John's sister, Maria, carries her brother through the cow yard at the farm. He is 5 1/2 years younger than her.
This later part of January brings back the memories of 3 years ago as we approached the new birthday of John. He was in the midst of his chemo that bombed his entire immune system and killed his bone marrow... so that on January 27th his stem cells/seeds could be planted and his life would be new and without brain cancer! He had been surrounded by prayers throughout the world, prayed over with two relics of saints - Blessed John Paul II and Venerable Solanus Casey (a man with the gift of healing while a humble priest in Wisconsin in my lifetime - he died in 1957), he was annointed 3 times, and attended daily mass whenever it was possible, he also bathed in the healing waters of Lourdes, France twice in the last 3 years! So amazing! If some of you haven't had the chance to read John's story - it was in our Diocesan Newspaper the Prairie Catholic this month, and really shares his perspective of what brain cancer was for him - an answer to a half-hearted prayer that he could find FAITH!
According to my journal Pat was in Rochester with us on this day 3 years ago and he and I went to look at a tractor in a nearby town... I snapped this picture on the way. Now it is a reminder of the peace that we felt as we faced this final step in John's healing. John, himself, set that standard for all of us that were around him. He shares that due to the prayer and love he felt - he truly was at peace and trusted in HIM! At this time in Rochester we had the readings of David and Goliath. My young strong 20 year old son truly was David in the face to Goliath/brain cancer! He faced it with great courage and trust that he was safely in the Lord's hands, and that Jesus was in control in the midst of the storm.
The chemo given him was tough stuff - dropping the bomb! He had to shower every 4 hours around the clock to keep it from damaging his skin as it came out of his pores! He was so rare that just a few weeks before this - his case had been presented at a world wide conference on lymphoma. They had decided to go ahead with the stem cell and the type of chemo to use. He had set the standard for others that might come after him. We marveled that in the grand scheme of things... the Lord had arranged a group of doctors from around the world to gather in New Orleans to discuss John's case just weeks before he needed to have a plan for the last medical step in his healing! Talk about the fingerprint of God upon him! They called him a rock star on the transplant station with how he once again showed how important it is to be young and healthy in every other way! David, young and bursting with health fought the fight to the death and slayed the giant with a smooth stone in a slingshot!!! 
The Christmas poinsettias still on the altar...daily mass in the glorious chapel at St Mary's! The Sacraments gave us so much strength throughout our journey! Such a blessing to be in a Catholic facility! Just across the street where John was in Eisenburg was St John the Evangelist Church and we were ministered there with daily mass at noon and then there was the Eucharistic chapel where we spent many hours in deep earnest prayers!
Can you see HIM in pictures? I think so! Jesus, we love and thank you for the anniversary of LIFE we celebrate at this time! Your glorious LIGHT fills us with wonder and awe!! Jesus LIVES in me and in this world! Jesus heals and listens to our heartfelt prayers for FAITH! Your Word is Spirit and Truth, O Lord! How we gather around your Word each day and find You! Today in Mark we are told that you cured many..."those who had diseases were pressing on him to touch him." Mark 3:7-12
You reached out and touched John, Lord,when he was lowered into your presence by his friends in prayer. Our Lady, we beseeched you with every breath that we took as we clung to the beads of your rosary as to a lifeline! You listened to us and brought us to your Son for healing! WE are humbled and filled with so much JOY at knowing that we have your fingerprint upon us, O Lord! Now John has to ask the question if he has been called to be your priest - he is asking the profound question - "Why was I spared?" Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
"May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, 'The Lord be glorified.' "
Psalm 40 from today's mass
Jesus meets his mother...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5npOxjWOhUI Danielle Rose - Mother's song from her mysteries album - the Crucifixion - Through the Cross we find LIFE!
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