www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Pray for my uncle and his family

My uncle Jack Hartley fell ill on Christmas eve and has been in the hospital ever since.

He was so close to death at one point that family members were streaming in from all over the country to say goodbye. Then he seemed to rally and even tried to stand up and leave the hospital at one point! Unfortunately that didn't last and he is now unable to swallow and in a lot of discomfort.

Complicating the whole situation is that he and my aunt had made out these "Living Wills" in which, among other things, they stated they did not want to have feeding tubes. Well, since he now can't swallow, and so can't eat, my aunt and my cousins are now hotly debating whether or not to allow the doctors to insert a feeding tube.

The "majority vote" now seems to be against the feeding tube, and this is causing a major rift within the family. So please pray not only for my uncle's health and well-being but for his family members who will have to live with whatever decision they finally make - not to mention with each other!

My humble prayers for uncle Charlie & family. May the Lord grant him comfort,healing and strength.

james

Tammy:

My prayers for your uncle, his family, and for you.

I faced a similar problem about a year ago with an uncle over whom I had Medical Power of Attorney. He had a stroke and could not swallow anything lest it pass into his lungs: his throat muscles were paralyzed. I overrode the Living Will with my POA. I can understand many things and prolonging life is not something I intended, but I also didn't want anyone to die of starvation or dehydration on my watch or on my conscience. My uncle had eight more very happy months of life--time in which he was able to continue to build his relationship with Christ. I don't regret overriding his Living Will.

With that said, this is one of the difficult decisions that many of us face: putting the faith into practice in tough situations.

May the Lord hold you all in the Palm of His Hand.

BOB

Many prayers.

Prayers.

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech you to behold, visit and relieve Your sick servant Jack for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon Jack with the eyes of Your mercy; comfort him with the sense of Your goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction. In Your good time, restore Jack to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in Your fear, and to Your glory; and grant that finally he may dwell with You in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Lord Jesus we ask You also to bring peace and oneness of mind and heart to Jack's family so that they can do what Jack would wish and overlook their own desires and guard their own motives. Help his family to be selfless and think of Jack's wellbeing. Bring them together for the single purpose of helping their loved one. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.

Most Holy Mother of God, Ever-Virgin Mary look upon this family and help them to acquire the peace and concord that your Holy Family had in Nazareth. Ask your Son, Our Lord Jesus to give them an increase in faith and hope and love that they may indeed become a true Christian family united in charity for one another.

Praying with you,
+Fr. Gregory

Prayers for Jack and for his wife and children.

Dear Dolly:

I add my prayers for your uncle Jack and his family and for yours!

Amado

Forgive me my Latin sister,

I do not know where I got the name Charlie, I must have had a senior minute :rolleyes: , but be certain I will re-submit my humble prayers for uncle Jack & family.

james, mumbling

That's okay, James! Actually, my cat is named Charlie. I'm sure Jack, who has a weird sense of humor (like me!) would enjoy the mix-up!

Just to give you an example of why he's my favorite uncle and why I really wish he wasn't going through this -- I found the following e-mail among several which we exchanged a couple of years ago - and it just cracked me up! Enjoy!

LOL!

To update my uncle's situation - he is expected to die sometime in the next day or two.

All his doctors agreed that putting a feeding tube in would not help him at this point,so the family decided against it, choosing to make him as comfortable as possible instead.

However, one of the brothers disagrees, and has become very angry and emotional, accusing the rest of the family of "murdering" his father, and they've actually gotten into fistfights in the waiting room of the hospital about it!

So my poor aunt has to deal not only with her husband's impending death, but with this situation among her kids which will probably cause bad feelings for years to come.

A more touching aspect of the story though: My dad and my uncle have always been good friends as well as brothers-in-law. And my mom told me that my dad is just basically ignoring all the trauma and angst out in the waiting room, and just quietly going in and sitting with Jack, talking to him about all the good times our families have had together over the years, sharing his memories of Jack's kids growing up, etc. Which I think is just really nice, and probably a lot more helpful than all the arguing!

MATTHEW 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them!

Peace is My gift to you...I do not give it like the world give it...

May peace reign in this family Lord...for it is a sign of Your holy presence. Help them to gather in FAITH and HOPE and be aware that YOU are in their midst and the giver of PEACE! May Your holy Mother, the Ever-Virgin Mary be among them as she was at Cana and in the Upper Room...gathering them...and sharing her faith and hope and love...and assuring them of Your abiding presence. We ask this in Your most holy name, of Jesus the Christ, Who with You Father and the Holy Spirit lives and rules, as God unto ages of ages, Amen.

In His great mercy,
+Fr. Gregory

My uncle passed away this morning (Thurs.). Thanks, everyone, for your prayers - they are appreciated!