Charlie Cantrell and I went to Franciscan University together. I didn’t know him well, but he was always a good guy with a great sense of humor. I haven’t heard his name in years, but I got an e-mail last night from a mutual friend:
I wanted to ask for your prayers. Charlie Cantrell (which some of you know from Steubenville) has a very sick little girl who just had a major operation on her heart. You can read all of the info about it here: http://www.catecantrell.blogspot.com/. The baby’s name is Cate and their family would really appreciate any prayers and sacrifices.
This little girl sounds like she’s been through far more than any 7 month old should. She’s had surgery on her heart, she’s on numerous medications, and they’ve got her on a machine to keep her alive. The problem is that the maintenance they are using to keep her going has the potential to do more damage than good if it has to be sustained. She could suffer problems with other organs, including her brain, if she isn’t able to fight this without all the artificial help. And if things don’t improve fast, she’s going to need a heart transplant.
Every time I hear about a situation like this I become so thankful that it’s not something I’ve had to endure. I doubt, honestly, that I’m a big enough man to watch one of my babies go through something like this with my faith and my sanity in tact. When other families have to struggle with these things, I feel an obligation, then, to ask for as much strength and consolation (and good result) as prayer can obtain for them.
Please, if you could add them to your intentions, I’m sure it would be of great benefit.
Will do. I know the prayers of others helped us bear up when we had the miscarriage.
And definitely agreed on my own inability to bear up well under similar circumstances. The idea of crawling down into a bottle and never fully emerging would be extremely tempting.
Then again, we both have others to attend to. Duty, the stern daughter of the voice of God, can work when we can’t.
[...] I asked you on Friday for your prayers for a family with a very sick little baby girl. In the mysterious way that God works, I am sure your prayers have helped them to endure the tragedy that has ensued. [...]