FAITH

Forty-nine year old "Andy" suffers from rectal cancer that has spread to his liver. The entire two months he has been on hospice, Andy talks about his belief that God will cure him. Andy is from a very large, extended family who are very involved in his life. Andy is married to "Sarah". Sarah and Andy have a fourteen year old son, "Jeremy". Sarah has been very honest with Jeremy about what is happening to his father.

Andy has been slowly declining, although would never talk about his decline or terminal diagnosis. He believes that God will grant him a miracle and cure him because there are people all over the world praying for him through a prayer chain.

Andy has been becoming weaker until suddenly he could no longer walk and was extremely weak. The hospice nurse went out to make a visit and called me to come out as she did not think Andy would survive the day.

I walked into the home and Sarah was helping Andy in the bathroom. While waiting for them to come out, I was able to meet with Andy's mother and sister who were visiting. They were both shocked at his rapid decline. Andy's mother had lost her eldest son fourteen years ago from cardiac disease. Andy is her youngest son. Her strong Catholic faith and prayer are what sustains her and the family.

Twenty minutes later, I went to check on Andy and Sarah. The bathroom door was open and Andy was sitting on the floor. Sarah was attempting to lift him up into the wheelchair and could not. Andy's sister tried to help and neither could lift him. I then called the non-emergency fire department to help Andy back into bed.

After the firemen left, Andy went from expecting God to grant him a miracle to the sudden awareness that he was dying. He was at total peace about it all. His only worry was his son and I reassured him that his son and family were going to be okay because of the love, support and strong faith his family provided.

Andy said that I came at the perfect time. I told him that I felt guided to his home. He answered, "Yes you were, by God". I, too, felt that I was touched by God; a miracle He granted to me.

The following morning, I called the home to see how things were going. I spoke with Sarah and she said that Andy died at 4:30am that morning. She had not yet contacted hospice as she wanted family to be able to say goodbye to Andy. I informed her that the hospice nurse can come out to do the pronouncement and the mortuary can be called when she is ready.





FAITH



He has always had a compelling faith.
His belief in God is that strong.
He reads bible verses daily
reinforcing his conviction that he will be saved.

He knows God will grant him a miracle.
He knows his cancer will be cured
for all the people who are praying for him
locally and around the world.

Even though he is weakening,
his conviction remains strong.
He will not talk about his dying,
even though his body is starting to shut down.

During my visit today, he slid down to the floor.
His wife was unable to lift him up
so firemen were called to help him to bed.
It was then that he realized the real truth.

He now knows his time is short.
He is suddenly at peace about letting go.
He continues to trust his faith to guide him.
His belief in God remains that strong.