Theologian In Training Is Having Heart Surgery This Morning

[cmotherofpirl]

please pray for him.

[MIKolbe]

Prayers for him. Mary, please protect your Son's priest.

[homeschoolmom]

[franciscanheart]

[CatherineM]

Prayers

[MissyP89]

Doctors have determined surgery is too risky. He's being sent home. Please continue praying.

[dUSt]

[BG45]

Prayers for the padre, saw that latest FB update and shook my head.

[arfink]

Oh dear, he shall be in my prayers. When I was in seminary and any of our brothers got real sick it weighed on the entire community, so I'll keep them in prayer also.

[cmotherofpirl]

Surgery was cancelled. Prayers are still needed.

[Theologian in Training]

Yes, they cancelled the surgery due to the fact that the valve has been more calcified than originally thought. They are exploring other options, among them a valve "fix" via transcatheter or, worse case scenario, a transplant. Given that though, I wanted to share my latest facebook status for those who aren't my "friends," as a thank you for your prayers and as a summation of what it means to me:

A while back I wrote a status update about the importance of seeing God's Will in everything, including the, seeming, inevitability of having open-heart surgery. As many of you know, the surgery was cancelled, literally, in the 11th hour. It was deemed to be too dangerous given the level of calcification of my valve. While many see it as a bad thing, I see it differently. I now see an opportunity
to pray more and to invite as many people as I possibly can to do the same, because, it seems, God wants more for my heart.

While I was lying in the hospital bed these past couple of days, I never asked God to stop the surgery, I never asked Him that it not take place, instead, I asked that His Will be done. Every single time I said that prayer, something happened. The night before, someone on Dr. Smith's team came in and told us that the surgery was going to be moved to the second slot of the day. The next time I prayed that prayer, Dr. Smith's Physician Assistant came in to explain that the situation is a little more complex than, initially, thought. The third time I prayed that prayer, Dr. Smith himself came in and explained the situation.

I want to say, I walked into that hospital not with fear and trepidation, but with confidence in the Divine Mercy and power of God. A while back I realized that God is much more powerful than the most prestigious, popular and amazing doctor or the greatest and most amazing machine in the world. The entire universe is subservient to Him, what is there to worry about, if we truly believe that? What is the point of life if we don't live that?

The doctors are still deliberating on my case, but, for me, I am going to pray that God's Will be done and let that be my only concern.

[CatherineM]

The night I thought I was dying of a heart attack, I remember lying there and feeling a sense of peace come over me. Everyone else was panicking but I was just praying quietly. It felt so odd. When they finally figured out what was wrong, and that I wasn't going to die, I felt snapped back. So I understand what you're talking about. When you have faith in life everlasting, fear falls away.

[Amppax]

Prayers.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' timestamp='1344348090' post='2463985']
Yes, they cancelled the surgery due to the fact that the valve has been more calcified than originally thought. They are exploring other options, among them a valve "fix" via transcatheter or, worse case scenario, a transplant. Given that though, I wanted to share my latest facebook status for those who aren't my "friends," as a thank you for your prayers and as a summation of what it means to me:

A while back I wrote a status update about the importance of seeing God's Will in everything, including the, seeming, inevitability of having open-heart surgery. As many of you know, the surgery was cancelled, literally, in the 11th hour. It was deemed to be too dangerous given the level of calcification of my valve. While many see it as a bad thing, I see it differently. I now see an opportunity
to pray more and to invite as many people as I possibly can to do the same, because, it seems, God wants more for my heart.

While I was lying in the hospital bed these past couple of days, I never asked God to stop the surgery, I never asked Him that it not take place, instead, I asked that His Will be done. Every single time I said that prayer, something happened. The night before, someone on Dr. Smith's team came in and told us that the surgery was going to be moved to the second slot of the day. The next time I prayed that prayer, Dr. Smith's Physician Assistant came in to explain that the situation is a little more complex than, initially, thought. The third time I prayed that prayer, Dr. Smith himself came in and explained the situation.

I want to say, I walked into that hospital not with fear and trepidation, but with confidence in the Divine Mercy and power of God. A while back I realized that God is much more powerful than the most prestigious, popular and amazing doctor or the greatest and most amazing machine in the world. The entire universe is subservient to Him, what is there to worry about, if we truly believe that? What is the point of life if we don't live that?

The doctors are still deliberating on my case, but, for me, I am going to pray that God's Will be done and let that be my only concern.
[/quote]
This hits close to home, with how my heart stuff went. It was a terrifying experience, but, in the end, not one I would ever trade, because of what it taught me about trusting in God and not fearing death. Prayers for you and your doctors, as they sort through this with you.

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1344351038' post='2464000']
The night I thought I was dying of a heart attack, I remember lying there and feeling a sense of peace come over me. Everyone else was panicking but I was just praying quietly. It felt so odd. When they finally figured out what was wrong, and that I wasn't going to die, I felt snapped back. So I understand what you're talking about. When you have faith in life everlasting, fear falls away.
[/quote]
Before my heart operation, I told my husband that no matter what happened, I was okay with the outcome. If I lived, I got to be alive and if I died I got to go to Heaven, so there was really no downside for me with either one.