saturday morning. Nothing was broken (I know this because I spent the day in the ER, having X-rays and CT scans), but you couldn't prove it from my pain levels and immobility. I'm grateful to have you all on my team.
((idj))
((Galilit))
((Thunderbunk's mother))
((Rossweise))
((idj))
((Galilit))
((Thunderbunk's mother))
And For ((Robert Armin)) too.
Indeed and amen. And flights of orneries bring feather beds to cushion every protesting bone and joint.
Ross, Robert, Galilit, idj, et al...may God give you all that you need.
Prayers for all, but especially @Rossweisse with pneumonia (in case anyone has missed the Prayer thread).
I have been reading Barbara Ehrenreich's Natural Causes, her 2018 investigation of the ways in which our collective struggles to extend life and battle ill health are sometimes anything but life-affirming. The cures and treatments sometimes do seem worse than the cures, ameliorations, remissions, etc. they purport to strive for. Her discussion of the role(s) of macrophages (and other types of cells) in both the destruction and metastasis of cancer cells is particularly unsettling. She writes, "If there is a lesson here it has to do with humility. For all our vaunted intelligence and 'complexity,' we are not the sole authors of our destinies or of anything else."
While not an actual lab-coat-wearing practitioner of scientific research, Ehrenreich holds a Ph.D in cell biology and appears, at least to this layperson, to be keeping abreast of developments in her field.
ISTM that this chimes in (sort of) with the Ministry of Healing practised in, umm, sensible Christian churches. That is to say, 'healing' may not necessarily mean the complete eradication of a Fell Complaint, but may mean being given the humility, and grace, to accept it, and to do something positive with it.
Does that make sense? I'm not really quite sure what I mean...
“I'd heard a radio programme in which a woman said she'd prayed for her husband - who was suffering from cancer - to be healed. Her husband did die, but before his death they discussed the matter, and he said he'd felt more "whole" than at any time in his life, even though his cancer was worsening. He was ready to meet his Maker, and that, for him, was a form of healing/wholeness/health. I think that makes sense”.
“I'd heard a radio programme in which a woman said she'd prayed for her husband - who was suffering from cancer - to be healed. Her husband did die, but before his death they discussed the matter, and he said he'd felt more "whole" than at any time in his life, even though his cancer was worsening. He was ready to meet his Maker, and that, for him, was a form of healing/wholeness/health. I think that makes sense”.
[tangent]
ST - Ron Ferguson is indeed a very good, wise and funny man. He succeeded Bill Cant, the minister who married us, at St. Magnus and we got to know him when we came back for holidays.
[/tangent]
<votive> For @Robert Armin, for @idj, for @Dormouse, For @Galilit, and for all who suffer from this monstrous disease,
I’m back in hospital, with pneumonia (unless it’s heart), severe pain, and what not. I hope I can return to my home and felines very soon.
[flexes arms, cracks knuckles] Can I bag you a cardiologist? Got some curare arrows, right here.
If so, time for them to get to work, along with the Orneries, and the Feline Ministers To The Sick...
<votives galore> for all on this thread.
My mother used to have a cat that would lunge at her throat if she started singing. (Starting from her lap, of course.)