For a few years now I have been following a CarePage I happened upon when I was doing an article on new ways to keep friends and family up-to-date on the condition of someone fighting illness and/or injury.
Nikki Weinberg. That’s this young lady’s name. She recently turned 21 and has spent the last four/five years fighting Ewing’s Sarcoma and dealing with the incredible pain left in her bones by the radiation to defeat the disease.
She had a special surgery that was followed by 30 days on her right side in bed at Mayo’s. Then came a rigorous rehabilitation and for awhile her pain was dramatically diminished and she spent some glorious time reclaiming her life. Then the pain came back some and she dealt with regaining her ground.
For weeks, there was no post on her CarePage regarding her progress and I wondered. But this morning I opened my email and read this:
PRAYERS NEEDED
Posted 1 hour agoNikki and her 12 year old sister Heather went to Florida yesterday to visit her uncle, this evening she started having seizures and is now on life support. Jamie and I are leaving for the airport now. PLEASE PRAY!!!!
Seizures, life support . . . asking for prayers. I feel humbled by what she and her family have gone through and are going through.
That is not all I feel. Not too long ago a young man was in about as nearly-fatal auto accident as you can get. And he recovered. And one of the comments left was “Our God is an awesome God.” it was written by a woman who once taught special education classes and has seen what life can bring to families – although she went home to healthy and successful children.
At the time she left the comment, I shook my head and, I will admit it, thought “sanctimonious bitch”. But I kept it to myself. Reading about Nikki this morning brought it back to me and I would like to punch her right in the face.
Whoever or whatever God is or is not, I will not condone with silence the idea he is “awesome” in a good way to some because he gives them positive results to prayers and does not to other brave souls.
I don’t know what lies ahead for Nikki. I would hope that she qualifies in this woman’s eyes for an “awesome” response to prayer.
No matter what, I still want to drive the short distance to her house, knock on her door and punch her in the face.
I would gladly join you in the punching part. After Jody’s diagnosis a neighbor said to me, “you know, things could always be worse.” It took great restraint for me not to clock her. I’ll be beaming some healing thoughts to Nikki and her family.