In
Loving Support of Those Who Suffer from Cancer And
All Those Who Love & Care For Them
Someone
just has to mention the word..."CANCER"... and we shudder. There are
very few of us today who don't know of someone with cancer...family,
friends, acquaintances...or we ourselves have had this "dread" disease.
We have become sensitive to hearing the news that cancer is the diagnosis
and we immediately offer a prayer to our loving and healing God, while
words of shock or sympathy quietly slip from our mouths. We realize
just how helpless we are! The knowledge that we are not in control of
our bodies makes us rebel and angry!
My Dad
has had three different cancer operations, my Mom had cancer when I
was in the eighth grade, my cousin who is my age and with whom I went
to school died of breast cancer in 1998, and because of my Dad I am
tested every 2-3 years as I am genetically at risk. Thank God for the
grace of growth and development in medical knowledge and for sensitive
medical personnel.
We often
know that all we can give, all we can offer, all we can do ourselves
is PRAY. The love, care and concern we give to those in crisis and pain
is increased and has an added quality of offering courage and hope when
we have hearts that are faith-filled and prayers that are ones coming
from someone who shares the times they are going through.
Families
suffer just as much as the person with cancer. Their pain, questions,
anger and feelings of helplessness are real and of concern...they often
hurt too much to pray, just like the sick person. WE need to be their
mouths, WE need to be their hearts, and WE are their brothers and sisters
and need to suffer along side them. Sometimes just letting them know
we are available, we are near, we care is enough. Sometimes we need
to listen, closed-mouthed, to all they are experiencing. If we have
had, or have cancer, we are even better support. SHARE.
Here,
at St. Patrick's, we try to be that kind of loving support. It takes
a very real form each Friday evening, when we pray together, through
the intercession of St. Peregrine, for all those who suffer from cancer,
those who have died, those who are thankful survivors. Below are some
links that might be helpful for information and support. If you have
others, please feel free to share them with me at: STPATMON@AOL.COM
The following
are a few links of support.
OncoLink: Breast Cancer - Support
Welcome to the American Cancer Society
OnHealth: Coping With Chemotherapy Clinic
OnHealth: Cancer in Conditions A-Z
