Spiritual/Christian Thread

Sierra

Rachel:

I just read part of your post above..
and am very glad you have this and it
takes you through.. your journey..

I am a spiritual/religious person as well
We all have our own beliefs and ways..

Hoping that this week will be better
for you..

Hugs and prayers....
and many angels..

ps least you are not
freezing.. like me..


Sierra

Kathy_Verett

Mary,

What a beautiful story! Now you have your sister, too. My husband and I have been through losing our parents and it is not an easy part of life.

God bless your day!
Kathy

Anonymous

Mary, what a testimony of selfless love. Just a beautiful, beautiful story. I am so glad you have a good relationship with your sister now, and that she recognizes your totally pure love for her. Thank you for sharing how God has turned bad to good, once again.

Anonymous

Sierra, I'd love to be freezing, just a little bit right now, 70 degrees and hot flashes don't go together very well. I still think I'd like to trade houses for a week.

jilly47

Is this a board for moving beyond cancer or a Christian Witness board??? Have you ever considered the fact that you may be intruding your thoughts and beliefs on people who are not Christians?? Jews, muslims, athiests, etc get cancer,too.
This site is supposed to be about breast cancer
Just a thought.......

Kathy_Verett

Jilly,

I am glad to live in a country where we are free to express ourselves. I would love to read a Jewish or Muslim thread on this board. Please encourage anyone you know to start one. Our faith is a part of who we are and part of coping with moving on with our lives. All of us are so much more than just a breast cancer case, and that is the beauty of this site. I've read about struggles with marriages, pets, children, landlords - all on this site.

God bless your day!
Kathy

Anonymous

Jilly, I'm sorry you feel that we are intruding our thoughts and beliefs on you. I titled the thread the way I did to keep anyone from reading it, without deliberately wanting to, by clicking on it, and scrolling down. I realize there are many other beliefs, and what other people believe is not a problem for me. If someone believes in Satanism, and starts a thread on that, I would have no reason to complain, especially if they made it clear that was the subject before I read the thread. I hate the anomosity that has started because of this thread. However, I cannot say I regret starting this thread. This country was founded on the religious freedom, and the right of free speech. As you can see, many others have had very positive spiritual experiences to share, and it's what has kept us sane during bc. I see that you are new to these boards as of today in fact, how unfortunate that the first threads you found were ones that created anomosity. I think if you continue reading on, you will find lots of support and compassion on this site. It is a blessing to all of us, and I am sure you will be welcomed with open arms too.

RoRo

Rache:
If you really hated the animosity that was started you would have apologized to Denisa...because you are the one who attacked her. Denisa's post to you was kind, respectful and informative...you chose to go after her as if she had personally threatened you. Practice what you preach.

And feel free to go to the moderators...I have nothing to be concerned about.

Rosanne

YoBets

I have no problem with this thread and if someone wants to have a thread concerning how a different religion sustains them that would be fine because if they are so titled, we have the option of whether to read them or not. I also think that when we have very strong opinions about something..it is easy to think someone is attacking us when perhaps they are not. Perhaps Denisa's comments were filled with foresight because she suspected complaints like Jilly's would be forthcoming and she wanted us to avoid the conflict. In any case, I hope we can all forgive and move on. And thank you for the wonderful and inspirational stories you have been sharing on this thread.
Betsy

dianna440

Rachel did preface this thread to warn those who did not want to read about the topic. There are many many threads on these forums that I do not want to read because I don't have interest in the topic. I certainly wouldn't start to read them and then scold the people who were posting there because I didn't like the topic!

Rachel - maybe you should bold your preface to this forum so that it stands out more.

jilly47

Quote:

---

That's a notice for anyone who prefers to NOT be exposed to this type thread. Turn back now, or forever hold your peace..

In my humble opinion, anytime a post begins like this, the poster knows that what she is posting will stir up controversy. That is not what we come here for. There is a subject thread for religious/spiritual posts for a reason. Religion is a very sensetive subject, and while I understand that some of us take great comfort in these types of posts, there is an appropriate place for them. I think the poster knew that when she began this thread.......

dianna440

Jilly, the best I can say is that I truly believe Rachel meant no harm and was sincere in trying to let people know what the thread would be all about.

we've been having discussions today about how things can be mistranslated from what we want them to be because people cannot see our body language or hear how we want the post to come out.

Why don't we just give her the benefit of the doubt and decide to read elsewhere if it makes us uncomfortable? Again I won't bother reading threads that have no interest to me. But I will defend their right to be here.

Dianna

richmondnan

Oh, I forgot another very wonderful experience I had during bc. I went to the hospital to get my bone scan. This is the same hospital where I had my son (now 11). At that time my mother was still alive, for some reason she was listed among my "next of kin" (I am still married to father of my son..happily so, but whatever...it was a mixup in their records). Anyway, the girl asked me whether this was correct in my records and I said, no, my mother died in 1998 (she was also tx at the same hospital, same oncologist as I have). The girl taking my information became very quiet when I told her of the fact that my mother and I shared an oncologist. She asked me if "it ever became easier" not having your mother. So, I asked her what was wrong and she started crying. She had lost her mother a couple of weeks before. The poor dear, it was one of her early days back and work and she was having a tough time w/ her grief. Of course, I tried to comfort her as best as I could and also shared that I knew that God loved her and I bet her mother was with the angels right now.
So the error in my record was there so this girl could get a bit of comfort that day.

What I've found is that bc does help sensitize us more--even if we were before--to the sufferings of others. Remember the verse about how Christ looked with compassion on others? I think that is what we are called to do, be kind, try to understand, and try to hear what is in the voice or see what is in the glance.

Blessings to you all
Nan

roseg

Rachel - you said at the top - don't come here if you don't want to. I think that's fair.

As a nurse you seem to have a lot of opportunities to be empathatic to your patients as a result of your cancer experience. More than once I've wondered if the staff caring for me had ever been in my place -- a patient dependent on medical staff.

For me this experience serves to make me a better wife. My husband has re-occurant lymphomia. My experience helps me to emphatize with his treatments (which are going well) and fears about them.

I don't think God sent cancer to me. In fact he put people in my life who have 'cured' it. But I think I can learn from the experience, and that he wants me to.

NPat

Rachel,

To answer your question... I have a Palm 515... there are newer ones now and they have gotten cheaper. Epocrates is a site that has drug and diagnostic programs that will download to your PDA. Skyscape is another website offering many programs you can download. There are emergency medical ones but I can't see me in a code whipping out my Palm!

God has provided for my needs. An area of weakness in my faith has been when something ominous occurs and wondering if God can "handle it" without my help... duh... then I acknowledge that He made ME and He has loved me for 57 years... He can guide me through the muck!!!

I just want to comment on the concerns about the Christian testimony on this thread. The first job I had as a NP was for a Muslim physician. He was very faithful and knew that my faith was important to me. We had a mutual respect for each other and our different religious beliefs were not an issue. I met one of my best friends... the lab technician... when I worked for him. She remains a close friend today and we pray for one another and often share how God has moved in our lives. We will never accept each other's religious beliefs but there is an bond we have because we are both people of faith... though she goes to the mosque and I to my church. Being a Christian does not make one anti another religion. My grandfather was a Polish Jew and we all know what persecution they experienced. I think the key is love and respect for each other.

May you ALL be blessed,

Pat

Anonymous

Rose, I have always liked caring for cancer patients, but ever since I started chemo, I have thought about making it my regular job. I watched the nurses doing the infusions , and watched the patients there for the chemo. I realized they have a unique relationship, and the patients form bonds with each other that are unbelievable. I've watched veteran patients and their spouses help orientate the new ones, telling them all the little things that the nurses may not think of, offering prayer, supporting others when they may be living their last days on this earth. I guess it's the selfless acts of very ill cancer patients that touched me the most. They make me want to be a better person, they inspire me, they make me ashamed of my complaining, whining, ingratitude for what I have, when I see their contentment with the little bit of time they have left. I would be so much richer (in my soul) just by being around them.

Heidi521

Amen to what Sherri says. I get my last TAC tomorrow too. My bowels are so ready to go back to normal they can hardly take it:)
Today in church a women stood up and said I want to say Heidi is my hero. This women went for a biopsy on Thursday and it was benign.(how she got the results so fast????) But I talked to her the week before by chance and told her to just trust the Lord and she said she did.
Hang in there everyone!!! Heidi

nosurrender

This thread does not bother me in fact it is what i would expect to find on a cancer board - a thread about how God and our Faith sustains us through the hardest journey we have had to travel.
I would like to think of this as Field of Dreams Rachel. God doesn't care what section he's put in....if you post it they (the poeople who need, want it) will come.
G

Anonymous

Sherri, I hope your TAC went well today. Girl, you're a tough one, doing all 3 at once! You know, it's such a wonderful feeling to be done. Will you be doing rads?


I have to say thank you to everyone who supported the thread, and sent me those lovely PM's supporting this thread. I had never dreamed of feeling persecuted like this, and I cannot call it anything but persecution. The devil will use ANY thing or anybody to do his work. He uses my temper and big mouth to do it sometimes. I see that the controversial threads were removed by Melissa today. And she had said she was going to place this up higher, but at the time of this typing it hasn't been moved. I like to think that this is bad that He is turning to good, and like G (no surrender) said, this is the field of dreams baby! I love that thought. We built it, and they will come. How cool is that? What an uplifting idea.

God is good all the time, and He prevails always. I am having a hard time posting anything like I started the thread for, but I wanted to check in with everyone. I love you all, and will try to have an upbeat post when I return. Take care, sisters.

Tracie

Rachel,
Let me start my saying you know I love ya, girl! And I love your posts....they are ALWAYS INSPIRATIONAL (whether you are talking about God or not)

I'm not going to comment on where I THINK this thread belongs, because it's of no consequence now.

But what I want to relay is that this thread did start as an inspirational "let's share how God has been a positive force in our lives", but SOMETIMES (and not for all posters) scriptures start getting quoted and cited. Quotes are being posted straight out of the bible.

There is a fine line here. If you want to share stories about how God has affected your life, that's one thing.
But some carry it further to almost a preaching level (just like teaching a Sunday School Class).
And here is where it makes it uncomfortable.

I believe in God. I want to know others believe in Him and how he works miracles in their lives. That makes Him more personal to me.
But I don't want to feel like I have to hear/read a sermon in order to know others' beliefs. Just share, don't preach.

Again, Rachel, please don't stop coming to the boards.....you are a valued FRIEND here. By me especially.
Big Hugs!

YoBets

I hope you will keep coming to the boards too, Rachel. Lately, when I think of Christianity, I have been thinking of the holy spirit. I have read that when the holy spirit comes to live in our hearts he/she/it feels sad when there is division and judgement. We all screw up, yet we are loved anyway..especially if we sincerely repent. Many of the "God Breezes" I have read here have been so uplifting.
Thank you so much,.
Betsy

Kathy_Verett

Sherri and Heidi,

I hope your treatments went well. Just think, in about3-4 weeks your taste buds will be back to normal, your gut won't be growling, and you will start to get hair again! I couldn't wait to get a good ole greasy spoon cheeseburger with onion, mustard, pickles, tomato, and lettuce. It tasted SO good.

We just got back from the Frio River at Concan. When I checked the boards and saw the change, I thought to myself that this is probably good for me. This is really moving away from the cancer and on with life. As I scroll down to get to this thread, I will actually see more of this site. I want to encourage newly diagnosed and those in treatment when it is appropriate, but I will come to this site!

God bless your day!
Kathy

Kathy_Verett

God is the God of all comfort and we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from Him. I just got off the phone with a friend who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She and I were really close when our kids were younger, then my family moved to another town and we have lost touch somewhat. The bond of the Spirit is stronger than distance and she called me this morning after talking to a mutual friend who urged her to call. She is dealing with the whole death and dying issue we all face with this disease. We were able to encourage one another to live whatever amount of time we have on this earth to the glory of God. When I get squeezed, I want the juice of the fruit of the Spirit to come out of me. I want to praise God for He is good all the time!

God bless your day!
Kathy

Roxwooood

Kathy, what a beautiful expression. If I could remember that more often, I would be a much better person. So many times I know I must make the Lord pretty sad from the bitter juice that flows from me, or when I am dried up and nothing flows at all. You have such a great outlook on life, and the best part is you're not afraid to give the credit where credit is due. We are blessed by your presence on this site.

Roxwooood

Well, here's my post of an amazing event at work Tuesday morning. I hope it's as inspirational and uplifting for you as it was for me.


My unit is in 2 sections, with a short hall between. Around 3am Tuesday morning I heard the operator call a code blue on the other side of my unit. We don't have many codes, we tend to get patients with that severity to the ICU/CCU fast. This code was on a frail, elderly lady who had experienced an arrest in response to a fairly harmless anti-nausea drug. Her nurse had seen her awake minutes before finding her dead. The code team arrived shortly, and took over CPR on the lady. After going thru the ACLS protocols, doing all that dramatic stuff you see on tv, she had no response to anything they had done. The ER doctor asked some of the crew from the ER "is she the lady from room X in the ER?" and they said "yes". He had taken care of her in the ER, saying how devastated the family would be, a very doting family. This patient came in with abdominal pain and now she was dead.

You know how sometimes you say those little prayers to God in your mind? I found myself thinking of that family and saying "please Lord let her be okay". The doctor pronounced her dead at 3:35am, after I said the prayer. I have strong feelings about dead bodies, in my heart I know they can hear us during/after dieing. When the doctor gave the go ahead to get her cleaned up, tubes removed etc. I volunteered to help the tech do it. I can't explain why that was important to me, I just wanted it done with dignity. So, the tech and I were putting on our gloves to do post mortum care when the doctor looked at the screen on the crash cart and said "her heart has started beating again" and he felt her carotid artery and he could feel the heart beating too! Can you imagine the shock of this happening minutes after she was pronounced dead? I was standing there, I saw them do chest compressions, put an ET tube and bag her, give the drugs to restart her heart, and they did this for over 30 minutes. They stopped at given intervals, checking for spontaneous heart beat, breathing..anything that would indicate they were successful. I saw this woman was dead, there was no doubt. So, they rushed her to ICU. Luckily, we hadn't started removing tubes . How amazing is that???

And, just to make this clear, this story isn't about ME saying a prayer. It isn't about me at all, it's just that I was one of the people who witnessed this miracle. I hesitated to tell the part where I was praying for her, because I don't want to give the impression it is about me at all. Simply put, the Lord hears our prayers and can take bad situations and turn them to good. Like NPat says, He is the great physician.


The next day after getting some sleep, this is the conclusion I drew from this experience. In the long run, the efforts of man are inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. No matter how much we try, we can't prolong life. I took comfort from the fact that by all appearances (of all the medical personnel and medical equipment) this woman was dead. If the efforts of the medical staff had been successful this would have been attributed to man. The sequence of events made it clear, to me, that God has the final word on this Earth. I take this as a ray of hope for all bc survivors. I've done all I can to prevent recurrence. In the end, whether I'm stage 0 or stage 4, no statistic will lengthen nor shorten my life. God has a perfect plan for me, whether I agree or understand it, it's still perfect.

precious071003

thanks for sharing....great story....

xoxoxo
Precious

JoJo

WOW Rachel,
What a wonderful story, and what an awesome God we have. Never doubt the power of prayer, God hears the smallest prayer said in the smallest voice. Thank you once again for sharing such an inspiring story.

YoBets

That is an astounding story. Thank you so much for sharing it. Wow!
Betsy

Kathy_Verett

Rachel,

What a story! I shared it with my nursing student daughter. God is truly in control! We are so much better off when we stop trying so hard to be in control and let Him do the job. We can enjoy what He has provided for us then.

God bless your day!
Kathy

Kathy_Verett

To the top for Matts Mom.

God bless your day!
Kathy