Counting Your Blessings, Not Crying Over Spilled Milk

So, for those of you who don't follow me on fb, I'm wearing a heart monitor again.  Joy.  I've been whining about it since I got it yesterday - it itches, it pinches, it's annoying, I get tangled in the cords, it leaves little round rashes that make it look like I've been wrestling with an octopus....

And then today I found out that a dear, sweet, sweet friend from college had a mastectomy yesterday.  I found this out when I went to her fb page to wish her a happy birthday today.  That's one hell of a birthday gift - let me take your boob to try to save your life.... ??? 

Makes me realize that I should be thanking God every single day that I have to wear this heart monitor, that it's not something worse.  Yes, it's my heart, but it's nothing fatal.  It's inconvenient, but I don't have to have anything cut off or cut out, I don't have to undergo any major medical treatments - although ablation is something that I would do if it was proven to work. 

Two of the sweetest people I knew in college have faught cancer so far.  Crystal is a survivor, an author, an amazing woman of God, and she and her husband are raising three wonderful boys and work in youth ministry world wide.  Becky just had her surgery yesterday, and has dedicated her life to service through LDS, her passion is bringing the Word to the far corners of the world. 

Compared to cancer, my inappropriate heart is something that I will give thanks for, and use my energy that I've been spending on complaining to pray for those less fortunate. 

Both ladies blogs are public, so please, take a peak, and say a prayer.

Counting Blessings & Little (or big!) Miracles

I tentatively share with you that I have been almost completely (almost) symptom free for the last 5-6 days!  No chest pains, no dizziness, no near-passing out, no tingling arms & legs... HURRAY! 

I really started noticing a difference after I threw up a few prayer requests to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Saint Therese of Lisieux.  Both of these women suffered illnesses and were determined to continue serving God despite the challenges of their conditions, and my spiritual director suggested I have a little chat with them.... spend time in prayer with them.... "breathing in the presesnce of the Holy Spirit"... That was October 30th.  I prayed & asked St Kateri & St Therese to pray with me, for me, every single day;  within nine days I started feeling better!  It wasn't any sort of official novena, by any means, but nine straight days of prayer....

Thank you, everyone, for all of your prayers - I know they are helping!  I still have to take the medication & supplements, but just being able to do... anything... without being afraid of passing out, without being in constant pain, constant fear.... AMEN.

I plan to spend some time at the Catholic book stores, I really want to find medals for Kateri & Therese, and wear them.  I don't ever want to forget that these amazing women of faith are with me every single day.