Shortly after I wrote the previous post When Life Throws You a Plot Twist, things still looked pretty bad with my brother, Mike. He was “out of the woods” but the doctors were considering long term things like feeding tubes and a trache. However, not long after my post we got great news from his wife. He was strong enough to have the ventilator removed! What seemed impossible became possible.
It was not lost on me that this occurred on the feast of St. Nicholas. December has many special feast days such as the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christmas, and St. Nicholas, so it’s not too surprising. However, if you know the story of the St. Nicholas, he helped out a family who was going to lose their daughters since they didn’t have enough funds to cover a dowry, or a sum of money to offer prospective husbands at that time. St. Nicholas saved the girls from potential slavery by tossing a bag of gold in the family’s window. This led to the tradition of hanging stockings during Christmas time.
With the answer to one of our many prayers on the feast of St. Nicholas, it seems as though he may have been praying for Mike. What we were told the day before changed 100% in one day.
Mike is now working hard to overcome the aftermath of such a serious and life-threatening situation. He can’t wait to get back home, but he needs to build his strength. The recovery is a long road filled with Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapies. But he is driven. He is driven to get back to his family.
Yesterday, Joseph, a family friend, visited Mike. He visits often and brings religious items such as prayer cards, medals, rosaries. He is also Mike’s son’s Godfather. I really enjoyed talking with him. While he was there he gave Mike some beautiful words of comfort and strength. He talked about the cross and how everyone has one. He even brought a prayer card of St. John of the Cross
Joseph’s presence there was different than any other. I can’t quite put my finger on it. The only thing I can think of is this gentleman is close to God and when you’re close to God, you radiate His Peace, Joy, and Love. He was kind and gentle to Mike and I know his prayers are helping in every way.
Prayer is powerful. When it looked like Mike wouldn’t survive, I was praying Rosaries, Divine Mercy, anything I could think of that would aid him in his fight for life. Whatever God had planned, I would accept. But all I could think about was that he has so much more to do here and I don’t believe his work is done.
Jennifer Gladen 