Please pray for Gerontius…
Update 23 December…
I’ve just heard that Neil’s operation has had to be postponed until early January, due to the high number of emergencies arriving overnight at the hospital. So, we continue to pray, and thank God that Neil will, hopefully, be able to enjoy a happy Christmas with his family.
Original Post…
Our blogger, Gerontius (Neil) will be undergoing major surgery on Friday, 23 December. I emailed to ask if he would like me to post a request for prayers for him, and for his wife, Margaret, who is also very ill and has suffered two bad falls recently. Below is his reply:
Yes, please post request, especially for Margaret – she’s been prescribed Morphine for severe pain.
I enter Hospital on Thursday for preparatory work prior to operation on Friday. According to the heart transplant surgeon who carried out the original assessment,the operation is Quadruple bypass (plus or minus one) depending on my risk factors. Apparently this involves harvesting veins from my arms and legs, and certain arteries from my chest cavity. I’m not particularly concerned for myself. My only concern is for my wife and children who are trying to hide their fear from me. May God bless them…
With respectful affection
Neil
Comments (13)
I missed this original post, but will certainly keep Gerontius and his wife and family in my prayers. Get well soon Gerontius, and I hope you are having a happy Christmas despite your health problems and those of your wife Margaret. May God bless you both.
Thanks for your prayers and kind words Therese
I am praying for you, as well, Gerontius. I hope your op is a success in January and that your wife makes a good recovery soon.
Lily,
Many thanks Dear Lady
I will pray for you and your wife Gerontius – that your operation will be a great success and that your wife recovers to enjoy better health.
I can empathise a little – about 20 years ago, my own father underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation, when he was only in his mid-40s. His bloodline carries a gene-mutation which makes the carrier prone to very high cholesterol and the associated ill-effects (his younger brother, with the same health problem, died of a heart attack aged just 38 – it was his death which led to the discovery of this hereditary problem). Fortunately I take after my mother in this respect!
I remember the time well. And while such an operation is indeed major, you and your family can hopefully feel a little comfort from the fact that they are also relatively routine these days. That doesn’t mean the procedures are any less serious, but it does mean that they are well understood and that surgeons are very experienced in conducting them. And this can only be a good thing for patients.
I remember my Dad was kept sedated for a while after the operation, but was still aware enough to know when visitors had come to see him. He was weak when recovering, but has gone on to enjoy many years with his family afterwards – we are still counting! – and I pray it will be the same for you! Be assured of all our prayers and best wishes.
A funny story from the time of my dad’s operation – when he was in hospital, my Mum decided to wallpaper one of the rooms, both as a distraction for her and also a nice surprise for him when he got home.
However, she has poor eyesight and did the papering without her glasses on. But she still made a very fine job of trimming the paper well and getting it all to match up, with no bubbles etc. The only problem was, without glasses, that she thought the paper had a pattern of bunches of cherries – in fact it was bunches of flowers and she had put the paper on upside down!
The first person to notice this was my dad as he came though the door on his release from hospital! He still jokes about surviving the operation only for the shock of the wallpaper to nearly finish him off!
Hopefully you wont have to stomach any DIY disasters after your own successful operation!
All the best!
Gabriel,
Cheers mate – for a very kind, and encouraging post.
Gabriel Syme,
“He still jokes about surviving the operation only for the shock of the wallpaper to nearly finish him off!
Great story! LOL!
I’m also keeping Gerontius in my prayers. Hope the op is over soon and a success. Just tell your wife not to bother wallpapering till you get home, LOL!
Thank you for prayers Josephine, however, I refuse to allow the Missus any exhausting wallpapering tasks – especially since since she will be too busy cementing the chimney brickwork. (Tee Hee Hee)
Dear Gerontius, you are in my prayers, and I confide that great heart of yours to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and pray to St. John of God that he may guide the eyes and hands of your surgical team and inspire all who will care for you while you are in hospital.
But please, please think again about letting Mrs. Gerontius loose on the roof to repoint the chimney!
https://youtu.be/8x5a7Lhqwb4
Dear Christina,
Greetings and felicitations. Thank you for your very sincere, edifying and consoling post. Like you, I have been astonished by the kindness and charity of our blogger family – what a great example they give.
I hope you are keeping well – regardless, my prayers for you and your loved one continue ad infinitum.
Loved the video by the way – Mrs Gerontius for some reason, gave me a strange look whilst slapping a rolling pin into her left hand Hmmm… wonder why….
I shall pray at this intention as well.
Keep up courage! LD
My thanks to you Lionel, Mon’Ami
Last time I spoke to Gerontius, after his operation, he said he would need several months to recuperate, so I am sure we will all continue to remember him in our prayers.
This thread is now closed to comments, with much gratitude to all who contributed to it. I know it meant a lot to Gerontius and his family, to know that we have all been remembering him in prayer throughout this important time.
Comments are closed.