Not CPAP related topic...

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yawn
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Not CPAP related topic...

Post by yawn » Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:19 pm

Please forgive me for bringing up a topic that is not related to CPAP but I feel compelled to do this. I work in a school and our classes began on August 17th. Our music teacher has yet to make it to school. Her 15 yr. old son went to Peru on a mission trip this summer and 2 weeks after returning, became deathly ill. This poor boy has been in intensive care for 37 days now. His family is EXTREMELY religious and I am not at all religious. They are desperate for people to pray for their son and since I'm not comfortable doing that, I thought maybe some of you might be interested. The boy's name is B.J. Higgins. His doctors can't figure out why he's sick. He clearly has at least one infection going on but they don't know what it is. They've talked to doctors all over the world and sent various samples but nobody has been able to identify the infection yet. If you want to learn more about BJ, his family has a web-site that they update several times a day...that's how we keep track of BJ and his Mom (his Mom is our music teacher). The website is http://Prayforbj.com
If you visit this site, you might want to bring along some kleenex. My son had an accident 6 years ago that almost killed him...to this day, the doctor's don't know why he's alive. At that time, people from all over the world prayed for him...it was really very humbling. I don't know, maybe that's why my son is alive now.

Again, if I have offended anybody by posting this, I am truly sorry. I just feel like I need to do something for this family and prayer is not something I feel comfortable doing. So many of you seem to be religious and I think this family could really use your support.
Thank you...Amy


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ozij
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Re: Not CPAP related topic...

Post by ozij » Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:20 am

Again, if I have offended anybody by posting this, I am truly sorry. I just feel like I need to do something for this family and prayer is not something I feel comfortable doing. So many of you seem to be religious and I think this family could really use your support.
Thank you...Amy
Thank you, Amy for this example of basic human decency, and your attemp to help in the best way you can.
That's what being human and humane is about.

O.

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Sleepless on LI
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Post by Sleepless on LI » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:29 am

Amy,

Very valid and compassionate reason for going off-topic. How kind and caring you are to post something like this.

I have never been what you call "religious," but I greatly believe in the power of pray. I will certainly read the article you provided the link for and I will most certainly say a prayer or two for this familiy that is in such crisis. Please keep us informed as to how he's doing.

The power of pray can be a miraculous force. Let's hope it finds its way to BJ and the Higgins family.

Thanks for posting the story. You are a sweetheart.

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yawn
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Post by yawn » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:00 am

Thanks Ozij and Lori....I'm glad you weren't offended. This family believes in God with all their heart and soul and they really believe that prayer will save their son. Thank you so much for supporting them.

Amy

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ozij
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Post by ozij » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:29 am

Amy,

Human kindness and caring can be expressed in many ways, and I like the way you chose to express yours. I am sure both the family, and those who believe in the help of prayer appreciate what you did. However, I don't want to be misunderstood: I too am not comfortable praying in the way this family believes will help.

We here are a community who people who meet ask for support in suffering, and to offer it. In the context of such a community, I see no problem with your kind attempt to support that family in your way.

O.

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WAFlowers
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Re: Not CPAP related topic...

Post by WAFlowers » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:02 am

yawn wrote:His family is EXTREMELY religious and I am not at all religious. They are desperate for people to pray for their son and since I'm not comfortable doing that,
Amy, I'll not only add him and his family to my prayers but I'll pass this on.

However I'd encourage you to pray also. If you don't believe and are correct, then it won't make a difference except to the family if they find out that you are praying for them. If they are correct, it will make a difference whether or not you believe (because God believes in you even if it isn't reciprocated). And if you feel like you shouldn't pray because you are not worthy of being heard due to a lack of faith, see my previous comment.

It's not about you!!!

Finally if you feel you shouldn't pray because it would be hypocritical to do so without faith, remember that this isn't about you and your desires or wishes; it is all about that sick boy and the desperation of his family.

It doesn't matter if you believe or not. It doesn't matter if there really is a God or not (and I have my own beliefs on this matter). The bottom line is that, at a minimum, having people pray for the boy (and his family!) will make a difference to the family. Can you really deny them their wish when it costs you nothing and means so much to them?[/b]
The CPAPer formerly known as WAFlowers

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lindas88
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Post by lindas88 » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:43 am

Amy...that poor family...I am not one to normally pray, but my husband reads the bible every night....I will show him this website and ask him to pray for this family.
*** Linda ***

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Post by Guest » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:44 am

AMY (YAWN):

It was very kind of YOU to Help in your own way in your post regardless of what you think others might think! I happen to be a strong beleiver in GOD and as the years went on while i was in the army during th 60's, and later in my civilian career being in the riots in asbury park, NJ and the riots of long branch, NJ in 1974 as well as various other times in my career i became an even stronger beleiver as in more than a few times it looked like i was going to be checking out and i beleive if it wasn't for the BIG GUY watching over me i have no other reason i can attribute the SAVES to!! So for me GOD is very real and yes my wife and i will KEEP thier family and yours in our PRAYERS! The only thing we will think of is that YOU are one of the KINDEST, SWEETEST, MOST CARING PEOPLE ON THE PLANET!
THANK YOU AMY FOR SHARING!

Best to you always,
steve,
ufo13

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Post by Guest » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:48 am

Yes;;;;;;; that was me! got GUESTED AGAIN!

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Nitro Dan
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Post by Nitro Dan » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:39 am

That's a very sweet thing you have done Amy!
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yawn
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Post by yawn » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:39 pm

You guys are just too nice. I am so happy that you feel the way you do and that you will say prayers for BJ. I've actually never met BJ or his Mom (yet) but I feel like I know them. IF BJ does survive, it will be years before his body recovers. It's a very long journey for him and his family.

WAFlowers...you have humbled me. I will pray for them.

Thank you everybody!!!

Amy

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Post by Sleepless on LI » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:10 am

I don't understand why praying can be looked down upon. You don't have to pray to God. You can pray to whatever the force you believe it is that controls the universe. If you don't know what it is, how about a prayer like, "To whatever is out their controlling our fate, please give BJ Higgins the strength to recover from his trauma and his family the courage and strength to get through this the best they possibly can."

Didn't mention religion or God or anything else. Just a simple prayer for someone in need.

Amy, glad you said your own prayer for BJ. I'm sure it counts. That was very sweet considering you said you aren't very religious and I get the impression it's not something you ordinarily do (although we know you have a lot to be thankful for).
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Margaret
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Post by Margaret » Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:16 am

Hi Amy

I remember when my third grandchild was born and had to be revived many times during his first thirty-six hours. Doctors warned that if they could keep him alive he would probably have brain damage ( he had a brain haemorrhage during child-birth ). We found out later that word had gone out and people were praying all around the country.

Thank you for spreading the word for BJ and his family. You are God's creation and He knows your every thought. It's easier and quicker to talk to God than it is to talk on this website. "Please help BJ."

When I needed advice on this forum, Amy, you were always there to help and went to so much trouble pasting information, supplying links and drawing from your own experience that I am indebted to you, always, for your many kindnesses. Thank you again Amy.

My grandson was two in July and loves doing jigsaw puzzles with up to fifty pieces. He is a joy to behold.

Love from Margaret

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Post by Flower51 » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:35 pm

I'm not religious, I'm a grateful forgiven sinner and I love Jesus.

I've seen God move in miraculous ways in my own family. My mother signed herself out of the hospital against the advice of a team of six heart doctors who were convinced that a return to even nonstressful (yeah right...) living would trigger a heart attack, this one killing her. They told her she had so much blockage that the opening the blood flows through was the size of a pin. She didn't want surgery at her age. I knew God wasn't done w/her yet....she was in her 80s, just repented for hanging onto the controls of her life and asked Jesus to be her Lord and Saviour. My entire family (except for me who felt a deep sense of peace) was freaked out that she left the hospital. Two weeks later she decided to go in for a heart catherization for a second opinion at another hospital. While I was praying for her God gave me a supernatural sense of well being...it was like a blanket covered me, and said, "I'm her Doctor, I'm there with her now and your Mom will be fine"

My uncle called from the hospital saying, "I know you must be really worried so I wanted to call you...Your Mom's been in there for a couple of hours now and they're not telling us anything yet." He sounded so worried for his sister. I told him about my exp praying...that I wasn't worried at all because God had her covered and He was healing her. I could tell from his response that he was thinking "well, believe what you need to to get through this..."

A couple hours later my Mom called me and said "guess what?!?!?!? You'll never believe what happened!!!! The doctors said that my heart is in good shape for someone my age and there was NO blockage!!!" They sent her home! I said, "Mom, do you know Who did that for you???" "Yes! God did it!" It took her 80+ years to realize how completely God loves her and when she had that exp in the hospital, it was like He put his arms around her and said, "I love you daughter"....How cool is that?

Anyway....He says "call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." ...Love, Terry

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Sleepless on LI
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Post by Sleepless on LI » Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:02 pm

Terry,

Besides being an inspirational post, I was so happy to read that your mother was fine. So she's doing well? How long ago was that? I have parents who are 73 and 77. My mom has had Parkinsons for about eight years, but is blessed in that hers is the type that won't progress any further than it is right now. She has been at one stage for years and her doctors say some people, unexplainably, never fully progress into the fullblown effects. My dad, who is 77, works out, looks like he's 65 and has only had a gallbladder surgery in his entire life (knocking wood...). I pray that my parents live well into at least their 90's. I know, it's a lot to ask, but I ask it anyway. Glad your mom pulled through. There is nothing in the world like having your parents with you to share everything with. When I go through things with my kids, they share in the joy as if it were happening to them. You don't find that in people other than your parents. I've been blessed to have two great ones and just hope to be blessed for as long as I possibly can be with their presence here on this earth.
Thanks for sharing your story with us.
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