Prayer request

Reader "Prepared Grammy" left a comment as follows:

I'm hoping a lot of you see this. I am in desperate need of people to pray.

Please pray for Baby L. She was born yesterday. Half of her heart is not working correctly. She was flown to St. Louis where the specialists have done everything they can. They are letting the parents hold her and are waiting for her to pass. Please join me in asking for a miraculous healing of Baby L's heart.

I am good friends with both sets of grandparents and taught Baby L's mom in kindergarten. L's mom and grandparents came here for Sunday dinner every week after church for years. We camped together and have shared the highs and lows of our lives with each other. I go to church with Baby L's other grandparents. Their 22 year old daughter was killed in a tornado several years ago. L is named after their daughter. I can't imagine what this family is going through.

PLEASE PRAY!

Folks, let's get together and pray for Baby L.

UPDATE: Prepared Grammy informs me the baby passed away. Please continue to pray for the family.

Prayer request

I've known about this since it happened, but we were asked to keep things quiet until things stabilized. Now that it's been made public, I can make a prayer request.

As you know, I write for WND. I've written for them for 11 years so far. The staff at WND is among the best I've ever met, led by the authority and direction of founder/CEO Joseph Farah.

Joseph suffered a serious stroke recently, and we've all been frantically praying for his recovery. I ask you to add your prayers as well.

This is the announcement made yesterday by vice-president and managing editor David Kupelian:

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WND Founder, CEO Joseph Farah Suffers Serious Stroke
Nation's first online news organization pulling together in leader's absence

Dear WND readers, friends and allies,

Since WND is a Christian organization, when adversity strikes we strive to remember that God is firmly in charge.

Recently, adversity hit hard when our company's founder and CEO, Joseph Farah, suffered a serious stroke. After spending several days in the hospital undergoing extensive testing and evaluation, he is now home, resting comfortably and recovering.

Although no one can say with certainty how long he will be away from WND, what I can say with certainty is that Joseph and his family are extremely appreciative of your prayers, as are all of us at WND.

Joseph's medical crisis, in addition to being a difficult trial for the Farah family, is likewise tough for those of us staffing the news organization he founded and has led for 22 years. I've known Joseph Farah for three decades, and for 20 years have worked closely with this pioneering journalist as a colleague, good friend and fellow Christian. I know him as a man of enormous talents, integrity and genuine faith.

Many may be wondering: What does all this mean for WND? With God's help we are not going anywhere except forward. Our editorial team is the best, and most of us have, like me, labored side by side with Joseph for the better part of two decades. Everyone in our editorial department is stepping up to fill Joseph's shoes as much as possible while he takes whatever time he needs to recover. So, beyond the absence of Joseph's daily "Between the Lines" column, I don't believe you'll see any change nor notice any holes in our news and commentary presentation.

We're all living through a period of unprecedented turmoil, wherein one political party has somehow become totally disconnected from reality – promoting insane, catastrophic "solutions" to nonexistent crises while denying obviously real crises and slandering or censoring all who disagree with them. I can honestly say, having personally spent more than 35 years in the news media, I've never seen a greater need than right now for genuinely truth-oriented, pro-Constitution, pro-Judeo-Christian journalism. That's the niche WND has striven mightily to fill since its founding back in 1997 as America's first online news organization. And with the Good Lord's help, that vital work will continue.

Meanwhile, we appreciate your loyalty, readership, prayers and support. As you know, we are under attack in a war on independent news waged by the lords of the Internet who have decided to silence voices like ours. If you're able to support us, either directly at WND, or through the newly formed nonprofit WND News Center, that blesses us greatly.

Most importantly right now, I ask that you please pray for Joseph's recovery, for his wife (and WND co-founder) Elizabeth, and their wonderful family during this difficult time.

Thank you so much.

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Please join me in praying for Joseph's recovery. He's a great man and has done a tremendous amount for conservative journalism.

Follow-up to prayer request

Here's a WONDERFUL follow-up on yesterday's prayer request from reader Prepared Grammy:

Praise God! She's coming home! A's blood counts have improved so much that her oncology team canceled the biopsy! She slept well and has an appetite for the first time in five or six days. Patrice and her prayer warrior readers have been such a blessing to me and A's family. I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. Please keep the prayers coming for a complete recovery. May God continue to bless each of you.

Prayer request

Reader Prepared Grammy sent the following:

Patrice, I know this has nothing to do with your article, but I'm desperate for prayer for my best friend's little two-year-old granddaughter. She's in a major children's hospital and will be tested for cancer tomorrow. I ask that your and your readers pray for little "A." Thank you.

C'mon folks, let's cover little "A" with some serious prayer!

Prayer request

I have a dear friend who had a rough childhood. This afternoon she sent me a soulful prayer request, which I asked permission to post here:

My Grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer this morning. I'm asking for fervent and heartfelt prayers for her -- My Grandma was the biggest influence on my heart and spirit as I was growing up. She means the world to me.... more than I can express in mere words. Her name is Wilma Jean W. and I humbly ask for your prayers and for her to be added to your prayer chains and prayer lists at church. Thank you so much.

My heart is breaking and I'm very stressed right now. We don't know what stage the cancer is in or anything like that as yet. She sees an oncologist (one that specializes in breast cancer) next Monday. The doctor could have gotten her in to see the specialist this week but she just shrugged it off and said she's 85 years old and not in any particular hurry. That concerns me. I have a strong inkling she might refuse treatment. I don't *blame* her at her age -- I'd have to consider the pros and cons carefully, too -- but the odds of losing my Gram that much sooner just went up exponentially.

Please keep Wilma Jean in your prayers -- and my friend as well. This is rough news.

Update on Emily

I received many wonderfully supportive and prayerful comments and emails regarding our goddaughter Emily, who was hospitalized last Friday for some as-yet undiagnosed malady.

Here is an update on her condition. Her mother wrote:

I'm thrilled to report that Emily is starting to feel better today. She hasn't needed as many pain meds today as she has in the past few days. That is an improvement. I think she looks better, too. She isn't as pale as she was nor as unsteady on her feet.

The doctors have diagnosed a serious nutritional malabsorption issue. They are just throwing junk at her, hoping something helps at this time. We know she's not going to get 'well' in here (the hospital) but as long as she is stable we are hoping to get her home and check out alternative treatments. She has lost an additional 2 1/2 pounds since she was admitted Friday night. I've ordered some nutritional support products that another friend recommended.... his son went through something similar and it saved his son's life. (Mannatech)

We just need her stable so we can try a different route for healing. We have to do something

Thank you for the love and support and prayers.

God bless all of you!

Yesterday afternoon, her mom wrote:

Emily is feeling better but still has a long road ahead. That being said, after 5 days of hospitalization, she's finally stable enough to go home! Praise God!

Thank you all so much for all the love and prayers! I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of you. Please keep the prayers and good wishes coming!

Your prayers have meant so much to this family. Thank you, dear readers, for rallying around this young woman.

Prayer request

I seldom put prayer requests on this blog, but this is a special case.

Our 19-year-old goddaughter Emily (who lives in Oregon) has been experiencing severe and mysterious pain in her intestines. We've known Emily since she was four, and she's grown up into a fine young woman. But for the last month or so, the pain in her abdomen has become so severe that it's kept her from eating and she's lost a LOT of weight. (She's tall and skinny to begin with, so losing weight is a severe problem.)

It's finals week at her college so she's been gallantly trying to keep up, but keeps fainting from pain. She's been to the emergency room numerous times and received IV fluids, but so far has eluded a diagnosis. There's a possibility of Crohn's Disease or pancreatitis.

This past Thursday she had a colonoscopy and endoscopy, and the doctor took 18 biopsies. She came home but the pain was so severe she's been hospitalized again. Last night her mother wrote, "We're heading back to the ER for IV fluids and pain management. She's passing out from the pain in her abdominal region... it's upper left quadrant (pancreas area) and radiating out in a fan-like formation." This morning she added, "We just spent the evening in the emergency room again and they admitted her this time, praise God! As of now they have her pain fairly well managed and other meds on board. I'm happy she's been admitted and that they've ordered a CT scan for tomorrow. I'll send updates as I have info."

This kid needs prayer, and a lot of them. Please pray that they are able to diagnose and treat Emily's condition.

(This is Emily and her mom on a special occasion. Her mom also sent a picture of Emily from her hospital bed, taken yesterday... and understandably asked that the photo not be included in this prayer request. Suffice it to say the photo was disturbing.)

Thank you for your prayers!

Prayer request

My WND editor, Ron, alerted me last week that his daughter's suitor has a younger sister (17 yrs old) who was T-boned in a car accident and severely injured. Sarah was flown to Portland in critical condition with some brain damage. This morning I asked for an update on her condition, and he sent this link.

I asked permission to post a prayer request and link to Sarah's condition. Please keep the Kostrna family, particularly Sarah, in your prayers.

Sad sad news

My WND column is due Fridays at noon. This morning I emailed it off to my editor, Ron Strom. Shortly thereafter he emailed me back as follows:
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I wanted to share with you a tragedy our family, church and homeschool community suffered this week. This is what I shared Monday on our WND in-house site:

Friends: On Saturday my older daughter's fiance's brother, 19, was killed by the mighty Rogue River here in southern Oregon. My wife, younger daughter and I were part of a party of eight who hiked to a popular but wild spot on the river. Josh was taking pictures on some rocks near the rapids and fell in. Despite hours of searching by us, Search and Rescue and aircraft, he has not been found. His body likely will come up from the bottom of the river in a couple days -- that's the pattern.

Please pray for the Eddy family and Josh's many friends. He was a vibrant, passionate Christian young man whom God inexplicably took early. He wrote this blog post just a month ago. It is entitled To Die Well.

Here is his memorial Facebook page.

Many thanks.
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We used to live in a town in Oregon called Gold Hill, which sat literally right on the Rogue River. It can indeed live up to its name. During flood stage, it can be terrifying. It doesn't sound like Josh was doing anything irresponsible or heedless... it's just a tragic accident.

I can't imagine what these families are going through, to lose such a fine young man on the brink of adulthood. What a sad situation.

Please pray for these families, that they may be comforted in their affliction. I'm sure they would like to hear your condolences on the Facebook page as well.

Prayer request

Yesterday I received a rather frantic email from a reader: "Dear Patrice, I was over at the Feral Irishman's blog and he linked to Duke's blog that Stephen from the "Standing on the Outside Looking In" [blog] had a heart attack. As a blogger can you verify if this is true? Stephen is such a darling man and has been going through so much lately. I did not want to bother you with an e-mail, but Stephen has been so sweet to me and to so many other people. Thank you for any information you can provide."

Concerned, I jumped onto the blogs she mentioned and found there was indeed a rumor that Stephen from Standing Outside Looking In was in "blogger down" status.

I sent an email to Stephen: "Hello Stephen: Rumor has it you've suffered a heart attack. A reader sent me a rather frantic email asking if this was true, and I've been trying to track down your email so I could ask. I hope to God you'll laugh this off as just that -- a rumor. Please let me know...? If it IS true, I'll post a prayer request on my blog. Either way, my friend, be healthy!"

I was both grateful and disturbed to receive a quick response which confirmed the worst: "Hello, Lovely Patrice. Yes it's true. Out of nowhere, two hours before my birthday, a heart attack. I type this from my room at Baptist Medical Center. I should be home in a couple of days. Prayer is always welcomed. God bless you. All my best to Don and the girls."

It's typical of what I know about Stephen to humbly give his best to my family as he lies on his sick bed in a hospital.

Please, folks, keep Stephen in your prayers. Please pray for a speedy and complete recovery. Prayer is, indeed, always welcome.

And happy birthday, Stephen. May you have many many more.

NOTE: For an update, see this link.

To their knees...

A reader asked for prayers for this family. I went to her link and read a poignant and beautifully-written account of struggle and hardship.

Yes, please pray for this family.

Updated prayer request

You might remember at the beginning of August I posted a prayer request for a friend's brother-in-law (Mike) who suffered severe burns over 60% of his body. I've been praying nightly for this man whom I've never met, devastated at the thought of such a tragedy happening to such a young family. My friend and her family heroically relocated back east to care for the three young children involved and will be there at least through next spring.

I emailed and asked for an update on Mike's condition. Here are updates from shortly after the accident, and then from this week:
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August 11:

"He still has the bacteria/mold issue going, and is running a fever. BUT they have already completed a bedside tracheotomy and still plan on beginning his first graft tomorrow. He has shown signs of awareness in the past 24 hours. He has responded to the voices of his wife and mother - blood pressure rising, brief movements, and slight opening of the eyes. Encouraging signs that both mom & wife needed to witness!

"Also Mike has a sort of blog devoted to his progress. Sondra registered him on carepages.com under the name "CORQY". You do have to register - just to keep out the weirdos. But she is posting daily updates, and there is room to comment.

"Your readers had inquired about contributing to the family. Please know that while Sondra is not soliciting contributions - she is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support, even from total strangers. I believe her employer has set up a contribution account, however it is a regional bank.

"I know more than anything she wants for people to learn from her experience. That your life can drastically change in the blink of an eye. She is hopeful that others will use this tragedy as a wake up call to 1) put personal SAFETY above all else on the job site ; and 2) organize business affairs so someone can take over in an emergency..
(While he did keep notes, his filing system for bids, billing, receivables, etc. is primarily in his head - and he cannot communicate!)

"Here are links to the most recent local articles (here and here).

"Thank you again for your thoughts and support!"

October 5

"Hi Patrice! Thanks for inquiring about Mike and the family. We are in the 10th week now. He had his sixth and final graft a couple weeks ago and is now beginning occupational/physical therapies. It will be a long and extremely strenuous haul for him. Still on the ventilator but at a low setting. There is an issue with one lung not inflating completely, and still some degree of pneumonia. The pneumonia will not improve until the vent is removed. He was having an issue with extreme anxiety when they began weaning him from some of the meds. That issue has subsided since his med combination was adjusted, and some of the stronger meds are clearing his system. He now has periods of alertness, understands where he is, and how long he's been there. He still has very limited communication ability - primarily signals like blinking eyes, wiggling toes. The goal is to have him home by Christmas - but that will depend a lot on his motivation during therapy. While there are no more graft procedures, he will require laser and plastic surgeries.

"The children are doing remarkably well in spite of the circumstance. School is going well and overall we've had very few issues. I believe a lot can be attributed to them being in their own home, sleeping in their beds, with consistent people caring for them. Their mama is typically here 3 or so nights a week. Several families from their church have offered to keep them while she's away, but we want to keep them in their own space as long as possible. Our lives can return to relative normalcy at some point, but there is very little of those little girls' lives that will be untouched by this accident. Playing hide-and-seek, a day at the beach, or even a simple outdoor picnic with their daddy will be difficult for some time."

Update from Sondra, Mike's wife:

"Another day of progress for Mike. He was removed from ICU status today, and is now considered a floor patient. With that, they removed the monitors of heart rate, blood pressure, etc. He still has the oxygen monitor (and will as long as he remains with the trach). They were able to cap the trach today, and he was able to talk some.
They also administered a swallowing test today - and he passed. This means they can start liquids and then progress quickly to food if all goes well. His feeding tube will remain in place, and he will continue to get nutrition from that until his eating is at the level to supply his body with the required calories (the calorie requirements are still quite large to facilitate continued healing, and will be for some time).

"The physical therapy, occupational therapy and the emotional impact are still large obstacles to navigate. However, the improvements we have seen over the past weeks are amazing. The glory goes to God - thanks once again for the continued prayers on our behalf."
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I can't emphasize enough how much prayers are helping not only Mike, but his family as well. Please continue to support them. Mike has a long, long, long road ahead of him.

Prayer request

A friend's brother-in-law was severely injured in an accident a couple of weeks ago. You can read news articles here and here. He has burns over 60% of his body, mostly third degree burns from his ankles to his chest. While he survived the most critical 72-hour window, some infections have been found (on his arm, for example). He has been sedated since his arrival at Chapel Hill (North Carolina) Burn Center. He will likely remain there for six months.

This gentleman's name is Mike McCorquodale, his wife's name is Sondra, and his three little girls are Haley, Kayln, and Riley (ages 1-5).

Please pray for his recovery as well as strength and comfort for his family.

Prayer request

I received an email from a reader who mentioned that columnist Michelle Malkin's cousin has gone missing.

I don't know Ms. Malkin but I've been a great admirer of her writing for many years.

Please pray for the safety of this young woman. I also urge you to spread the word and her photograph - details are on the linked website above.