Wholeness Revealed

Wholeness was revealed on October 1 when Laurence left this chapter of his life and went on to the next. I will be the first to admit that his passing does not fit my pictures of what I had prayed for and what I envisioned for our life together. But I know prayer is always answered and it was answered in a way that was as big as Laurence’s energy, as big as his capacity for life and for love, as big as his love for God.

Many times Laurence and I had talked about transitions. He had supported several family members and friends through their last days of life. We commented how the ideal way to leave this life is to let go while asleep, peacefully and without pain and suffering.

His doctors told us in June that he wasn’t strong enough to fight the fungal brain infection, weak heart and multiple strokes. We expected him to take this opportunity to leave peacefully but he didn’t. He woke up, regained strength and speech. The fungal brain infection mysteriously disappeared, his heart became stronger and even the cerebral hemorrhage began to heal. He was responding to therapy and relearning how to walk.

Dozens, no hundreds of people responded to my request and joined with prayers for wholeness. Friends appealed to other friends and prayers rippled out. People who didn’t normally pray were actively envisioning wholeness for Laurence.

Isn't that just like Laurence? His dream of ministering to others became a reality as we all lifted our hearts and minds in prayer. He ministered to every doctor, nurse, technician as love filled his room. He gave grateful thanks to each person whether they took blood, administered tests or emptied the trash.

Eventually his body could no longer cope with his symptoms. Laurence grew weaker and pain increased. He fought for over one hundred days until he said he was finished. I realize now how graciously prayer was answered. There was no way this extraordinary man of courage and strength was going to slip away in the dark of night. Wholeness was revealed for Laurence as he intentionally walked each step of his journey. Once he decided to let go, he consciously said goodbye to his family and friends. His body grew weaker but his voice was clear as he whispered constant words of gratitude and love to God in his last days.

Wholeness was revealed for each of us as we were called to love more graciously, pray more intimately and expand our faith. We were all lifted in an amazing experience of God’s love and a deepening of faith.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. Thank you for your extraordinary prayers and love. I trust your life was changed forever from knowing Laurence as mine was.

This is my last entry for this blog. It seems appropriate on the last day of this year. I will continue to blog at Empowered Thoughts and share my experience of grief at Missing My Beloved.

May God continue to bless you and may every prayer you prayed for us be abundantly returned to you. May God continue to reveal wholeness in every area of your life.

With loving gratitude.

Extraordinary Heroes

My heart overflows with gratitude every time I think of all the loving support Laurence received from the medical community. I wish I could thank every doctor, nurse, CNA, technician, and hospital staff member that made a difference in our lives. They are extraordinary heroes that blessed us.

Just a few of the heroes and angels we met:

Dr. Segal and the staff at the NW Cancer Center
Providence Hospital Cancer Center
Surgeons and staff at Providence Hospital
Dr. Samagh and the staff at Providence Medical Group/Bethany
Hyperbaric technicians at Providence Hospital
Wound care nurses at St. Vincent Hospital
Dr Grajewski and the staff at OHSU bone marrow transplant unit
Dr. Wilson and the staff at Good Samaritan Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
Speech, occupational, recreational and physical therapists at Good Samaritan Hospital
OSHU Intensive Care Unit
OHSU infusion clinic
Odyssey Hospice Care

There are more whose names I can’t remember. I give thanks for the gracious support and amazing professional care we have received over the years. We are so blessed in Portland to have extraordinary professionals in our medical community. May God bless each and every one.

Talks from Laurence's memorial service are available to download:

Rev Marcia Sutton click here

Chris McClure click here

Rev Christine Green click here

Grateful Thanks

December 22 will be the one year anniversary of Laurence's diagnosis with leukemia. He was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Eve.

I miss him terribly although there are days where I feel Laurence is standing next to me telling me not to worry and showering me with his love. Several times I experienced solutions appear to pressing problems and felt his guidance.

I am so grateful for each of you and how dedicated you've been to reading the blog and sending prayers. I have felt your love and support and it has lifted me on many days when I could barely cope.

My prayer for you is that every prayer you have prayed is abundantly returned to you. My the Christ's Love and Grace bless you and your family.

God Bless You.

Hugs.