Update on medical issues

 I was asked for an update on Mother’s cancer. We also have another Sister who is in need of prayers due to a hopefully non-cancerous tumor in her brain. This is the latest “official update” from the Sisters. Thank you for the prayers and concern!

+JMJ+ 

Dear Family and Friends, 

    Praised be Jesus and Mary! 

    We wanted to provide an update on Mother Maria Regina and Sister Maria Josepha. 

    Mother finished the 4th round of chemo and will start on the next chemo medication on February 16th. This treatment will be weekly for 12 weeks. The main symptoms expected are fatigue and possible neuropathy (tingling in fingers and toes). Thank you for your prayers for her as she begins this new treatment! 

     Sister Maria Josepha saw a neurosurgeon and an ENT surgeon on February 2nd. They confirmed that she will need neurosurgery to remove her tumor. This will be on Wed., March 4th. She needs to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. and the surgery will likely start around 8:00 a.m. It is a very delicate and complex surgery, and is expected to last 8-9 hours. She will then go to the ICU for at least one or two days, followed by more time on a step-down unit. They expect she will be in the hospital for about a week all told. She will need physical therapy afterward to learn to walk steadily again. 

      There are a few specific things we are praying for: 

1) That they can remove the whole tumor in one surgery. Because it is so large and in a difficult location, they said it is possible that she will need a second surgery to remove all of it. 

2) That her hearing is saved on the right side. The doctors expect she will lose her hearing completely on that side because they will probably need to cut the auditory nerve. They both said it would be "miraculous" if she could hear on that side after surgery. That is just what Blessed Columba Marmion's intercession can do, so we are praying for that miracle! 

3) That her facial nerve will not be damaged. This is a risk of the surgery. Facial nerve damage could lead to paralysis/drooping on that side of her face. Sometimes this is temporary, sometimes it is permanent. We are praying she will not have any damage! 

        Sister Maria Josepha is an inspiration to us all. She sees this tumor as coming from God's Providence, meant to bring about some greater good for herself and for the souls of others. She is very much at peace. She is also very interested in medical things, and enjoyed showing all of us the impressive MRI images of her tumor during recreation! :) So while this is a challenge in many ways, we are so grateful to see so much fruit in our community as we draw closer together in caring for each other--blessed be God in all His gifts! Please keep praying for us, and know of our prayers and sacrifices for all of you! 

In Corde Mariae,

Sister Joanna Marie of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, F.L.M. 

(Infirmarian) 

        

Filiae Laboris Mariae

P.O. Box 310, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701 / http://www.filiae.org/