I don’t normally use JA.O as a bulletin board for prayer requests. There are other avenues for that, and Jimmy’s blog is really about apologetics more than personal issues and devotions.
But this is one instance where I feel a direct appeal for prayer is justified, and so I have a special, urgent prayer intention that I would like to pass on to Jimmy’s readers.
My niece, Allison (16), is in the hospital right now awaiting a heart transplant. We had prayed that her heart could be repaired, but it is not keeping up with the demands of her body. She has been growing weaker and now weighs less than my 11-year-old daughter.
Please pray that she and her parents will be comforted by the Holy Spirit, that they will find an appropriate donor heart at the right time, that God will guide the hands of the surgeons, and that she will make a complete recovery soon after the surgery. Pray also that they will have the financial help they need, not only for the medical bills, but to help make up for a great deal of missed work.
Please pray also for the soul of the heart donor, whoever that may be.
I think it would be especially appropriate to offer your prayers through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In addition, given that this is St. Valentine’s Day, and hearts are everywhere, you might also ask his help for Allison’s heart. And, okay, since this is a big day for flowers, you might put in a prayer to St. Therese!
For those of you who would like more information or who might like to contribute financially, I will be happy to pass on your messages to the parents. For the sake of their privacy, I don’t want to publish names and locations here.
In addition, I thought it would be appropriate as a fund raiser for Allison to offer reproductions of my painting "Immaculate Heart" (above, 11"x14") on stretched canvas for $100(US), with all profits going to Allison’s parents to help pay for her medical care. If you would like to purchase one of these reproductions, you can e-mail me at timjonesart@yahoo.com. Just include the name "Allison" in the subject line so I can tell it from the SPAM. I’ll then e-mail you a PayPal invoice. Your print will be shipped within ten days.
Thanks everyone! Your prayers mean more to me and my family today than any chocolate or flowers.
UPDATE: Allison’s family have given the OK to publish her name and contact information. Cards with good wishes can be sent to Allison Jones, Room 309B, The Children’s Hospital, 1056 E. 19th, Denver, CO, 80218
Thanks again, and God bless you all.
Prayers are on the way, Tim. Sorry to hear about this.
A child needing a new heart on St. Valentine’s Day; very tragic in deed. I will keep her in my prayers, Mr. Jones. May God watch over her this day.
That is very, very tragic — especially at a tender age of 16! She is in my prayers.
God take care of her, embrace her in His loving arms and provide her with the help she needs.
Tim,
we will keep Allison and your whole family in our prayers.
God Bless
AnnonyMouse (signing off til after Lent)
will include her and family in prayer.
I will pray for this daily.
Through the intercession of Sts. Valentine, Cyril, Methodius, and John of God, I pray that Allison receives the heart that she desperately needs. Lord have mercy on your handmaiden Allison!
Amen.
I will pray. If I have some resources I will try to help with $ but it has been tight.
You seem like a very good man
I like your art.
God bless you and your family during this time especially the girl
Tim,
I’m very sorry to learn this sad news, but pray, that our God, a God of the heart and of love, if it be His will, shall ensure that your loved one receives the transplant that she is in need of.
I pray too for comfort for Allison and her family; that they may be strengthened by God’s grace so that they may better endure that which lies ahead.
Allison will be in my prayers henceforth, as will all who are caring for her and giving her medical attention and all who hold her dear in their hearts.
Tim, I hope this doesn’t distress you further , but I feel I must tell you that this has made me rethink organ donation. (I was always ‘for it’, but could never bring myself to allow my children to enter that equation -unless they were to be on the receiving end).
As you know, what your family is experiencing right now is every parents worst nightmare and yet, so too for many parents, I believe, is the dread of our own dear children passing on before us… and of our being asked to donate their vital organs.
I hope that if I ever have to make that decision…. and I pray to God that I’ll never have to… that I may think of a family just like yours, with a beautiful young woman, just like your niece, and make the decision that will afford someone the gift of life.
God Bless you all and give you comfort.
p.s. Tomorrow I will include this intention in the parish bulletin so that many more hundreds of people may pray for your dear niece.
Thank you ALL so much for your prayers! These are passed on to the family (they are Christian, but not Catholic) and, believe me, they are very grateful!
Back in their hometown of Ogallala, Nebraska, a bunch of the townspeople took a dip in the frozen lake to raise money to help. There has been an outpouring of help and compassion that means a lot to this little family.
Trust me, I covet your prayers more than anything. My fundraising idea came about just because, not having much myself in the way of resources to help, I wanted to do what I could. But the request for prayer is my focus.
ukok, I completely iunderstand your feelings about organ donation. Things have become so distorted in the way society views the human body as a commodity that I do see some potential for abuse. But, I hope to be able to donate some of my organs if I can find a way to do it that will offer some assurance that my poor carcass won’t be sold to the highest bidder or treated in an undignified way (which is what I would wish for anyone).
God bless you all!
Tim J.,
I went before our Blessed Lord in the Holy Eucharist last night and prayed for all your intentions. Allison and your family will remain in my prayers.
Take care and God bless,
Inocencio
J+M+J
I will pray for her.
I’m only reading this now but I’ll be praying for her. I will mention her in the general intercessions next Sunday at mass.
Prayers being said here, as well!