Day 101: Starting a Novena for Thomas

Duplicated on our CaringBridge site for permanent record here.

February 26, 2021, written by Mama

101 days in the hospital: 63 in PICU, 28 in the Oncology ward, 10 at In-Patient Rehab!

Hustle bustle . . . Thomas ate a bit more food today, continued receiving TPN, and tonight has J tube feedings increased. No improvement in GI symptoms yet, but we give these things time. Today was the first day Thomas began using pancreatic enzymes during his food by mouth also as well as having pectin added to his J tube formula.

In between therapy sessions, Thomas and I watched live animal cams from all over the world, a first-time adventure for us.

Chris and I swapped out mid-afternoon. Thank you always for the meals provided several times weekly by families, thank you to the family who provided an unscheduled pizza night tonight: I have so few hours at home only a couple of nights a week and it is treasured by me not to spend those hours in the kitchen trying to figure out how to make dinner when I'm so out of practice. We always pray for the families who bring us food.

I got to pray Stations of the Cross for this Friday in Lent not at a parish church, but in our Domestic Church (Catholic phrase meaning our home).

On Friday nights, we have a family movie . . . sometimes watched as a whole family, sometimes boys versus girls, sometimes older ones versus younger ones. Tonight we are all watching together the 1938 Robin Hood.

We invite anyone to join our family in praying a novena to St. Jude, both as patron of impossible causes and as one of Thomas's patron saints for his Confirmation. Thomas's pancreas situation could really go two very divergent ways, so we are praying for a complete and obvious self-sealing of his pancreatic leak without needing any surgical intervention. 

Source of St. Jude Novena prayer: https://catholicnovenaapp.com/novenas/st-jude-novena/#st-jude-novena

Day 1 Prayer

Intro Prayer

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of.

Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.

Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly:

for Thomas to experience a complete and obvious self-sealing of his pancreatic leak without needing any surgical intervention. 

and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Amen.

Concluding Prayer

May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen.

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity.

(Our Father, Hail Mary)