Well, today I got the news that the cancer has spread to the lungs. I wasn't surprised and was prepared for the news as we knew it was a very legitimate possibility.
I don't want to view it as bad news, it is just another road that I have to go down. Things will be different than before, because treatment is different for vital organs than not. Obviously you have to be very careful about how you treat the lungs, and cannot use the same approach as on the neck. I meet with my medical oncologist tomorrow and will know more about what type of treatment I will be going through. It sounds like chemotherapy is more the route than radiation, because your lungs can't really handle much radiation.
I am going to do all I can to fight it. I spoke to an attending oncologist this morning who was really helpful and I really liked. I had heard such bleak things about what happens when squamous cell spreads to the lungs and was obviously concerned. She just said you can't go by statistics derived from other people because you are your own unique individual and there is no reason not to put yourself in the small pool of people that survive this. So is just what I am going to do, put myself in the pool of people that survive.
Also, please no more posts about me drinking alcohol. One of the causes of oral cancer is alcohol and I probably won't drink again for the rest of my life; and I could really care less about it. I don't think that's what has caused this but am perfectly happy not drinking again, and don't think that I could even stomach the thought for a long time. I know most of you didn't know this because I hadn't posted it, but the last thing I want to do is drink.
Steve
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
247 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 247 of 247hi steven,
it's so good to hear that you had a good day; hang in there. i'm waiting for your visit to seattle - along with many others! while i know you will have countless seattle u friends to visit, it would be fun to get together. you could teach me all about capitol hill. i get very confused up there - i can never figure out whether i need to be on pike or pine. and i'd love to hear the inside scoop on the seattle u english department; it would be wonderful/a miracle to be able to stay in seattle. i'm moving to ballard this weekend, so i'll have lots of fun places to show you!
keep getting better,
lauren
ps...i'm sending you a cd, so keep an eye out!
Hello Baby,
I just woke up, fixed a heavy dose of coffee and wanted to tell you that I feel you are going to have a good day today. I hope your day is pain free and you are able to enjoy the family.
I love you, and I am feeling good about today.
Love,
A.L.
Glad you are back safe and sound, Emmet.
I was happy to see you yesterday, Steven. Thought you looked good and enjoyed the conversation between you, your Dad and Bean. I especially liked hearing your nurse asking you,"What do you call your grandmother?"and you said Maw Maw. Although the other cardardies call me grandma, i'll always me maw maw to you.
I love yoou, Steven. How was I so lucky to have you as my grandson?
Love you
Hi Baby
Kalinihta, Saghapo......
Sweet dreams,
A.L.
Steve,
Thinking of you and praying for you always!
Sending you, Jen, and your entire family all my love!
-Mary G.
Ss. Simon & Jude has always been "alive with the spirit" but never has it been felt so strongly as on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. when we come together to pray for Steven. This incredible community of family and friends prays the rosary for Steven's healing, his decision-making, his doctors, his family and his peace. We pray in our own way for God's will to be done, and together to Saints who can help Steven along the way ... especially to St. Rita, patron saint of tumors (as well as impossible dreams, lonliness, mother's and baseball), and to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer. Please join this ever-growing group who gathers in support and love. SSJ is on the east side of 27th Avenue just north of Bethany Home Road. In the words of Fr. O'Grady, who has been quoted quite a bit on this blog, "Just show up"...
Hi Steven,
It's good to read you had a good day. Hang in there. We are all thinking of you and wishing you well here in Colorado.
Lynn's comment about Bean made me laugh. There must be some recessive gene in the family somewhere. I was in Albuquerque this weekend and went to Savers with a good friend. After some time there he threw a small fit about spending so much time in the land of the unwashed clothing and basically drug me out of there.
We also went to see "the Fall" which has incredible cinematograpy. If you get a chance it's a great magical journey worth seeing.
All our love to you and your family.
Hi Baby Doll,
I just want you to know how much we love you. We think of you constantly, and wish so badly that we could do something to make you well again.
Sleep well my sweet nephew and I will talk to you tomorrow via this blog.
Tom, Jean, Jen, Aimie and Ryan, I love you all so much, and I am so proud of all of you. Steven is so lucky to have a family like you.
Peace and love,
Aunt Lynnie
Steven is out of ICU since he is breathihg easier and moved to the oncology ward of the hospital. One of his greatest pleasures is just a cold glass of ice water so he is having his throat stretched again in order to have an easier time swallowing it. So far the only reactions to the chemo is a little nausea. He has actually decreased his pain medicine by half. He is probably an easy patient to have since he never complains. They all seem to love him. It's the smile for sure. Love and peace to everyone. Jean
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37
I love you Steven.
How could you not love Steven? It is not only his smile, but his gentle way, his big heart and his kindness. This is Steven. And everyone that meets him is captured by his smile and his caring ways even when he is having such a rough time.
Good night, Moke. Sweet dreams and a better tomorrow.
I am so glad you seen to be doing alot better. Just keep going forward.... it is too far to look back. Praying for continued healing.
Jean my dear you have been in my thoughts and prayers as well.
Hi Baby,
I hope you are able to drink lots of water today. I also wish you a pain free day, so you can enjoy your family. I'm pulling for you..
Jean, thanks for the update. I know how exhausting this time in your life is, but we appreciate it.
Love and peace to everyone.
A.L.
When this whole thing started so long ago, I was down in Tucson visiting Steven. I had met Scooter and Michael Palazzolo over there. We were getting ready to leave and Tom walked me out of Tim's house. Now, everyone who knows my brother knows he is a man of few words. He said to me as I was leaving, "I have enjoyed so much spending so much time alone with Steve. He is such a good kid." I responded with the perfunctory, yea, I know he's a good kid. Tom's eyes got moist and he said, "No, I mean he really is such a good kid." I gave him my perfunctory response again, maybe a bit more emphatically. We then repeated the whole thing once more. I have thought about that conversation a lot over the last six or seven months. When I would see Steven and I knew how miserable he was, yet all he did was smile that incredible smile. Even this last Sunday, he didn't say anything but the smile was still there. And I knew he probably wasn't pleased that my inabaility to whisper was keeping him more awake than he wanted to be. But he still smiled. As simple as Tom's comment was, I cannot think of anything more appropriate. Steven is such a good kid. I think the bar has been lowered so much that sometimes we use that expression if a kid isn't a meth addict or hasn't commited any class 1 felony. But in its simplicity and when used to describe someone like Steven, it is the ultimate compliment. I don't think I will ever use it again unless the person can measure up to the benchmark set by my incredible nephew. The recipient must have the gentleness of soul and that incredible unsellfishness of concern. My mom talks here of his big heart, but it is his gentleness that warms me, amazes me, makes me envious and makes me wish I possessed that strength of character that makes him "such a good kid."
Jean, the flood of emotions last night was something I have never experienced before. The crowd, which has grown weekly, was so touched by you. Watching you and Tom, although painful in its reason, has defined for me what being a parent is. Tom, taking the sabbatical so that he could spend everyday helping Steven through this, showed his own strength. Not working to spend time with your kids may seem like a pretty easy, fun thing to do. But I know this case was a bit different. Although I know the walks and the time being alone with Stven were enjoyable; I also know how difficult a lot of the time was. But Tom, you handled it all so quietly that I don't think any of us know about anything but the good parts. My admiration for both of you, Tom and Jean, is beyond words. I simply cannot imagine any set of parents could handle this situation as well as you have. I cannot and will not assume how you are handling it all internally. That simply is not something any of us can possibly understand. There is no other experience that anyone can possibly say, "I know what you are going through because...." I realize that there is so much going on behind your eyes that no one else will ever know. But to the greatest extent possible, you both have my, and I dare say all of our, support, love, concern. I know every person there last night would gladly have shouldered any part of your burden if it would make your life even the slightest bit easier. Of course we can't but hope that the continued show of support gives you a little bit of crutch to lean on. The comments I hear every Tuesday night highlight just how much people care for your, our, family. The sincerity, the offers of things people have that they just hope will help, and just the fact the crowd is so large in the Arizona heat, is heartwarming way past the effects of that heat. I am thinking your old coach, Steven, Kip Keahon must have been thinking last night that the crowd was larger than any of your cross country meets. But I think it shows how much admiration we have for the battle you have waged. When you were running, you used your God given talents. But in this battle, you have used a grace and gentleness that must have come in large part from Tom and Jean.
As a member of the Manos family, I want everyone who has continued to post here, come to the rosary, prayed at home, attended adorations all over the country and did whatever little thing you could do help lighten the burden to know how much it has meant to all of us. Being a memebr of a close family has many great points, but it makes the pain of having one of the family suffer through something like this a bit more real. But I know that I personally have received so much strength from walking up to SS. Simon and seeing Bethany standing there with a welcoming smile and every week more members of her family, to see and hear Connor lead us through a decade, to see Mary Heiland using her organizational skills behind the scene to make sure it goes off ok, to see my mother-in-law limp up with the pain in her joints and sit on those hard seats in support of someone I love simply becasue she loves me, to see Tony there in support of his running buddy of years ago, to see friends of Ryan there supporting him, to see the Pietro family in its size and diversity, to see a family such as the Staats there just because they know someone is suffering, to see Tina there in support of Mary Anne, to me my amazing nephews and the youngest member of our family, to see friends of Tom and friends of Jean who just want to ease the burden , to see the college roommate of both Tom and me and the brother to our brother Mark, to see our supper club friends, to see the Sisters of Lorreto. I cannot express my personal gratitude enough and I know it has meant a lot to Tom and Jean, and I am hopeful Steven has received some strength from it also.
It is difficult in a situation such as this to say we are blessed. But I think sometimes it is only in situations of adversity do you really know how blessed you are. I imagine there are many families going through this ame thing, but doing it alone. Or kids going through it without the love and care of parents such as Tom and Jean. I would have rather gone thorugh life without this reason to find out, but we don't have a say in that. But we do have a say in how we support each other and I will never forget the support I have witnessed. I pray this community continues to support each other as this battle continues and as new battles evolve over time.
I will continue to pray and will thank God everyday that I belong to such an amzing group.
Oops, the expansive and diverse PIERRE family. I guess they were right back in the 70's when they said it was more than a herb.
Jim… Your words are so kind and comforting to all. I agree we are blessed by this incredible Manos family and the friends that support them. I happened to hear a sermon at Brophy the day after Joe Palazzolo died which taught me that we are the most blessed at our most desperate moments, because this is when we are the closest we will ever be to God. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Prayers of comfort and peace to Steven and your entire family …
Hi Baby Doll,
Hoping that you have a good day, and some smiles for your family. David went to San Diego yesterday to watch a golf tournament, so Moochie and I had a slumber party last night. (I think it was Wacky that would say "lumber party".)
Anyway, we are both up and moving around, I am moving slower than Mooch, but with a couple more cups of coffee I should be able to meet her pace.
I love your dearly, and am sending all my positive thoughts your way....I'm also sending my hugs and soft kisses.
Love you more than the sky,
A.L.
Just a note to let you know the Farry/Scotts are sending all our good thoughts your way. Your aunt Mary calls us the pagans in the family (boy I miss my uncle Steve right now), but with your amazing family, terrific friends and saint of a girlfriend there is a plethora of positive energy surrounding you. Love you!
Hi Steve, just wanted to let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers every day. I've been reading your blog for a few months now and I'm really amazed by your strength and the awesome support from your family. Last night I happened to see part of an episode of Super Nanny and these parents were teaching their kids about staying away from poison ivy while on a family bonding camping trip. It made me smile because I remembered how you and Jessie learned your lesson about poison ivy the hard way on our family bonding camping trip in the white mountains. Needless to say, Casey and I learned to NEVER mess with the plant. Anyway, I thought I'd share that with you because it made me laugh a little.
Love,
Kelly
-oh and just for the record.. I don't watch Super Nanny- just was an accidental channel surfing mishap! :)
Hi Baby,
I just got off the phone with your Aunt Connie and she said that her and Bean were so glad to be able to spend time with you and the fam.
She also told me that Griffin received an award today at school for citizenship, academics, and leadership. I guess Grif was really surprised. The school called Connie yesterday, so Con and Bean were able to go to the school and be there when he received the award.
So Connie is planning a swim party for Grif's whole class today, and then they leave for Paris tomorrow to meet up with Carter. I am happy for Connie that there aren't any Mexican food restaurants in Paris.
Well Babe, I have to get ready to go to work, wishing you a day of peace and love.
Love,
A.L
Hey Steve-
Just wanted to let you know I rented "King of Kong: A fist full of quarters" last night based on your recommendation. I have to aggree with you, it was definitely a great movie, one of the better documentary movies I have seen...almost as good as "Dancing Outlaw" with Jesco White...still dont get how that related to Physics class...but it was great for killing a period or two.
Anyway, hope you are feeling better today.
You remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Pullen
Hi Baby Doll,
Just a quick note to let you know that I am thinking about you and the family.....Sleep well tonight and sweet dreams.
I love you Steven Manos.
A.L.
Scott and Connie -
Great news! There's plenty of Mexican food in Paris. The most promising I saw is Ay!! Caramba!!, 59,Rue de Mouzaia. Most dishes in the 10 euro range. No thanks necessary, Con.
Greg
Good Morning Baby,
Hope you have a good day. I will be sending you positive thoughts throughout the day.
Talk to you tonight.
Love you forever,
A.L.
Steven has been home since Tuesday - it's Sat. My goal for him was to make it a week before having to go back to the ER...so far so good. Thurs. he had another dose of the chemo drug that gives people a bad acne type of rash. It is just starting to creep up from his chest. Soon he should look like he's Ryan's age again-15. He also went to have a biopsy done yesterday to see if they could find a genetic tracking of the way the cancer is moving through his body. That may not be accurate. I am very inept when it comes to anything medical. He continues to be in good spirits. His body requires him to sleep most of the time to fight this, but for the short time he is forces himself to be up I cherish being able to just to sit with him. He has been too nervous to try to drink even though they stretched his throat to help him swallow. He is worried about the fluid aspirating into his lungs. He is very careful to do as much as he can to help his situation not become worse.
I am glad Steven has been home for a week Jean. Hope he continues to improve. I was in the ER for him on thursday.(I broke my ankle) My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family through all this.
Tom,
I wish you a great fathers day with your family at your side. I am so proud of you. You are an amazing father that has given all of us a lesson in parenting. Of course you had the greatest dad as your mentor and I know he is looking down at you with so much pride and love. You have been such an inspiration to all of us and I wish you happiness, peace, and a smile from Steven on this very special day. I love you so much.
To all Fathers, I hope you have a wonderful day.
Love,
Lynn
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL DADS OUT THERE.
TOM, JIM AND BEAN, YOU MAKE ME PROUD.
GREG AND DAVID , THANK YOU FOR BEING SO NICE TO ME. YOU TWO ARE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR FAMILY AND HAVE ADDED SO MUCH TO AN ALREADY REMARKABLE ONE.
I read this today and had to share.
The Big "C" and The Little "c"
Posted by: "Rest Ministries"
"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was
made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him
that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."
(Acts 3:16 NIV)
Cancer is often referred to as the big "C" but this is wrong, there is
only one big "C" – Christ. If we view cancer as the big "C" that means we are giving it a place of importance it doesn't deserve. Christ should be the big "C" and cancer should be the little "c". When we reframe it in that context it takes the importance away from the disease and places it on Christ, where it should be.
The power to heal lies with Christ and that is where our emphasis,
through prayer and works should be placed. Last week when I was
receiving my daily chemotherapy treatment, I heard a new nurse refer to me as "the cancer patient with mets in room 4." Right after that statement a nurse who has been there many years said, "If you want to work in the cancer clinic, the first thing you need to do is learn that patients are not referred to by their diagnosis or room number, they are referred to by their name, in this case, Denny." This young nurse was clearly making cancer the big "C". The older nurse clearly was making it the little "c."
The power of semantics is amazing isn't it? Even patients get caught
in this trap. There is a clear difference between the following
statements, and even though it is subtle, one is clearly more
affirming of life than the other. When a patient is asked what they
have there are two ways to respond, "I have cancer." or, "I am living with cancer." subtle but yet so different.
It doesn't matter what disease we have, each of us needs to make sure
that the big "C" is the center of our lives. Then, no matter what we
are asked to deal with physically or emotionally, we have the emphasis in the right place – with Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, with you at the forefront of our lives all things
are possible. Help us to always place you before our illness so that we are guided toward your ways of grace and mercy. Help us focus on you as the big "C" ready to crush and triumph over any little "c" that we are coping with. Amen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
About the author: Denny lives in Pennsylvania with her cat, Shamrock.
Denny is a social worker and she enjoys writing, reading, and
volunteering. She is the world's biggest Notre Dame Football fan.
Denny lives with Chronic Inflammatory Demylineating Polyneuropathy and cancer and has strong faith that God will see her through even the most difficult of days.
Hi Baby Doll,
I hope you had a good day. I heard about your ear infection, and hopefully the drops will not only ease the pain, but also clear up the infection.
I love you so much sweetheart, and wish you a great day tomorrow. You certainly deserve it.
Hugs and kisses to all of you, sleep tight.
P.S. Breadie you better save some cake for Jen, Amie and Jean.
Just a reminder that we will meet tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7 p.m. at Ss. Simon & Jude Church to pray the rosary for Steven and his family. It will be hot but I figure we can suffer through a little heat considering what Steven is suffering through. SSJ is located on the east side of 27th Avenue just north of Bethany Home Road. We meet in the courtyard just outside the Church. There is adoration in the Chapel in the back of the Church and Mass is said at 6:30 p.m. Join us if you can for this special "spirit-filled" gathering.
A big thank you to Mary Driscoll's mom and dad for helping Steven out last night. They had just returned from Mexico when Mary called them and told them about Steve's ear infection. I'm sure they had other things to do, but through their kindness they met Steve and Jean and attended to Steve's problem. I can't thank them enough. What a blessing to all of us.
Hope all you Dads had a great day yesterday.
Steven you looked good even after all you went through yesterday. Let's hope all your tomorrows get increasingly better. I love you, Moke.
Hi Baby Doll,
Just wanted to say, Kalinihta, Saghapo. Talk to you tomorrow.
Love to All.
A.L.
I hope your ear ache is better. I think of you every day. I love you.
Hey steve!
Just checking in on you my man! Keep fighting hard. little story I found funny...was out on a run about 2miles in I hit the usual trail that takes me into Rancho San Antonio(Huge park near the store). So I am drumming along starting to pick-up the pace and I look up in the distance in the meadow and I see 4 or 5 bucks (male deer). So I continue on the trail and as I get closer to the deer I see this strange lady standing on the edge of the trail. she kinda looked scruffy like she was living in the woods. She hears pounding down the trail and gives me a look like I am going to scare away her meal or something. So I slow down a bit. When I come right up on her she smiles and says, "Look it's a Stag Party." I nodded ran by her and got a few clicks down the trail laughing. It was just a humorous comment to make at the time. So now everytime I see a grouping of deer I think, "stag party."
-LOS
ps. the sun has left my arms tan except for where I wear the my watch and your wristband! haha...looks funny.
Hi Baby Doll,
Just wanted you to know that I am constantly sending my positive thoughts your way. I love you so much, and I'm so proud of you.
Good night, sleep tight.
Love,
A.L.
The goal was met to have Steve home for a week. The next day he went back to the hospital because we couldn't get him to stop bleeding and throwing up. His platelets are very low due to the chemo and his red blood cells are low as well. They kept him 3 1/2 days, gave him as much as they could, and sent him home yesterday. Where he used to like to be in the hospital because he knew they were taking care of him, he now likes being home. He certainly gets more sleep here, although it is difficult to keep from checking on him and watching his every move. He sat up and watched a movie with Jenny and Amie last night. I keep asking him to write on the blog and keeps saying, "OK, I will when I feel better," so I anxiously await another post as much as you all do who read this. FOR NOW - there is only good news to report: he's home, happy to be able to sleep, breathing better, not throwing up or bleeding like he was. Jean
Hi Steve,
I wish that I could write like the dude, but I can't so I'll just fill you in on how Brian and I spent the first weekend of my summer vacation.
I can't remember if you ever were dragged onto one of my runs where I swore that it was only "so long,: and then 90 minutes later, we were lost.... Likely not as I could never keep up with the mens team, but you heard such stories from the girls...
Well, I went exploring yesterday and found an amazing dirt road with views of the mountains. I felt incredible as I ran and today assured Brian that it was a pretty flat road and that he should join me (while pushing Ellie and Kaj). We decided to run it in the opposite direction that I did the day before. The plan was about 40 minutes. Well at about 40 minutes in, Brian was still managing to push the kids up one of the steepest dirt roads in our neighborhood, while Ellie was asking why we were going so slow.... it turns out that she determines how fast we are going according to how much wind is in her face. Good thing we're not coaching anymore... Ellie might have a lot to say to the athletes. Turns out that yesterday, when I felt so great, I was running down hill.
So, we then found more trails, and 60 minutes later returned home.Lucky for me, Brian is now fit again, and can push Ellie and Kaj for such runs. We are both running almost every day and always think of you on such runs.
We're glad that you're able to be home, and Jean I can understand checking on him. Stay strong.
Paula
For those of you who were not sweating in record temperatures at last week's rosary, we have decided to move inside the Church to pray. Steven's weekly rosary will now be on WEDNESDAYS...same time, same place ~ 7 p.m. at Ss. Simon & Jude Church ~ 27th Avenue north of Bethany Home Road. We're hoping those who couldn't brave the heat can now join us for this awesome gathering of friends and family who pray the rosary for Steve. You don't have to be Catholic and you don't have to bring a rosary. Just come. We have cheat sheets with the prayers on them. We'll pray this week that Steven can stay home and out of the ER! Hopefully Jean can join us and give an update. Love to Steven and his amazing family.
Continued prayers going for you Steven and your family too.
Dear Tom and Jean,
I check Steve's blog several times each day for updates and each time I ask the Lord to comfort all of you and allow you to feel His presence. I just read something on another friend's blog and I wanted to share it with you. "Heaven's silence is never heaven's absence. What a powerful truth! Regardless of the reality of circumstances, God remains as close as the mention of His name"
I will continue to pray for healing for you Steven! Stay Strong and keep on running the race set before you! You are obviously a remarkable young man with an incredible family!
Thanks for the posts Jean. I am happy to hear Steven is at home, and I am looking forward to his posts soon. I pray for healing days to come. It sounds like you may need a few cooler days as well. I love you.
-cousin
I continue to ask Steven if he wants to post on his blog, and he continues to say, "Sure", but where "the spirit is willing the flesh is weak." It may not happen, He started his 2nd round of chemo on Friday. I dread what it will do to him since his blood counts finally got back to a safe level, and now they will probably dip again sending him into another round of who knows what. The doctor seemed to be worried about him continuing with it. Steve asked all of our opinions, but he made the choice. I told him I just didn't want to see him suffer. He said he isn't. What I see and what he feels must be two very different things. Jenny told me this morning that his shoulder is becoming more painful.
In the doctor's office he had a bad reaction to one of the drugs. Jenny and I were sitting there with him. About 5 minutes into it dripping into his port I looked up at him and his face had turned bright lobster red. He was asleep. I pointed it out to Jenny who ran and got a nurse. It was like somebody had called Code Blue. Three nurses and the doctor ran in and went to work giving him steroids, oxygen, and flushing his port. They woke Steven up and he said he was dreaming he was under water and wondering how long he could swim holding his breath.
The swimming theme plays in my mind as well. The summer sends doctors on vacation, like everyone else, and his will be gone for several weeks in July. It's scary, like someone is taking the life jackets away and we're swimming in a river with swift currents and eddies that are unpredictable and hidden. As a kid I feared the rivers in and around St. Louis knowing the dangers that caused people to drown in them. We never went in. I grew up swimming in lakes with the only thing to fear were fish nibbling your toes. Then I married into a family that goes to the ocean. I never got comfortable in it. I've had that drowning sensation where I panic and sense how powerless I am against the waves. I feel like a live in constant fear, yet I know I am better off trusting, so I find myself singing songs in my head all night long like "Be Not Afraid", kind of like coming up for air.
I wonder what goes on in Steve's head. That was the nicest thing about his posts. It helped me know his thoughts when he wasn't talking. He talks very little still, and I wish I could read his mind. He tells us he is happy just sleeping. My cue to back off and leave him alone. Very difficult to do. He is sweet and gentle as ever which seems to make him so much more vulnerable and undeserving of this trial I would describe as horrific, yet I'm not so sure he would agree. I guess I have gone on long enough. At the risk of becoming even more emotional I will say goodbye to all our blog friends and family...love and comfort to all. Jean
Wow Jean ... you're amazing sending love and comfort to all of us when you need it the most! Thanks for the informative post, and also for coming through with the opening prayer for last week's rosary. You just opened up your purse and pulled out that much used stack of prayer cards, then found the perfect prayer to St. Anthony. Ryan read it so well ...
"O Holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for His creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me the healing of Steven Manos. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the saint of Miracles.
O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen."
We continue to pray the rosary for Steven on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and found the inside of the Church to be much cooler than the outside courtyard. SSJ is located on the east side of 27th Ave. just north of Bethany Home Road. If you are in town, just show up!
Post a Comment