Abby Haggerty...

Family and friends:

We are feeling deeply the prayers of so many this afternoon and want to give an
update on what has transpired today in Abby’s journey through all this. Big day…

After entering into what could have been anywhere from a 2-7 hour surgical
procedure late this morning, Abby was done in just under 2 hours. To use the
doctor’s words, “She was a rock!” After having just met with the chief neurosurgeon,
Dr. Matouk around 3:00, we have learned that the effort to go after the largest of the
three aneurisms was a success and a significant step forward for Abby. Praise the
Lord! Their goal was to place “coils” around the aneurism so as to effectively cut off
its ability to rupture. This was very successful and again, to use the surgeon’s
words, it ended being “textbook” with no complications.

Where does this leave us? Well, in a place of great praise to start. As we look to
what’s next for Abby, you’ll remember that she has two parallel journeys she is on,
walking both simultaneously. The one is a journey of recovery from what has
happened to her thus far, the other a preventative one from future disaster. Phase
one on the preventative journey – a significant one with the prevention of this large
aneurism rupture – has been a success. Though she has, in truth, been “healing” and
recovering since moment one of her AVM rupture, the doctors are going to
concentrate now on the recovery part of her journey from what has happened for
the next week. During this time they will be slowly weaning her off of sedation in
order to assess her neurologically. Approximately a week or so from now, Dr.
Matouk will likely again go back into the effected area through angiogram to assess
the other two smaller aneurisms and determine how he wants to address them.
(This would be back to preventative side of the journey).

Prayer? God has moved his hand in a generous, powerful, and kind way for our
family today and we couldn’t be more in awe. But we are asking for more from Him
and we believe he wants us to. Pray for these next few days in particular as the
assessment of Abby neurologically begins. Pray for open eyes, moving fingers,
independent breathing, even the slightest smile and the ultimate joy of hearing her
say “I love you mom and dad.” These would be Everest-sized steps for her right
now, but we have a Heavenly Father who is capable of them and more… and so we
ask. Pray for no “set-backs” or complications in the areas that we have seen success
in today, and that God would protect her – while she “recovers” – from any bleeding
either from the AVM or the other two aneurisms. Pray boldly for a disappearance of
the other two aneurisms!

We have seen and felt a thousand graces from God these last 5 days. Praise him with
us, while at the same time we humbly ask you to continue on your knees. The
journey continues…

Shawn Haggerty
(Abby’s Uncle)

Courtney...early Labor

Marilyn C...requests your prayer for Courtney, who at this time is in Hospital with EARLY LABOR.  This second baby is not due till May.

Guess this baby wants to do Lent with the rest of us...so let's pray for a healthy result.

What was the first liquid and food consumed on the moon?

Communion on the Moon: July 20, 1969   (This is an article by Eric Metaxas )

Forty+ years ago two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. "I 'm talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine.

And a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself.  I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about in my book , Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask).

The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth 's orbit and on to the surface of the moon. He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement:

"This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: "In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture,

'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit ..Apart from me you can do nothing.'

"I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly."

"I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility . It was interesting for me to think the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."

And of course, it 's interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ , who made the Earth and the moon - and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the "Love that moves the Sun and other stars."

Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before My Father on Judgment Day."

For Dr. Ignatius Hnleski, Erin, Grace...please pray

Hi Everyone,

My niece Lorraine always comes to us with prayer requests that her friends have now come to know are willingly offered.  One of her best friend's, Janice's father, Dr. Ignatius Hnleski, a pretty well-known eye surgeon in Kennett Square, has been diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer.  He will have surgery - I think on Wed. - to have a rod inserted in his leg.  Please pray for a successful surgery and a cure of his cancer.

Lorraine's daughter, Erin, was told today that her baby in utero is rather tiny, but doc said it's probably not a problem since Erin is tiny and her fiance is not a big man.

Remember that we have been praying Erin through this pregnancy because she had 5th disease in her first trimester.  Continued prayers, please.

My sister, Grace, has had lots of diarrhea from her chemo, nausea, mouth sores, and sore throat.  She seems to think that it's from her injection of Neulasta, which builds up white blood cells.  She needs IV fluids tomorrow (already) and she's only in her second week of treatment.  Please pray that side effects won't be too bad because she has said she will refuse treatment if it makes her feel terrible.  She's not yet resigned to offer her suffering up to God, even as lent begins and we are reminded of the intense suffering Christ endured for us. 

Thanks for always praying.  Love, Marilyn

Lisa and Sjögren's Syndrome

We've been praying for my sister-in-law Lisa who has been recently dx with Sjogrens after ongoing symptoms for over a year and going from doctor to doctor …..

What is Sjögren's Syndrome?

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands. Today, as many as 4 million Americans are living with this disease.

Although the hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, Sjögren’s also causes serious complications throughout the entire body...

please keep her in your prayers - here is her update: 

Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2014 14:09:31 -0500

Subject: Update

Hi Syl,

I have my appointments scheduled for Johns Hopkins Sjogrens Center on June 3^rd and 4^th.  They are extremely organized.  On the first day, I will be seeing an Ophthalmologist (for dry eye test).  Then I will see the Neurologist who will determine if I need the EMG which will be done right after the appt. if necessary.  The next day, I am scheduled to see the Rheumatologist and to have a Salivary Gland test to see how swollen my glands are and how much saliva I produce.  Then they ordered an MRI of the lumbar spine because these doctors like to do them every 6 months and they have a more enhanced machine that sees more for what they are looking for.  I will then have the Skin biopsy if the they feel it is necessary.  I will be finished by 5:30. 

Hopefully I made the right decision.  All I want is to be confirmed with this diagnosis and be on the right medicine. 

Lisa

The Navigators Ministry

Caitlin Kochanasz Ministry

Hello!

I would love your prayers as I travel to Cleveland, OH tomorrow through Sunday.  I've been asked to facilitate a team building workshop on Thursday with The Navigators 20s Mission leadership team.  They are a new team of 7 people who seek to give leadership to staff ministering to 20-somethings in various cities around the country.  Pray God would use the time to help them better understand and appreciate their design and differences.

I'll also stay in Cleveland for the The Navigators African American Congress on Discipleship this weekend.  I’m looking forward to engaging in this conversation about race, reconciliation, and ministry.  Also, I'll be representing our staff care team and be available to meet/pray with people as needs arise.

Thanks so much for your partnership in my ministry!

Caitlin

Alex Jankowsky

Caring Bridge...Alex Jankowsky

Yesterday the cells were collected from brother Josh!  He had a successful collection of many cells! What a blessing! Josh made it through like a trooper- and  he truly was an angel ( look at photos halo)

Today is the day!  Alex will have his ALLO transplant (cells from his bro).  He is a little anxious as there is no turning back after this.  We hope to know soon that his brothers cells will have won the battle and taken over the DNA of Alex's body.  The next 100 days will be very critical and immune suppressed.  Please continue many prayers.

The Oscar Goes To.... GOD

Click this...  The Oscar Goes To.... GOD.  
UPdate...Regrets.

This HAD a Video of the speech but it was pulled after the OSCARS organization cited copyright leverage.  Funny?  The OTHER OSCAR speeches (without reverence to God) are not pulled!

Prayers to Share

Jesus, 

Live in me.

Live, Jesus, live!

So live in me

That all I do

be done by You,

And grant that all

I think or say

May be Your thought

and word today.

Most of you know I had Viral Pneumonia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever last month and even though it was a difficult time, I am thinking that fiasco may have been a blessing. That illness called for an x-ray and while checking the x-ray, the Doctors found a nodule on my left lung. That finding suggested a CT Scan and the CT scan indicated the chance for lung cancer.  Dr. Matt Stein had me in for a visit to discuss the results of the CT scan and he said he thought the nodule looked like lung cancer in early stages, however, there was a slight chance it might be an infection caused by RMSF and viral pneumonia. He said that he was consulting with another doctor and if that doctor concurred, we would leave it alone for a couple of weeks and then do a PET scan to see if it lights up.  The PET scan was done and Dr. Stein said it was definitely a small spot of cancer or infection (both cancer and infection light up the same on a PET scan) but he felt there was little chance of it being an infection. They wouldn't know which without going in and getting a sample.  I was referred me to a Dr. Emmanuel Daon with MidAmerica Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons at KU Medical Center who I consulted with yesterday.  Dr. Daon advised that he thought it was lung cancer but said there was still an outside chance the nodule could be an infection. He suggested a left video assisted throacoscopy to find out what it is and what procedure they should use next based on the finding of the biopsy.  Dr. Daon said that if it is cancer, they would be prepared to, hopefully, do a lobectomy which is a minimally invasive surgery to remove the upper lobe of my left lung.  If the lobectomy proved to be a problem they would then have to open me up and go through my ribs to get to the upper lobe. The lobectomy would have a 3 to 4 week recovery and if they had to open me up it would be a 2 to 3 month recovery period. You don't have to guess what I am praying for.

My preference would be the slim chance of them finding the nodule to be an infection and that is what my prayers will be for. The date set for the surgery is September 25. If it is lung cancer, we will just have to deal with it and hope they get it early enough.

Cheers and God Bless,

Reagan 

Pray for Linda Anderson

From Stacee...

Am asking for prayers for my sister in law, Linda Anderson, she has pneumonia & they believe she has lung cancer among some other serious health issues. I know it is such a devasatating thing for both her & my brother in law Drew. I love U both dearly & please, please don't hesitate to ask for ANYTHING. We may be many hours away but know David & I will do anything necessary to help!!!

Clara Peters...bone marrow transplant

Someone else to pray for.  Clara Peters is the five year old granddaughter of my neighbor.  She went into the hospital on Monday for chemo for her bone marrow transplant which will be next Monday. Her sister, luckily, is a perfect match. She was just diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anemia in the beginning of August.  This has happened so fast. 

Linda

http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/health/5-year-old-to-receive-life-saving-cure-from-sister-after-being-diagnosed-with-bone-marrow-disorder

Paul Voda needs your prayers...

Please Pray For Amberay...UPDATE

UPDATE Aug 24....Stacee Jones Anderson

Friends & Family, my Daughter Amberay was sent to Lakepoint Nursing & Rehab faciltity in ElDorado Wed. So she is finally settlred where she can (we hope) start receiving flowers, cards, love anything you can give. She is VERY lonely, still in lots of pain etc. Please, start sending flowers cards notes, whatever U can. Even the Old people in the nursing facility would enjoy them :). Address is: Lakepoint Nursing & Rehabilitation, 1313 S. High, ElDorado Kansas, 67042. A dear friend of hers is going to create a website for her & us to help facilitate prepared food for us & the kids, hopefully get a few monetary donations that we will put in a trus fund for her. When we get that done we will b posting the name of site. She will be disabled for the rest of her life. On a positive note, thru all this Doctors have discovered she has had a heart condition for over 15 years that has been treated as Angina. She will have to be on heart medication also for the rest of her life. So, right now my tears r running down my face very hard for joy that God spared her but also for the pain we must all endure. I can't seem to stop crying these days but I know it will get better. Thank U Lord for all you have given us!! We love you!!!!

Stacee Jones Anderson

Amberay is surviving. I have been so busy going 2 hospital, they've made many mistakes so I have been trying to be there as much as I can so havent been able to get on FB. Will explain more later. 

Amberay has been moved 4 times. Last nite she had a mild heart attack & was moved back to ICU. 2nite she was moved to different room again. So for anyone wanting to send cards, flowers etc, (many people been wanting room info) please let her get situated. She will be moving 2 a rehab facility possibly next week as long as her heart holds out. B in rehab for several months. We have her kids so have been busy with moving them into our house also. 

I need prepared food to have on hand. Amberay needs lotsa love & prayers. 

Malora (our oldest Granddaugther) needs her CCA friends to call & give her moral support. 

Me- I NEED SLEEP LOL. 

Thank you LORD 4 not taking my precious daughter from me yet!!!

UPDATE: Anthony Walahoski Surgery SUCCESS

Gina 

From: St Joe Class of 2012 [mailto:stjoe2012@gmail.com] 

Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 2:28 PM
To: St. Joe Class of 2012; Walahoski



Just wanted to updated you. Anthony just got out of ICU today. He is doing great! All your prayers worked so thank you and everyone along the chain!!! He has been literally sleeping all day. Tomorrow will be a new day as he will have less pain medicine and they are planning to get him up in his chair. Once again thank you...as a mom I can't tell you how comforting all of the prayers were. I literally turned it over to God's hands.

Dear Class of 2012,

Please start a prayer chain for Anthony Walahoski.  

He is undergoing a major surgery tomorrow and ALL prayers are welcomed and most appreciated by the Walahoski family.  

Gina will keep us posted on his prognosis.  Thank you!

From today's Responsorial Psalm, Isaiah 12:2

"Look, He is the God of my salvation: I shall have faith and not be afraid, for Yahweh is my strength and my song, He has been my salvation."

Update on Ken's Heart Surgery

Ken got out of surgery about 1 1/2 hours ago. They ended up doing a 5-bypass surgery – they were able to repair the valves and not replace them, which he was quite insistent on - not that he had a choice! The surgeon said they had a little bit of trouble because of his poor heart function, but he made it through and is on the road to recovery.

We're on our way now to see him in the ICU.  We're not sure when he'll be able to go home.

Thank you all for your support! It means the world to us. And if you think I missed anyone on this email please feel free to share.

Love,

Ken and Sharon

The Buzzard, Bat, the Bee and WE...

THE BUZZARD   If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground  with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. THE BAT      The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash. THE BUMBLEBEE   A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. PEOPLE   In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!

That's the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem...

just look up!

Sorrow looks back,

Worry looks around,

But faith looks up!

Live simply,

love generously,

care deeply,

speak kindly, and

trust in our Creator,

who loves us.

Jim Roche succumbs to Lung Cancer

With sincere sadness I must report that Erin's uncle, Jim Roche, has lost his battle with cancer…succumbing on May 8th.

Thanks to all who have prayed for Jim.  Your expressed support was forwarded to Jim and he was brightened by your comments and prayers.

On Apr 13, 2012, at 9:19 PM, Jim Roche wrote:

I just returned from my doctor with some very bad news. My lungs are totally involved with small tumor cancer. Small tumor is easier to fight but is much more aggressive. The doctor says I can look for longer and better life but cure is not in the books. I meet with the oncologist and the radiologist next week and will have a better idea of my timing.

We should have plenty of time to relive and enjoy our lives together. I thank God an His Son Jesus for my wonderful life and the wonderful family He put in it.

I love you all so dearly.    Grandpa Jim.

Jim:

You are a fighter…and with prayer calling God to your side you only need the positive drive to keep the enjoyment and happiness as your strength in prevailing.

I will be dedicating my Eucharistic Adoration hour to you.

Richard Bockwinkel

Perpetual Adoration

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at St. Joseph is permanent adoration of Our Lord exposed to view in our Adoration Chapel. Over 400 parishioners take part in Perpetual Adoration. Each of them has picked one of the 168 hours of the week to spend with Jesus. During many hours of the week, more than one scheduled adorer is present along with other people that have stopped in for a visit. 

Everyone is encouraged to visit the chapel any time of the day or night to visit with Our Lord. There are Bibles, rosaries and devotional books to assist you in your meditations. 

You are invited to commit yourself to a weekly hour of adoration.


"The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet Him in adoration and in contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our Adoration never cease." 

There are 168 hours in every week. Can you give Jesus just one? He asked His apostles "Could you not watch one hour with me?" - (Matthew 24:40) . To arrange for your special hour with Jesus, call Lida Wurtenberger, 631.6907.

What is Heaven...? The Room, by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.

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