Right now mom is expecting to fight this and has hope. She will need all your support over time to beat this. What can you do?
- Mom would like as much support from all her friends and family;
She needs your prayers, well wishes and thoughts. She is already fatigued and her chemo. is likely to only increase it. She will not be answering the phone or door much, but will rely on your continued prayer. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts, and post messages of support to this page. - She will need direct care for spirit, program, food/necessity, transportation and medical treatment. As a family, we will likely ask as many of you as possible for support in all of these categories. We will ask you through this page, email or otherwise for help.
- To read up on cancer, please see this Dr. Quadro recommended site http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Aboutcancer.
12 comments:
My Aunt Leni. I have written and erased a hundred messages tonight. And while I am at a loss for words now, it is imperative to me that when you wake up you will find something here. I will find the words, because for you, I would do anything. But it will take some time. For now… what is important is the message that I want you to feel. You are loved. I love you. With all my heart. And I am here and will be here for you throughout this process, feeling grateful that God had it in his plan for me to remain in this city at this time. You have spent a lifetime caring, giving and creating a support of friends, family, and faith all around you. You unknowingly created the tools you need to be carried through this. I have no doubt you will walk yourself through it, because you are a stronger woman than I am. But on the days that you don't feel you can... trust that you will be carried. We are all here for you.
Footprints in the Sand
by Mary Stevenson
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I Carried You."
i am in deep thought trying to muster something to say, but i find myself submerged in a pool of many emotions that get the better of me the harder i try to keep my head afloat. all i can come up with is a series of memories that i feel like i need to put out there.
1) you met me for coffee at the starbucks in hillcrest years ago, while i was deep in my grieving process. we talked, laughed, cried, and shared. i will never forget the way it felt when you reached out and held my hand as i struggled to put my thoughts into words.
2) i fixed your showerhead at your house, and it took me literally 5 minutes and a set of pliers, yet your overwelming gratitude and appreciation made me feel like i had re-done the plumbing in the entire house
3) seeing you in my parking lot when you and mike came to visit me on your road trip. that was such a treat being able to spend the afternoon showing you around flagstaff, hauling you and mike around in my beater subaru...
4) hearing your recent story about renting the home depot truck and braving the sacramento traffic to get your new bbq home. i still smile when i think about you at the wheel of such a beast
i love you so much. your caring heart and nurturing soul touch everyone who meets you. i will keep your well-being in the forefront of my mind, sending positive hopes and prayers your way. if there is anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask.
-andy
Leni,
On this past Sunday after Mass, I asked Maya and Abby if they would like to light a candle for you and their eyes beamed. We went up to the front and noticed there was only one unlit candle and as we approached it a little boy came before us and lit it... His father noticed our disappointment and said we could blow it out and relight it. We didn't blow it out but still put a new flame on it.
I thought to myself, look at all those candles burning bright with the same hope we have. It was a very emotional feeling for me.
Anyways I hope you don't mind sharing a candle with a little boy's prayers. On Sunday we will try again and keep one burning bright for you.
Frances
My dear sweet Leni,
God guided me toward your blog this morning.....so i could let you know how very much i love you and am praying for you. You are an inspiration to me and i will forever be filled with gratitude for the love and guidance that you have offered me over these past 4 years.
All of my love and prayers,
zella
Leni - I would love to help in any way possible. I am usually available or can find a way to be available. I pray that you continue to be surrounded by many people who love and care for you and that you allow them to do such. Of course my prayers are with you and anything tangible that you need, it would be my pleasure to do for you.
Love,
Dana
I am so proud of you for what you have accomplished today. It takes courage, strength, and a passion for your own existence to do what you did today. It is day one of moving forward, and you have already made yourself a great success. I love you for it.
My Dear Leni,
Amazing all the emotions one can experience. I know that you are home for the next few weeks. May I come by to spend some spiritual time with you? I will let you call me to set up a time. In the meantime, here is a prayer "For Courage" by Wm. Barclay (adapted of course ;)
"Give me, O God all the courage I need at this time.
Give me courage to bear discomfort and pain without too much grumbling.
Give me courage to bear uncertainty with hope and long delays with patience.
Give me courage to keep on trusting when I cannot understand.
And help me always to remember that, in this as in everything, it is the one who sticks it out who will be saved." Amen.
Leni, know that I'm here to stick it out along side of you.
Love,
Ann D.
Hi Leni, Today is Sunday and the song that was sung at the Preparation of Gifts during Liturgy at St. Francis is titled "Turn to the Living God" the refrain touched me and I thought of you and as I share it with you, I make it my prayer: "Turn, turn to the living God, the God of healing and comfort, and with delight, God will turn to you. With delight, God will turn to you." Imagine in your mind's eye God turning to you - now that's a delight, isn't it? Is someone bringing Communion to you? If not, I can see to it. Would you like that?
Leni, Our prayers and thoughts are with you, anything we can do help please let us know. I lifted up your name at our quiet time in our team hospice over the past few weeks. If Michael and Kathy need help also let us know, Joan lit a candle at the Cathedral yesterday for you. Love, Richard and Joan
Dear Leni: Sending you my share of morning prayers for Comfort, Love, Peace, & Healing. On this Lenten morning I am planting pansies; putting HOPE in the ground and waiting for spring LIFE to come forth. I will plant each one for you.
Peace & Every Good, Janet
Hi Leni,
I have visited your blog site many times in the hopes that I could write to you some thing meningful and inpsirational, only to leave your site without writing anything. I am hopeful this time will be different.
I am not a worker for hospice, or a commarade from your previous employment; basically not nearly as a devoted a chrisitian as the other visitors to your site. I am simply a family member, that's all. I cannot devote any part of my work day to all the special kinds of prayers the others can, and I have to ask myself am I worth even the space? Barry has told both Sue and myself that we don't have to write anything. All we have to do is "read" what has been written and for sure we are doing at least that. Sue cannot at this point write anything on the blog so she has taken to sending cards. I told her yesterday that I couldn't write anything on the blog yet either, but here I am today, attempting to write something that I am hoping is meaningful to you. Please don't misinterpret the Byrne absence on the blog as non caring. We just don't know how to do this effectively.
I hope you are tolerating the chemo. I found with my chemo I tolerated the first 4 sessions okay, the last 4 were increasingly more physically demanding. I couldn't do the 8th one at all because my body had no defenses against the toxins left. Rest was priority. Food was forget it, and love and understanding was the first priority for healing. So for me this blog is about offering you first, love, then understanding, and always support, howver that can happen.
If I could drop at your doorstep my 6 hr. homemade, fortified chicken stock faithfully each week, I would. It's a win win. Liquid nutrition that heals the body and is easily digested. I can send the recipe if there is someone out your way who can devote their time to the 6 hours ( its well worth it) that it takes to make, I will be happy to forward the recipe. Daily prayers are a given as well as our family support because for sure we are all communicating as much as we can. The fact that we cannot do something substantial for you and your family is a constant source of frustration for many of us.
On that note I will say goodnight and hope that you are resting comfortably , enveloped each day in God's mercy & love, knowing that the whole Byrne family rests when you rest, works, when you work, worries when you worry, and thinks of nothing more then the day when you enter remission.
Love & God's Everlasting Mercy,
Martha
Just read my blog entry. geeze. I did it except for a few typos. Okay. Feel I can do this now.
Love agin,
Martha
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