Dear Friends.. I finally have the time to let you all know why I need your prayers...

The month of December was an emotional and physical challenge for both my wife and I. Early in the month our 4 month old daughter, Ana, was hospitalized with pneumonia for 5 days.

two week later we were at Sick Kids Hospitalgetting her tested for cystic fibrosis. On the 18th I was involved in a bad car accident >.. and then finally on the 21st I suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized over Christmas for 10 days.
This totally caught us all, including my family doctor, off guard as all my vitals have always been normal, my blood pressure, cholestrol and blood glucose were always within range.. I was generally in good health for a 39 year old male.

on the 22nd I had an angioplasty procedure... every went well.. until later that evening when my heart got "irritated" and began going into a rhythm of it's own.. they let me flatline and then shocked my heart back into regular rhythm.... I had a breathing tube and they sedated me.. so that my heart could relax for 72hrs..they pulled the tube out on Christmas day.. and by boxing day I was up sitting in a chair... I got out on the 31st and was home with my family....
I feel fantastic now and my heart has made a significant recovery.... I'll be back at work in 2 weeks....

I've also heard that in some Eastern Orthodox group.. it is believed that one becomes like their Godparent.... well...

William Lawson(59) of Leeds, England was experencing chest pain on the 21st of December.. and was rushed to a local hospital.. the following morning he had an angioplasty procedure...
William is my Uncle and my Godfather...
Him and I were going through the exact same thing on the exact same day.... except we were 6,000 KM apart....

In Christ,
Brad

Prayers for the healing and strengthening of you and your family...

Brad, my brother and friend,

Prayers for you, Ana, and your Uncle and Godfather, William. May the health concerns of all of you be abated and may God grant each of you many years in the love of your family and of Him.

Prayers, too, for Jackie, that the stress of dealing with all of this has resolved and that God grant she and your other children many years as well.

Brad, That is most interesting about your Uncle having the same thing as you. I am glad you are better and do pray for your family as you have requested.

In Christ,

Porter (Mary Jo)

Dearest Brad,

Your post both shocked and saddened me, dear brother in Christ.

You have gone through many trials so close together, but your faith has brought you through them. I think that I can speak for all the Moderators and Administrators here when I say that we thank God Almighty that you are now well and with us again.

I will keep you and your family in prayer this Lent. You and your wife may want to attend one of the beautiful compline services offered during the week in Orthodox churches during Great Lent...the words are beautiful and touching when this particular prayer is chanted (it is also the service when we repeat the beautiful St. Ephraim's prayer with prostrations...)

0 Lord of hosts be with us; for we have no help but Thee in troubles. 0 Lord of hosts have mercy on us.
-Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to the greatness of his majesty.

0 Lord of hosts be with us; for we have no help but Thee in troubles. 0 Lord of hosts have mercy on us.

-Praise him with the sound of the trumpet; praise him with lute and harp.

0 Lord of hosts be with us; for we have no help but Thee in troubles. 0 Lord of hosts have mercy on us.

-Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe.

0 Lord of hosts be with us; for we have no help but Thee in troubles. 0 Lord of hosts have mercy on us.



this is in Greek...(my parish chants it in English)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nJllw0kTz4

In Christ's love,
Alice

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Prayers for you and your precious family, as well as your uncle/Godfather. May you be comforted and experience healing.
In Christ- Marylouise

My dear friends,

I am back... it's been a challenging 11 months for me and my family.. but we made it. I'm now fully recovered. I just ran 6.0 miles last week..
My cardio fitness level is at 114% for my age (40)..
I have graduated from Cardiac Rehab and am on my way to train for a 1/2 marathon in the summer of 2011.

Glory to Jesus Christ and thank you all for your prayers and wishes.

We've also had some other challenges... My youngest daughter Ana (15mths) was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis in her ankle. We're managing that through Sick Kids Hospital.

My Mother in Law was also diagonsed with Stomach Cancer back in May. Thankfully it appears that they (the doctors) got to it in time.

This Christmas will be a big celebration for all.


In Christ,
Brad

Dear Brad:

Prayers for your full recovery and for the well-being of your entire family!

Merry Christmas!

Amado

Brad, old friend,

Wonderful to see a post from you (and a response from my dear brother, Amado, too) and to hear that things are going well. Prayers for your continued and full recovery. Prayers also for your little one, that Ana recover fully and quickly. Prayers as well for your Mother-in-Law's continued recovery.

Neil

Prayers and continued prayers for you all!!!

Prayers for Brad, Ava and the whole family. May God bless all with every happiness and healing this Christmas!

Good to hear from you,
Alice

Brad, So glad you are running. That is a terrific sign of your restored healing and health.

Prayers for you and your family continue.


peace and blessings of Advent.

My dear friends....

it's been a challenging 3 or so months... I came down with a virus just before Chistmas that caused some cardiovascular and respiratory challenges for me...
Was in hospital from the 15-19th of Dec. I spend Christmas at home and then it happened again on the 4th and 25th of January.. both instances requiring hospitalization. My heart rate falls to 31 beats per minute.. some times I pass out other times I barely manage to stay awake....
I'm getting lots of tests done, auto immune, etc. We're trying to figure out what's causing the inflammation.

Seems like things just start getting worse from a health perspective after one turns 40.

My family are all well....

In-Christ,
Brad

Prayers for you Brad [ and also for those treating you ] .

Let's hope and pray that they get to the bottom of this quickly and make a diagnosis and a good treatment plan.

How are the family coping with all this ?