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Everybody has a Story

by Miracle Chasers on 11/02/10

I was reluctant in the beginning to tell random people much detail about the book we were writing, a nod to the old adage not to discuss politics or religion with friends and acquaintances. Not to mention that someone who didn't know me very well might think I was nuts. But somehow, the topic can't stay superficial and the next thing you know, we would be off to the races, which ususally involved someone's own story. One day, as a relative newcomer to NYC, and feeling the full weight of big city, East Coast intimidation (where was my Berkeley anything-goes air cover?), I was having lunch with a brand new friend, Andy. We didn't know each other well. We'd met in the apartment building gym and had daughters the same age. She is a consultant who spends only part of her time in NY, sophisticated, and a little breathless as she ran in a few minutes late to meet me at a lunch spot near her office. Intimidating, if you know what I mean. The topic of the book comes up and after a brief exchange, she begins to tell a story about the day her father died. She gets lost in the moment and I am riveted. As she finishes relaying her experience, she focuses again on me and says, "Wow, I don't think I've told my closest friends that story!" I wasn't so surprised since this sort of thing happened to all three of us and had been played out all over the country for the last ten years. Andy and I are no longer brand new friends, but make it a point to get together whenever she is in town...good enough friends for me to have asked her to share her story here with you. Katie

Comments (3)

1. Pat Mulcahy said on 11/3/10 - 03:15PM

Gee, it's already November 3 and Andy hasn't shared her story yet. Oh, wait. I finished the book last week and have obsessed over my stories and how I will write them. Writing intimidates me to no end and as soon as my fingers hit the keyboard my brain shuts off. So, I will post stories because I think it's a great idea, inspired by a wonderful book. But I know I will do it slowly... over time... a long time... maybe years...

2. Andy said on 11/7/10 - 12:46PM

Here I am with my story! As Katy said, we became fast friends brought together by her amazing journey and their wonderful and inspiring book. So my miracle story is actually about several miracles that surrounded our father's death. Miracle 1. What happened? My husband and I took our children to Florida to visit my parents. We wanted to spend as much time together as we could because we are a really close family and Dad had suffered from colon cancer and later prostrate cancer. For a couple of years, the cancer had been in remission, and we just wanted to take advantage of being together. While visiting, one sunny, Florida afternoon, Dad pulled me aside and asked if we could talk. At first, I thought maybe I was in trouble but that wasn't it. He said something is very wrong, I do not feel well, he said. I encouraged him that maybe it was some "bug" or something. We talked about his having had chemo and radiation, and perhaps, it took a long time to get one's strength back. He was not convinced. My Mom, a very positive person, simply said put a smile on your face and you will feel fine. I gave him a big hug and said I'm sure you are OK. The following day, we kissed Mom and Dad goodbye,left Florida and returned home.I was very worried about Dad and mentioned to my husband that I should get another opinion from a doctor in New York, where we lived. He said, he thought Dad would be fine and that I shouldn't worry. I thought maybe he is right. That night, we tucked our three children in bed and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, an Angel woke me up, appeared by my bedside, and told me my father was dying. The Angel went on to say, I was to help him and our family prepare. It was as real as talking with a friend. The Angel added gently, your father has three months to live. I was shaken, a bit spooked and so sad. Nonetheless, that morning, I called a wonderful doctor to ask if he could possibly see my father. He made an opening on the upcoming Friday. Now the hard part was to call my Mother and tell her about the Angel. We have always been a family of tremendous faith so she listened intently, was ever so hopeful, the Angel was wrong but agreed that they would fly to NYC on Thursday for the Friday appointment. They arrived and my father had a battery of tests, and a small procedure on that Friday. In the late afternoon, the doctor joined my Mother and me to talk. Dad was in recovery. The doctor said, I have good news and bad news: the cancer has metastasized in your husband's brain, bones and kidneys. My Mother asked what is the good news? He said, one kidney has already failed and cancer is in the other kidney, so your husband will die of kidney failure rather than bone cancer, which can be an excruciating and a long death. It is a good death, he said. My Mother asked, how long? The doctor initially said, he never gives a time, one never knows what might happen, he added. My Mother replied, we are a strong family, and she begged him to tell us how long. The doctor hesitantly replied, three months, just as the Angel had said. Miracle 2 Unfinished Business Dad's response to his prognosis was inspiring. I once said, are you scared? Scared of what? He asked. Of dying...why would I be scared, he responded? He continued, I will miss all of you, but I am going home. He had always been devout and he jokingly used to say, getting on this Earth is no problem, it is getting off, that can be tricky. All my siblings and their families, visited Florida as much as we could. We spent wonderful times together. Dad's health at first seemed very normal so we were creating memories for all of us. Nonetheless, as diagnosed, he started to really fail. We moved him into hospice. One of the last things, Dad said was he had unfinished business. My Mother asked what was he referring to and he said, I have to thank my nephew, Jim. Jim was a Lutheren Minister in Idaho, who had Dad on their prayer list every Sunday. Dad said, I need to thank him for all his prayers. Mom said not to worry she would thank him. Dad nodded and added, I hope I die on Sunday, what a gift it would be to die on the Lord's day. Sunday arrived and I was with my four siblings and Mother at Dad's bedside. At hospice, they told us that often the soul gets in a cue, while the body continues to mechanically work, but the end is very near. We thought it would still be a few days. We comforted each other and Dad. My siblings left hospice while I stayed with Mom. I said to Mom, let's pray. We said the "Our Father" out loud together, while each of us stood on either side of Dad. Then I said, a prayer my father had taught me as a child. I was crying, when Mom suddenly said, look, look and with that, there was a bright white light and Dad was gone. I thought yes, yes, it is true we go on to something wonderful. Of course, we were sobbing but what a miracle to witness. It was Sunday and one day short of the three month prediction. And so what was the unfinished business? Jim, Dad's nephew, had just completed his church services (in Idaho). He was resting on his couch when he felt a hand shaking him to wake up. My father, appeared and stood next to the couch. And then, he said, Jim, I am in the hands of the Lord, but he asked me if I had any unfinished business, and I asked if I may thank you and your congregation for all your prayers. The Lord agreed to let me come to see you, so thank you. And within moments, my father was gone. Jim knew Dad was at hospice so he called my Mother and told her that Dad had just woken him up, and was it true, was he really gone. Mom said, he died a few minutes ago. Miracle 3 It's OK, you weren't there. As I mentioned above, Mom and I were with Dad when he died. My siblings had gone back to my parent's house. When Mom called them and gave them the news, they were all heartbroken but my older sister was really overcome with grief. After we made the arrangements at hospice, Mom amd I went to join my siblings at my parent's home. My older sister was sobbing, and so to comfort her, Mom handed her Dad's rosary, which he had always carried. When she placed his silver rosary in her hands, it became illuminated. It glowed with such intensity, we knew Dad was sending a message to all of us that he was OK and if we were not with him in the final moments, not to feel so distraught. These miracles I have shared with you are a gift. Who knows why we experience miracles but after reading the Miracle Chase, I feel more than ever that miracles are all around us. Their amazing book, does give us permission to share our stories.

3. Nancy Kessler said on 12/10/10 - 04:55PM

I am so happy for Andy and her family that they were blessed with these precious events during the time leading up to and at the actual occasion of his death. I am also sad because I yearn for a miracle of this order. I think have been saved from death a few times by guardians, so I have been blessed, and I know that I must be grateful for these times. I just feel sad because all I really want is comfort and peace gained by the knowledge that everything will turn out as it should be, because God is in charge. I pray desperately for faith, serenity, peace and spiritual ease. I don't care what comes my way as long as I know that I am protected and will not be decimated by the events in my life because God has supplied me with peace. I worry everyday that something horrible will happen, and I am not prepared because I haven't the peace or is it faith, that I pray for, that I believe is necessary to shoulder life's burdens. All I want is peace in Christ and yet, it eludes me. Please, if you read this, pray for me. Thank-you for the opportunity to share what's on my heart.

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1.	Pat Mulcahy said on 11/3/10 - 03:15PM
	Gee, it's already November 3 and Andy hasn't shared her story yet. Oh, wait. I finished the book last week and have obsessed over my stories and how I will write them. Writing intimidates me to no end and as soon as my fingers hit the keyboard my brain shuts off. So, I will post stories because I think it's a great idea, inspired by a wonderful book. But I know I will do it slowly... over time... a long time... maybe years...
2.	Andy said on 11/7/10 - 12:46PM
	Here I am with my story! As Katy said, we became fast friends brought together by her amazing journey and their wonderful and inspiring book. So my miracle story is actually about several miracles that surrounded our father's death. Miracle 1. What happened? My husband and I took our children to Florida to visit my parents. We wanted to spend as much time together as we could because we are a really close family and Dad had suffered from colon cancer and later prostrate cancer. For a couple of years, the cancer had been in remission, and we just wanted to take advantage of being together. While visiting, one sunny, Florida afternoon, Dad pulled me aside and asked if we could talk. At first, I thought maybe I was in trouble but that wasn't it. He said something is very wrong, I do not feel well, he said. I encouraged him that maybe it was some "bug" or something. We talked about his having had chemo and radiation, and perhaps, it took a long time to get one's strength back. He was not convinced. My Mom, a very positive person, simply said put a smile on your face and you will feel fine. I gave him a big hug and said I'm sure you are OK. The following day, we kissed Mom and Dad goodbye,left Florida and returned home.I was very worried about Dad and mentioned to my husband that I should get another opinion from a doctor in New York, where we lived. He said, he thought Dad would be fine and that I shouldn't worry. I thought maybe he is right. That night, we tucked our three children in bed and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, an Angel woke me up, appeared by my bedside, and told me my father was dying. The Angel went on to say, I was to help him and our family prepare. It was as real as talking with a friend. The Angel added gently, your father has three months to live. I was shaken, a bit spooked and so sad. Nonetheless, that morning, I called a wonderful doctor to ask if he could possibly see my father. He made an opening on the upcoming Friday. Now the hard part was to call my Mother and tell her about the Angel. We have always been a family of tremendous faith so she listened intently, was ever so hopeful, the Angel was wrong but agreed that they would fly to NYC on Thursday for the Friday appointment. They arrived and my father had a battery of tests, and a small procedure on that Friday. In the late afternoon, the doctor joined my Mother and me to talk. Dad was in recovery. The doctor said, I have good news and bad news: the cancer has metastasized in your husband's brain, bones and kidneys. My Mother asked what is the good news? He said, one kidney has already failed and cancer is in the other kidney, so your husband will die of kidney failure rather than bone cancer, which can be an excruciating and a long death. It is a good death, he said. My Mother asked, how long? The doctor initially said, he never gives a time, one never knows what might happen, he added. My Mother replied, we are a strong family, and she begged him to tell us how long. The doctor hesitantly replied, three months, just as the Angel had said. Miracle 2 Unfinished Business Dad's response to his prognosis was inspiring. I once said, are you scared? Scared of what? He asked. Of dying...why would I be scared, he responded? He continued, I will miss all of you, but I am going home. He had always been devout and he jokingly used to say, getting on this Earth is no problem, it is getting off, that can be tricky. All my siblings and their families, visited Florida as much as we could. We spent wonderful times together. Dad's health at first seemed very normal so we were creating memories for all of us. Nonetheless, as diagnosed, he started to really fail. We moved him into hospice. One of the last things, Dad said was he had unfinished business. My Mother asked what was he referring to and he said, I have to thank my nephew, Jim. Jim was a Lutheren Minister in Idaho, who had Dad on their prayer list every Sunday. Dad said, I need to thank him for all his prayers. Mom said not to worry she would thank him. Dad nodded and added, I hope I die on Sunday, what a gift it would be to die on the Lord's day. Sunday arrived and I was with my four siblings and Mother at Dad's bedside. At hospice, they told us that often the soul gets in a cue, while the body continues to mechanically work, but the end is very near. We thought it would still be a few days. We comforted each other and Dad. My siblings left hospice while I stayed with Mom. I said to Mom, let's pray. We said the "Our Father" out loud together, while each of us stood on either side of Dad. Then I said, a prayer my father had taught me as a child. I was crying, when Mom suddenly said, look, look and with that, there was a bright white light and Dad was gone. I thought yes, yes, it is true we go on to something wonderful. Of course, we were sobbing but what a miracle to witness. It was Sunday and one day short of the three month prediction. And so what was the unfinished business? Jim, Dad's nephew, had just completed his church services (in Idaho). He was resting on his couch when he felt a hand shaking him to wake up. My father, appeared and stood next to the couch. And then, he said, Jim, I am in the hands of the Lord, but he asked me if I had any unfinished business, and I asked if I may thank you and your congregation for all your prayers. The Lord agreed to let me come to see you, so thank you. And within moments, my father was gone. Jim knew Dad was at hospice so he called my Mother and told her that Dad had just woken him up, and was it true, was he really gone. Mom said, he died a few minutes ago. Miracle 3 It's OK, you weren't there. As I mentioned above, Mom and I were with Dad when he died. My siblings had gone back to my parent's house. When Mom called them and gave them the news, they were all heartbroken but my older sister was really overcome with grief. After we made the arrangements at hospice, Mom amd I went to join my siblings at my parent's home. My older sister was sobbing, and so to comfort her, Mom handed her Dad's rosary, which he had always carried. When she placed his silver rosary in her hands, it became illuminated. It glowed with such intensity, we knew Dad was sending a message to all of us that he was OK and if we were not with him in the final moments, not to feel so distraught. These miracles I have shared with you are a gift. Who knows why we experience miracles but after reading the Miracle Chase, I feel more than ever that miracles are all around us. Their amazing book, does give us permission to share our stories.
3.	Nancy Kessler said on 12/10/10 - 04:55PM
	I am so happy for Andy and her family that they were blessed with these precious events during the time leading up to and at the actual occasion of his death. I am also sad because I yearn for a miracle of this order. I think have been saved from death a few times by guardians, so I have been blessed, and I know that I must be grateful for these times. I just feel sad because all I really want is comfort and peace gained by the knowledge that everything will turn out as it should be, because God is in charge. I pray desperately for faith, serenity, peace and spiritual ease. I don't care what comes my way as long as I know that I am protected and will not be decimated by the events in my life because God has supplied me with peace. I worry everyday that something horrible will happen, and I am not prepared because I haven't the peace or is it faith, that I pray for, that I believe is necessary to shoulder life's burdens. All I want is peace in Christ and yet, it eludes me. Please, if you read this, pray for me. Thank-you for the opportunity to share what's on my heart.