Tuesday's report

I want to pray with all of you for a minute. I have been reading your messages as they come in, and gratefully am the person that prints them all out for the family each day. I am hearing us cry out to God for our dear friend and loved one, Katy.

“Lord, we want you to be known through the way in which you love. That’s what we have seen today, your love. Everywhere we have turned there are expressions of it, through people.“

“I have been so surprised by the capacity you have given Katy to not only give love but to receive it. You would think that people who are really good at loving others might not be used to being the one being loved. Well, today was a love fire-hose and Katy attempted to drink from it. And did a pretty good job.“

“Lord, when that Headstart mom came in today, to Katy’s room. It almost took my breath away. I know this mom. Her hard, rocky life has kept her from being able to take care of those You have placed in her hands. She is a broken lady, desperate, poor and most of the time emotionless. Yet, today, she stood outside that door, peered in past the layers of people who had come to visit, and stood shaking. Shaking not for the nervousness of the crowd but for sadness, for Katy. She shook because she hates that Katy has a tumor and somehow the terribleness of this injustice rose above all her own injustices and out of sheer love found a way to get to the hospital to say “the angels will be there protecting you”, in Spanish. And that was it. She shook and tears came out and she reached out and it felt like love, God’s love to anyone wanting to observe it. I know I didn’t miss it.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.
Psalm 34:4-7

Katy’s face was radiant. She didn’t miss it; she didn’t miss the love God had sent in the form of this woman.“

“And then the party, Jesus! Wow, what a birthday! The flood gates opened and there it was this huge birthday party, outside in a lovely garden, which could have been, for one night, mistaken for a restaurant or resort which was crowded like a wedding reception or gala. We were a hundred people or so, all with our sticky white dots on our faces, to make Katy feel our solidarity with her “fiducials”, those small round electronic components that have been glued to her face, that somehow will tell the computer tomorrow how to locate the parts of the brain that matter. A friend arranged for a mariachi “trio” band to serenade us … and sodas and food and birthday cakes, baked by the kids at Kids Life and presents and more flowers and more balloons. So much love and she received it and looked into the face of everyone loving her and loved them back. It was her birthday party but it was also her “we love you” party because of tomorrow and the surgery. Lord, you were present in all of this exchange. It was obvious, she didn’t miss it!”

“Right in the middle of this beauty, you brought Amy to Katy all the way from Rome. Thank you for the speedy trip, the escort through customs by the chief of airport security in Newark that was only and just for her, and for her safe landing. Thank you for this family who finally get to be together in this!”

“Lord, rescue Katy tomorrow. For you O Lord are good. We know you are hearing us, hearing her. We know Lord you are near. This brain tumor is a terrible thing, please deliver Katy from it. Lord, redeem everything awful in this situation, we run to you for refuge.“

Psalm 59: 16-17
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your loving-kindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me loving-kindness.