Prayers for my son

My son became a father for the first time last week.  His son, Timothy Michael, is now 10 days old and my son now has pneumonia.  As his mom, I am worried because he did not have too many respiratory issues as a child and now he and his wife seem to be continually battling this.

Please, if you have a moment, say a prayer for my son to recover quickly and for his son to remain healthy.

7 Quick Takes Friday

1)  Please pray for my daughter-in-law, whose father has terminal cancer.  She is pregnant with her first child and is going to name the baby after him. It breaks my heart that she has to go through this at all, much less at such a young age and when she is becoming a mother.

Our Lady of Sorrows, watch over her.

2)  I've been struggling with feelings of depression and burn-out.  I'm going to be looking for a local NAMI group to join.  I wish there were a CHADD group nearby.

3)  Yesterday was the feast of St. Benedict.  I am especially attracted to his idea of stability.  Life isn't always smooth sailing, in spite of promises by some televangelists and advertisers.  Stability is one of the cornerstones of love. It is what makes us stick by someone through think and through thin.

4) I've been doing some preliminary research on ADD and it is amazing what I'm finding.  Factors that may contribute to causality include premature birth and maternal smoking, both of which apply to me (and my mother respectively) Along with distractability, ADD symptoms can include impulsivity (which, if involving food, can lead to weight gain) and slow processing.  So much is making sense.

5)  The pastor where I go to daily Mass often preaches on the importance of focusing  more on living out our Christian lives and less on the outward "trappings" of Christianity and Catholicism. This is hitting me where I live right now.  I think, if a person or group's focus is too much on outward signs of piety, it can lead to a kind of "shunning" (either overt or covert) of those perceived to be on the "outside" of the group.  We need to keep a close watch on ourselves if we find ourselves thinking that someone is not a "true" Catholic just because they don't happen to have a particular devotion that we favor.  I don't think approved devotions should be suppressed, but, in my opinion too much "official" focus on them can lead to marginalization of parishioners whose spirituality does not include those particular devotions.

6)  In spite of my support for getting rid of the HHS mandate (or putting in place a *real* conscience clause), I *am* in favor of universal health care in one form or another.  I think many Catholics are cutting off their noses to spite their faces when they tow the Republican Party line insisting that people without healthcare are lazy and evil.  We are morally obligated, as a society, I think, (and the bishops do too) to make sure everyone is cared for.  We need to stop the partisan politics and start caring for each other.  If we are innately suspicious of the Church's teachings on social justice, we are not in line with the Church.

7)  I really think that focus away from active love is what is killing our parishes and our faith. We need to not only set a good example of what Christians are, but we need to literally do what Jesus did--help, love and heal others.   We need to be counter-cultural, and right now kindness is the most counter-cultural thing we can do as Christians.

Special Intention

Can you all please pray for my friend Michele's father, Chuck who has dementia?  She recently lost her mom and would like to storm heaven for a cure for her dad.

Thank you so much!

Molly Update

The doctors have discovered that Molly has Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia otherwise known as Osler-Weber Rendu Syndrome. With Molly, this manifests itself in Pulmonary Hypertension which is very rare.

Her family is devastated at this new news, although this doesn't change much immediately for Molly.

She did a CPAP trial and handled it well. She will get a Trach and G Tube in on Monday and they are talking about moving her, eventually, to rehab to help her regain skills lost by the brain damage she's suffered.

Please continue to pray for Molly and her family as they endure this suffering.

Molly Update--Prayers Needed

Molly has Vaculitis which is an autoimmune issue. She's going to be put on a drug they use for chemo.  She also has inflammation and her blood sugar levels are high.  They are going to paralyze and sedate her again so the machine can do her breathing for her.

Please storm heaven!

Edited to add:  They are doing a tracheotomy and putting in a G-tube for feeding.  Also, the family has had a discussion with the doctors about "when enough is enough."

Please keep them in your prayers.

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Theodore Foley, C.P.

Many people are praying to Fr. Foley for a miracle for Molly. Please join us in a Novena until Molly is healed.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called Father Theodore Foley to follow you as a Passionist Priest even to Calvary's heights. Through your Immaculate and Sorrowful Mother, you taught him obedience to your Father's will and the fulfillment of your Commandment of loving God and neighbor. Let the loving inspiration of your servant move us to live a more profound life of virtue. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Theodore Foley according to the designs of your holy will. through his intercession, we ask you to grant the request I now present (healing and a Miracle for Molly). Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father)

Molly Update

Molly's mom tells us that by tomorrow doctors at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital will make a decision on whether to wean Molly from the Novalung she has implanted.

The hope in all of this, she says, is that she can come off the Novalung safely, her lungs and heart and all of her other vital organs will do their jobs and she'll improve neurologically.

Without successful weaning from the Novalung, Molly will not be eligible for a transplant, and her body risks fatal infection if the Novalung remains in much longer.

The doctors tell her they don't know what will happen and they don't know what the best decision is.

Please pray hard for Molly's recovery and for God's will to be done in this situation.

Prayers requested

I wanted to update you on Molly and ask for more prayers.  Molly is a little girl who passed out on her first day of Kindergarten because of undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension.   She experienced cardiac arrest and, as it is now known, had a stroke.  This has left her between a coma and wakefulness.  She is getting occupational therapy and music therapy and is responding slowly, but doctors now say she has extensive brain damage from the stroke.  This is on top of her need for a lung transplant.  She is in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh with her parents.  Her twin sister and older brother are home in Delaware.  This is very hard on her entire family. 

The family is praying to Father Theodore Foley, a candidate for sainthood, for a miracle for Molly. 

I would also like to ask you for prayers for a family member of mine, M, who is being tested for Lupus, Lyme disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis and is quite scared.  

Special Intention

My dh meets with his boss today.  Please pray that God's will is done for him.  Thanks so much.

Special Intention

I wanted to ask you all to please pray for my husband who is going in for a chest xray for possible lung cancer on Tuesday.  Please pray that God sends us all we need to go through this and that if it is His will, that my husband be healed.

Prayer Request

I would like to ask prayers for my brother in law who is in the hospital with a broken jaw after falling off a ladder trying to get ice off his roof.

He will have surgery tomorrow morning and have his jaw wired shut for 6 weeks.

He has been out of work for about 7 months.

Thank you all!

For a Special Intention

Please pray for a special, urgent intention for a young person who is struggling.

May Our Lady spread her mantle of protection over her.

Special Intentions

I just found out that an internet friend has died.  Her son posted to her Facebook account.  We are all in shock.

I also just found out, via Facebook, that another friend from high school has untreatable cancer and is on hospice.

This really seems to be happening all at once.  I don't know why that seems to occur, and I have no words except that some things are just not important in comparison.

Many Intentions

I have a lot of prayer intentions I would humbly like to ask your prayers for.

1. Please pray for a newborn baby born to a forum friend of mine. His name is Joaquin and he coded right after birth this evening. He has been transferred to another hospital. His father is on his way overseas to his third military (war) posting. He was not able to be with the mom at the birth of their baby.

2. Please pray for another internet friend whose daughter, Gigi, has just been diagnosed with leukemia. She went to the ER for something unrelated and the attending physician ran a blood test because she was pale. The family is in shock. The mother just gave birth to her third child. Gigi has an older sister.

3. A friend of mine is awaiting the death of her mother in law. Her husband's brother is also in the hospital and is having a very difficult time dealing with the impending passing of his only living parent. Because of his diagnosis, his prognosis is largely up to him.  Please pray that God sends His healing power and peace to their family.

4. Please pray for my aunt who is caring for her older sister who has Alzheimer's.  There have been the inevitable legal delays in getting my older aunt placed where she can be cared for.  It is very, very wearing on my aunt and uncle. 

5.  Please pray for all those who have lost their jobs and are unemployed or underemployed.  My husband had lost his job after 10 years, and my brother in law, after 30 years with the same company.  My neighbor has just told us that he is afraid that his job may be next. 

6.  Whatever happens politically, please pray for all those without health insurance.

7.  For another forum friend who is trying to night wean her 9 month old.  She is sleep deprived because her dd is using her as a pacifier to get back to sleep.  Not unusual; not a large prayer request in the scheme of things, but I remember how difficult this stage of parenting can be and how it can affect so much of the parents' lives. 

Special Intention

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And, do thou, oh prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan, and all the evil spirits that prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. ~Amen.

Could you all please pray for a special intention that I have for some difficulties my family is currently facing? We especially will need prayers tomorrow. Thank you all so much.

Please Say a Prayer

Please pray for a friend of mine who is going through a very difficult time. Pray that Our Lady wraps her in her protective mantle and that she finds peace.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Urgent special intention

Could you all please pray for a friend of mine? Her son is severely depressed--possibly suicidal, her daughter is very frightened and emotionally fragile, and her husband is due to visit his aging mother overnight tonight.

St. Dymphna, patroness of those who suffer from mental illnesses, pray for them!

St. Dymphna, we beg you to beg God for consolation and strength for our suffering brothers and sisters.

Jesus, we trust in you!

~Amen

Some urgent prayer requests

Please pray for my friend's son who is battling depression and for their family as they rally around to support him.

Please, also pray for my husband, who just lost his job and for our family as we navigate through that.

Also, pray for my mom and aunt who are continuing their life's journey towards eternity.

UPDATE: Spent yesterday afternoon in the ER. My dh has a cyst in the right arm socket that is causing intense pain. We are hoping to get whatever needs to be done, accomplished within the 6 week COBRA window.

Saint Joseph, protector of families, pray for us!

Xavier and Morgan updates

First, please pray for Morgan, who is back in the hospital with a fever. Her mom says, "So far, her heart is fine." Pray it stays that way. They are very weary and need Jesus' strength.

Xavier, who has been hospitalized since Christmas, is home with his family now. Praise God!


Lord, protect your children.

Praise God!!! Morgan update

Here is the news from Morgan's mom:

She had an echo today and we got the results a few hours ago (around 2:30 pm.) Her heart's function at the last echo on Wednesday was at 17%. NOT good. (It was 5% last Sunday to give you an idea.)

Well...today it's at 39%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the average person is considered to have "normal" function at 30%. Her heart is NORMAL!!!!!! No one expected that much improvement. It is truly a miracle.

I am so thrilled I can hardly believe it all. And so incredibly relieved. The plan is to get her drain tube out tomorrow since there is very little fluid reaccumulating and most likely go HOME on Monday. We will have follow ups with her cardio pretty regularly for a while. I haven't specifically asked yet, but I'm pretty sure this means that transplant is not a consideration anymore.

Praise His holy and perfect name!!!!!