Prayers Needed

Doug's cousin Jimmy, who is 20 years old, has a recurrent brain tumor that is now in his brain stem. He is not able to swallow now and surgery is awaiting an O.R. at The James Cancer Center. The family is praying that the surgery will be by tomorrow. They have been asking Pope John Paul II for prayers since Jimmy was diagnosed just over a year ago. This is the third time the tumor has recurred. If you can, please take a moment a say a prayer for mercy.

O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him. Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints. Amen

Edited Thursday: Surgery will not be until next Tuesday. We are praying that the medical team makes the right choices for him and that he will be able to recover from surgery on the base of his brain. The doctors are inserting a feeding tube, and he continues to be suctioned since he cannot swallow. He will turn 21 on Sunday. Can you imagine? Count your blessings every day.