Please Pray for my Aunt

Some of you have been asking about Aunt May. I tried to call her a few days ago, but there was no answer. I figured that she must still be out of town where she goes for her radiation and chemo treatments. I left a message asking her to call me when she felt up to it. Sunday afternoon the phone rang and she and I had quite a lengthy chat about life and death.

Aunt May went through five days of radiation in the middle of June for the lump on her spine. Last week she had two rounds of chemo. Her doctors are treating her cancer aggressively, but since she has a rare blood condition, the treatments make her weak. A couple of weeks ago, she had to have iron intravenously to bring her blood count up because they would not give her chemo while it was so low. Now it is low once again, so she will have to have more iron. This is very hard on her and they are wanting her to have two transfusions as well.

Years ago Aunt May had a horrific reaction to a transfusion and the doctors at that time told her she could never have another. When she went into the hospital with her broken leg in April 2007, the doctor ordered a transfusion for her. It just happened that hubby and I went to visit just before it was started. She said she would be fine, but I could tell by her eyes that she was terrified. I told her we would stay with her and we did. Luckily, there were no adverse effects, but once again she is frightened to have these transfusions. I told her it was her choice and not to let them do anything to her that she didn't want them to do.

As we talked, she told me that the cancer is now in her head and her liver. She knows that she is dying and told me it's just a matter of time. This saddened me because she is my favorite aunt and because she has experienced many health problems her entire life.

We discussed different things and I told her that I hated to see anyone lie in bed in excruitiating pain for weeks or months. I said I would prefer they were taken home before that happened. She was quite honest with me and said, "I fear that is what the end will be like for me."

I answered, "I pray not."

Her reply was, "You better pray hard."

She also voiced her desire that she would like to pass quickly. I think that is something that we all desire, but that wish isn't always granted.

So I am asking each of you to ask God to have mercy upon my Aunt May and take her home before she has to experience such pain. Her life has been hard and she deserves to die with dignity. I will keep you updated on her condition from time to time. Thanks in advance for your prayers, love and support. ~Blessings, Mary~