AS I SEE IT Bob Connor

Saved at Last, Part 2

In Part 1 (October, 2007 issue of the Banner), my nephew was Baptized in the hospital emergency room as he was fighting for his breath and his life. This was a tremendous relief for me. I simply could not stand the idea of my nephew dying without being baptized.

Miraculously, he recovered from the pneumonia that was stealing his breath. He was in a hospital room and we were all optimistic. If he could beat pneumonia in his weakened condition, nothing was impossible.

One of his "counts" in a blood sample that indicates the presence or absence of cancer was down to below 5 indicating by its measurement little or no cancer activity. It had been 100,000 when he was first diagnosed. The other important count, however, was hovering around 46 when it should have been less than 25.

We were all optimistic as the hospital attendants wheeled him downstairs for a CAT scan of his head to make sure that the lesions in his brain that had responded so well to radiation therapy were still gone or dead. It was a devastating blow to us a few days later when we learned that the CAT scan showed that there were four and possibly six active cancerous lesions in his brain.

Additional radiation therapy, including a new therapy called a "proton knife" which focuses on the lesion itself instead of affecting a larger area, was considered. However, he was still too weak to undergo the treatment. It was decided that he would go home to gain strength to withstand the additional treatment.

My nephew and his wife had some quality time together in June and we celebrated his 38th birthday together. But then he had to be hospitalized again. He was having trouble breathing - there were tumors in his lungs. By the first week in July, the swelling and discoloring in his legs was bad. His lungs were not supplying enough oxygen to his heart to perform its task of pumping fluids to and from his extremities.

After his baptism in May, I had talked with him about taking first communion. I explained the concept of the Eucharist. Being well-read, he already knew about transubstantiation - the belief of my church (and now his through his baptism) that the bread and wine are changed in substance into the body and blood of Jesus when consecrated by a properly ordained priest. I didn't want to push him but offered to take him to church with me or to bring a priest to him. He said he would think about it.

During the second week, it became apparent that his medical condition was worsening. I was greatly troubled that my nephew might be dying without ever having received the Eucharist. At the urgings of my wife, I took the initiative. Without asking my nephew, I called the priest who had baptized him and made arrangements.

It was on Wednesday morning, July 11, that I attended the early mass at the priest*s parish. Afterwards, we made the long drive to the hospital.

I did not know what my nephew's reaction was going to be. I had been told that he had been in a very bad mood the day before and had been hostile toward people who were trying to help him. After 9 months of continuous, highly invasive and painful treatments and frequent, lengthy stays in the hospital, it was understandable and completely forgivable.

I entered the room first. My nephew was sullen. As the priest approached the bed, I reminded my nephew that he was the same priest who had baptized him. He needed no reminder. My nephew's eyes lit up and a strained smile came to his face. He reached out his hand to the priest. The priest said "I have come to anoint you" and my nephew, wearing a breathing mask and unable to speak, nodded his head in agreement.

The priest performed the "Rite of Anointing of the Sick" (formerly called "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction"). During this rite, he was anointed with blessed oil and he was blessed. He was cleansed of all of his sins. I offered a small vial of Holy Water from the holy site of miracles of healing in Lourdes, France. The priest anointed him with it.

His wife lifted the breathing mask from his mouth as the priest offered my nephew the Blessed Sacrament. I thought that my nephew, being independent-minded and having recently been in a rebellious mood, might push it away. But, he opened his mouth very wide and took communion. There was a smile of peace on his face as I said that Christ was going with him wherever he went and I told him that it was just as important to heal his spirit - his faith - as to heal his body. He nodded in agreement.

Fighting off our tears, we all said the "Our Father" ("The Lord's Prayer") together. The priest shook his hand as we left. My nephew left the hospital that afternoon to go home with his wife.

As we were leaving the hospital, the priest remarked that my nephew*s hand was cold when he shook it upon entering the room; but, it was warm as he shook it before leaving.

About 63 hours later, at 1:23 am on the morning of Saturday, July 14, 2007, my nephew, having been cleansed of all sins through the reception of the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and having received the body of Christ, was peacefully called home to God in the presence of his family.

Some may say, "He didn't make it-our prayers weren't answered." I say, "He did make it-our prayers brought a good but independent-minded person to faith and saved him." He just did make it - by a few hours. My advice to you is to strengthen your faith whatever religion you subscribe to and get right with God - now. You may not make it if you wait.