The coffee smells so good

If you ever want to measure how important something is to you, try going without it. This morning I have to fast, of course, and I'm finding that I would really like a cup of coffee. Or at least a glass of water or a piece of fruit. No big problem--just revealing of how accustomed I am to my comforts! My C-T scan appointment is at 9:00, and I'll have to drink quarts of that dye drink, so I certainly won't be thirsty long.(I think about sisters and brothers around the world--millions of them--who don't have a bit of food in their house this morning--if they even have a house, and must walk miles to get murky water for a drink. How blessed we are!)

An acquaintance from church, a bit older than me, was diagnosed with cancer about the same time I was. Our chemo appointments often happened at the same time. She was so pretty and so sweet. She died last weekend and was buried on Tuesday. We saw her husband last evening, and he was relieved for her to be out of her suffering and weakness.

We're watching a miracle unfold. A man in our Sunday school class is a former Olympics soccer/football star from Liberia. Now his heart is failing, and they've told him he's past the age for a transplant. He was in the hospital last week, and the doctors made a sudden switch, transferring him to a heart center to begin the testing process for a transplant. Two reasons: (1) his athletic past means his general physical condition is much younger than his 67 years, and (2) he's part of a faith community that excels in caring for its members. He has no family here except for his dear wife, who doesn't drive and has to work nights. So our Congregational Health Minister is mobilizing a support group for him, and we went to the training meeting last evening. A heart transplant is a sobering, overwhelming event that requires at least a year of very close attention afterwards. He's still in the candidate category while they finish the testing, and then, if accepted, he'll begin the wait to be called. Someone needs to be on call around the clock to get him to that event when the moment comes. Afterwards, people will need to run errands, help with meals, pick up prescriptions and groceries, drive him to labs and doctor appointments, help him lay out his medications each week, and I forget all the other tasks. It will be a privilege to help for as long as we are able. The transplant team won't even proceed without signed commitments from an adequate support team. The room was full of friends!

Have a blessed day.
Carol