I guess we will start out with this song. I imagine that God is saying this to us.
We need one another, our prayers are the number one most important thing that we can give one another. Our prayers raise to Heaven and the Miracles happen. Amen.
John Hiatt. Have a little Faith in me.
Hello All, I mentioned yesterday on my Face Book page a need for prayers for Anthony Mitrano.
Anthony is a young man who is fighting and trying to realize his victory over cancer.
I wrote on Face book yesterday afternoon that Anthony was having a bone marrow transplant. his journey has been so very difficult.
last nights marrow transplant was thought to be a 45 minute procedure and it ran 2.5 hours.
I am told that he is very tired and his stomach is bothering him. he has begun to get mouth sores. The doctors say that he will feel sicker before he begin to feel better.
The next 30 days will be a struggle for him.
Please pray for Anthony and his loving family.
We are called to love one another and to support oneanother. so, please pray for Anthony.
please remember in your payers as well…
Anthony bone marrow transplant
Susan who is recovering from a health issue.
for Jenn who is fighting Glio
for Teddy who is fighting Glio
For Karen Bouvier Vital who passed suddenly.
For Bill who was diagnosed with bypolar
For L who is a alcohol treatment center.
for Robin with leg and foot pain.
For Mary recovering from an aputated leg
for jeanne who is fighting cancer.
for paul who is has pancreatic cancer
for christina who has foot issues
for chris who has leukemia.
For all of the sick, homeless and lost.
we pray to the Lord.
Faith, God and Jesus are the answer.
For Anthony. Today, we have your back and your families too. prayers are coming !
THE REASON, I CAN RISE AND ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS IS CRYSTAL CLEAR TO ME.
HELLO ALL, I HAVE MENTIONED IN THE PAST THE FACT THAT I HAD BEEN TIMED OUT OF MY MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR LEFT SIDE WEAKNESS. AFTER BEING OUT OF THERAPY FOR SOME WEEKS NOW, I CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE. SO, I DECIDED TO GO FORWARD WITH AN APPEAL OF MY CURRENT SITUATION WITH MY INSURURER.
I HAVE CONTACTED MY TWO DOCTORS AS WELL AS MY PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASKING THEM TO SUPPLY A LETEER REQUESTING MY COVERAGE TO CONTINUE FROM THEIR PRESPECTIVE.
IN MY CASE I HOLD NOTHING AGAINST THE INSURER IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. I HONESTY HOPE THAT THEY WILL EVALUATE THE CASE AND ALOW ME TO CONTINUE.
IF NOT GODS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ME ANYWAY. GOD JUST WANTS US TO KEEP MOVING WITH FAITH AND PEACE TOWARDS THE ANSWER.
THE APPEAL PROCESS HAS BEEN TIRING TO ME FOR SURE. wHEN i THOUGHT ABOUT JUST NOT BOTHERING, I SAID HECK NO. i AM ABLE CURRENTLY TO DO WHAT MANY OTHER CANCER PATIENTS CANNOT DO FOR THEMSELVES. ADVOCATE. SHINE A LIGHT ON THE FACT THAT EACH FIGHT IS NOT THE SAME. CANCER AND DESEASE EFFECT EVERYONE DIFFERENTLY. THUS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH DOES NOT WORK WELL.
SO, HERE IS A GLIMPSE OF MY WRITING TO MY INSURER. i AM GRATEFUL WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME AND HOPE THAT THEY CAN STEP BACK THE GUIDELINES TO ACCOMODATE MY NEEDS.
PLEASE SAY A PRAYER THAT THIS WILL BRING A NEEDED CHANGE IN MY NEEDS FOR TREATMENT. GOD BLESS 🙂
THE LETTER THAT I SUBMITTED YESTERDAY READS AS FOLLOWS.
7-27-2015
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter pursuant to phone calls made in regards to my treatment that have been made by myself or medical staff to whom I am affiliated with.
My name is Daniel W. Riley, Danny, to my friends. I am writing this letter the way that I would to a friend in simple layman terms. I am not a person adept in medical workings nor am I an individual who works in the insurance industry. So, please forgive my sophomoric approach. 🙂
First off,
I am a husband, a son, a dad to 4 , a friend and a loving human being.
Approximately 3.5 years ago while making breakfast for my family I began dropping things from my left hand. I at the time was thought to be a healthy, non smoker etc.
My Dr/ primary Dr. Raymond Wong of Harvard Burlington thought I had suffered a stroke.
Off to Lahey Burlington I went to see Dr. Russell who scanned my brain, the results showed no stroke. I then underwent tests including a lumbar puncture to check spinal fluids for other neuro diseases. This test was on my birthday April 6th, 2012. I was 50.
Well, I was delivered the news, I was told that I had brain cancer, the next step was the awake surgery. They could not remove the tumor due to it dangerous location. It was hovering over and in my central nervous system.
So, I went through that surgery to get a biopsy of the tumor for gradeing and was told that I had non surgical GlioBlastoma multi form grade 4 cancer with a very short window of life expectancy. I was dieing, that is for sure I was failing very quickly.
I know you have the records of my journey. I also know that in insurance their are general guidelines in place for different types of diagnoses. I am not the typical case in terms of my Glio diagnosis. I am no better than anyone else but I am blessed in this moment to be very stable and I am tumor free. By all standards I am a miracle due to the God of my faith, my doctors, my medicines and machines.
I have clawed my way up a huge hill daily mentally, physically, psychologically , and spiritually to do my part. I talk daily to other cancer patients who hear my story and see the hope that we all can share in the cure.
So, in closing. This is not a letter of complaint because that would show an ungrateful heart. I fully understand how blessed I am in this moment I love and appreciate all my doctors and people who have helped me to get here. They have inspired me as I have inspired them. We are all much stronger and taller when we stand together in a valiant effort fighting this adversary known as cancer.
My wife and employer have paid for our excellent coverage and we have loved having you as our insurer. Dr. Wong is the best.
The problem is this my case does not fit a standard. I am doing extremely well. I will find ways to push my way safely through the day to gain strength. I am not in a wheel chair anymore, I am not on a walker anymore, I am not on a four prong cane anymore, I use a single cane when out for a little added stability. My needs now are these. I am working on my respiratory needs after 3 years of a sedentary life the lungs need to be stretched and worked so I am doing that outside of therapy. I found a new track 2 towns away that allows me the safety of walking with a fence to my right. So, I began to walk it and feel so alive, I walked nearly a half mile yesterday.
What therapy gives me.
First off, I need to be stretched. The stretching I receive to my left side allows me better range of movement of my leg, arm and hand. I have full feeling on the left side. My brain is re-wiring itself back to the left side slowly but surely. One of my doctors called it a slow motion miracle. 🙂
Secondly, but just as important is that my physical therapist has employed various weight types of weight treatments. Whereas my left wrist and left ankle is cuffed to the weight machine allowing my arm and leg to pull the resistance weights and call on the brain to send a response through the muscles.
I am willing to do anything to be the best that I can be not just for me to be perfectly honest but for my doctors and health care providers who are in the trenches everyday and face a hard scenario daily with their Sick patients. I also want to be a beacon of hope to those who are walking their path with an illness.
Lastly, I would like to give a face to this situation. I am not the only Danny out there.
My desire is this, I would like to be allowed to continue my therapy at winchester orthopedics plus with Mr. Matthew Puglia. I don’t know how long I will need this but I know that the healing is in progress if it were not then I would not be typing this correspondence now. 🙂
I hope and pray that you can evaluate my situation and speak to my doctors and allow me to finish what you have allowed me to begin. My total healing.
I woke this morning my wife was running about getting ready for work as were my two daughters who current reside here with me. I had done a lot of physical work here yesterday. I was cleaning out draws my closet and assessing what to give to good will. I do not require all of the clothes from my past life dress shirts ties etc. So, I am offering them to the guys in my life to see if they need them first.
I was going through a draw full of cards that were accumulated over 3.5 years. Some cards I do not even remember seeing but no surprise there given where I was at during that time.
Today, I find myself wiped out. So, the house grew silent as everyone left for work and I thought I have got to get up. Before I did that I turned on the television and decided to watch the Chaplet of Saint Michael on Ewtn. I loved this Chaplet and had not seen it for a short while. I was laying in bed listening, praying and my mind went back to when I first viewed this Chaplet. It was 3.5 years ago after cancer changed my life.
I remember laying on the chair that I am currently sitting on and seeing it for the first time. I had a machine beside me on the table that was hooked up to the telephone line and monitored my pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level and took my weight daily. It sent the stats to the doctor etc. if something was off, or I did not respond I received a call.
On this morning a nurse named Robin was sitting to the right of my chair on the sofa. The Chaplet came on and I watched it. In that moment I was so enveloped in the love of God and his mistery. I have no doubt in the existence of angels and the fact that they are working for good to protect our daily journeys.
I say all the time that I know that I am blessed in this moment to be doing this well. And, yet I from time to time grumble that I want to be physically capable to do everything I want. I want to work. Etc.
It is human nature, it is pride it is a host of different things I suppose.
So, I got up came downstairs had breakfast patted my old pooch who laying by my chair and started to think as I sat here. I am in a much better place on these thoughts and matters today then I was 2 or 3 months ago even. There was a turning point of personal recognition to the reality of my life and what limits there are currently specifically surrounding mobility.
I have shared the ups and downs of my journey with you all to show you that we are all on a common journey. Is not always easy. But, I love life.
The primary reason why I am able to bring myself back from the hard moments of this life is Faith.
Knowing that no matter what happens to me today I am okay.
I am not okay because I am all powerful but because I have faith and hope to set my sights on the possibilities around the next bend in the road.
I do not have faith and hope because I am a wise man either. The Holy Spirit is guiding me back to the foot of the cross daily.
Through prayer, God through the Holy Spirit has stripped back the situtuations in my life and I have learned the lessons from each event. Life becomes very dimensional when you begin to understand what’s happening around us and too us.
We become God strong. 3.5 years ago God declared to me when the doctor was going to tell me your dieing. God said that I had cancer, cancer was not from him, and I did not own this cancer.
God was right, God is holding the disease at bay currently. But, I have not had the easiest time either. And, why shouldn’t I suffer a bit, I have learned some of the most beautiful lessons. Plus, I do believe that we can offer up those sufferings to help another. so, I do.
My illness has shown me such beauty and tenderness from so many others. Lessons I would never have understood or known without my affliction.
The bottom line is this. We all have so much in common. We are all part of a large family.
I BEGAN THIS WRITING ON WENESDAY AND THIS IS WHAT MATERIALIZED.
this is an oldie of a song that depicts my relationship with God.
As you read the lyrics and listen to the music I am sure you will see the common bond that we all share with God. Also, the questions and mysteries surrounding that relationship. we are on a quest, searching for the answers.
And yes, life events and cancer have gotten me here …….
Chicago I have been searching for so long
It’s currently 4:46 p.m. On Wednesday afternoon. I got out of bed over 12 hours ago to get to Dana Farber for my blood draw at 6am. I had an MRI done at 7:00 am and saw Dr. David Reardon at 8:00.
A couple of days before this appointment I was a little down because I could not walk the track it was just too hot for me. So my mind wandered and I prepared for my scan and the results. I thought of both possible scenarios and how they might go.
I was not expecting bad news but, I needed to prepare for that possibility. I needed to organize my mind and emotions surrounding it. I owed it to myself, I owe it to my family particularly to my beautiful wife.
Today. I am joyous at the outcome of that scan and the words that Dr. Reardon and I shared. He said you know what this means? I did not respond, I listened and he said you have been out of treatment two years with not the slightest set back or flare up. He just said remarkable.
I simply said thank you Dr. As I pointed up to the heavens. I said God , his machines, medicines and him helping. I thought as I drove home I was back to the beginning with Dr. Reardon again today. The same words were told to both him and his staff when I got my 2nd opinion with him on diagnosis day.
I have at different seasons in my life had a gift from God to receive direct messages and words of knowledge and I have always just spoken them or written them as I felt called to.
Every word that I am writing is in fact the gospel truth. I have written in the past for my church when compelled to. When I became ill God spoke these words to me…. I had cancer, cancer was not from God and I did not own the cancer. I professed this to the Lahey doctors, I professed it to Dana Fabers doctors and staff, I shared this with Brigham and women’s staff and my oncology radiology doctor. Dr. Alexander.
Each one of these beautiful people teared up when I spoke these words. Perhaps they felt that the cancer was effecting me. I have such peace from God only because he gave it to me. Hope, faith and belief that He alone can do Miracles.
As a matter of fact I wrote to the Catholic Church over and over again that it was the time of Miracles before I even got sick.
I sit here tonight like you all 1 of many of a flock. Each one just as valuable ,just as loved by God no matter what.
We are all Miracles by our birth alone.
And, yes I am a Miracle in this moment with a purpose. God is showing everyone the hope of his love. I was reaching for God for years before I got sick. Because he heard my cry for help as I was being ravaged by cancer he grabbed me and picked me up. He put my feet upon this path one not of sand. He has allowed me to witness his words that it is in fact the time of Miracles. Because he proclaims it to be.
I am just a guy who loves life, love my God, my family and friends. That’s right just like you. No matter what your difficulties are these things that plague us are Powerless over God. He is the healer of everything.
NO MATTER WHAT GOD HAS GOT EVERYTHING COVERED. THE NEXT SONG IS AND HAS BEEN VERY MUCH ONE OF MY ANTHEMS OVER THE LAST 4 TO 5 YEARS.
WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO US IN OUR LIVES ALL THE TIME
THIS SONG WAS POINENT TO ME BECAUSE WHITNEY HOUSTON APPEARED TO HAVE IT ALL. LIFE WAS DIFFICULT FOR HER. SHE WAS HUMAN LIKE US ALL. SO, NO JUDGING IS NECESSARY.
THE ONE THING THAT SHE NEVER LOST WAS GOD AND JESUS CHRIST. HE NEVER LEFT HER AND SHE CONSTANTLY RETREATED TO HIM.
PLEASE PRAY FOR …
sUE. POSSIBLE CANCER OF UTERIS
BILL BYPOLAR.
JENN BRAIN CANCER.
JOE BRAIN CANCER
TEDDY BRAIN CANCER
CHRIS LEUKEMIA.
PAUL PANCREATIC CANCER
L WHO IS IN AN ALCOLHOL TREATMENT CENTER
R WHO IS SUFFERING FROM FOOT AND LEG PROBLEMS.
FOR ME TOMORROW IS DANA FARBER DAY SCAN ETC. NOT WORRYING. GODS GOT IT.
FOR JEANNE WHO IS BATTLING CANCER.
FOR ALL OF US, OUR FAMILIES, THIS COUNTRY , THIS WORLD.
LET US PRAY TO THE LORD.
SO, LETS ALL LOOK TO GOD. 🙂
WHITNEY HOUSTON. ( THE WORDS WERE VERY PROPHETIC TO THIS SONG FOR WHITNEY AS IT TURNS OUT. GOD BLESS HER.
Beautiful Song, Jesus is with us every moment of everyday. But we as a people all await the day that is written when he will return to us all. To lead his remnent church here on Earth. So we wait and in the meantime we try to help eachother and live a life full of love, hope, joy and faith. Amen . Life is good. ! 🙂
It is written that none of us knows the day, the hour or the minute that Jesus does return. It could be in a minute or 1000 more years. God knows! 🙂
I selected this song today for all of us guy or girl we all feel this way as young ones in a hurry to get out of Dodge and our life situations:) It seems as if it is just part of the course of growing up.
And then on the other hand we as the moms and dads are standing there witnessing the same life events that our parents did with us.
Live reveals so many different situations where we suddenly understand where our parents were coming from. The I sound like my mother or father moments. 🙂
With 2 of my kids out, I hear them talking and speculating on their desires in different ways. But isn’t it beautiful to see a fresh dream born of hope and love materialize before our very eyes.
it is a joy seeing it and hearing it. As, a parent I will pray all the way for their desires. I will always come back to my core value with my kids and those that I love. Like you all.
Keep it simple and put God in the middle of every decision you make, pray on it so nothing is done in haste.
I look at my life and realize the memories are part of the person I am now in this moment. I miss the good old days but I look forward to all of the new experiences that are brought our way. Our children carry us into tomorrow with dreams for families someday too. We as parents and as humans get to become something new everyday through our children and loved ones lives but we also can make that decision to evolve in the likeness to God by volunteering and being there for someone else too. Life doesn’t end as Our kids move forward in their lives it getS richer in texture, it gets to be about your spouse truly for the first time. How beautiful is that? 🙂
I came across this song months ago and remembered it from the Jerry Lewis telethon. I like many of you grew up with Jerry’s Labor Day telethon.
I remember aside for the family cookout, I was glued to the television. The stories of so many of these kids and their families were something that changed me at the core. I saw what true hardship was and I saw what true heroes looked like.
as, I have walked my walk here and life has happened I have attained a richer understanding of this life. Without the cancer diagnosis I certainly would not be the Danny that I am today.
I was in communication with the lovely woman Jenn and her dad Jack recently. Jack was due to see Dr. Reardon at Dana Farber today . Please say a prayer for him.
Without my cancer I would not know them or many others that I have been privileged to meet , talk to, and most importantly pray with and for !
Cancer has given me the opportunity to cut life to the quick, to shed the materialism, to appreciate the moment I am in and to grow in faith with a relationship to my God, my dad.
The beauty is this, God has called me in this moment to help others as they have helped me. As I have struggled God has blessed me over and over again in countless ways. Most important although I am not perfect I believe that and feel that God is well pleased with me. My course is set at this moment toward the destination that I desire when I am called so that is the best blessing from God that I or any of you could ask for.
Another thing I want to share with you is this. I have written in the last month or so that I had an issue walking the track due to a fear that I self inflicted on myself. It is on my blog post a week or so before the Boston marathon.
I have been blue over this because I need to walk, exercise and continue to heal myself. Like I have said before God has given us all the Holy Spirit to feed us and guide us..
About a month ago while driving to my dads for a visit I looked out my window and was thanking God for the beautiful day, my life,everything. My eyes looked off in the distance and I saw the new track in Winchester and saw that it appeared to have a black chain linked fence circling the tracks edge all the way around.
So, today my youngest daughter came with me and we found that the track did in fact have a beautiful fence around it. What this means is this I can walk the track daily. I can walk with my right hand with the fence to my side for security.
So, thank you God and the Holy Spirit. Like I said I caused my own problem with the fear of almost falling and, I have suffered because of it but in time God showed me the way back to the path. I can now walk safely.
Here is the song that I mentioned earlier in this writing remember we will never walk alone.
What ever is going on God and our brothers and sisters have us. Amen
I have a very good friend who is going into treatment for alcohol abuse. The amount of courage it takes a person who suffers from a disease such as this to recognize it and to act to break this cycle is enormous. God bless L.
If you can keep L in your prayers it would be very much appreciated
God knows this person well. So he knows who you are praying for. 🙂
NATALIE GRANT…. HUMAN…
By confronting our struggles head on and calling it by name helps to strip the situation of its power. God can come and heal us.
Just Danny Speaks 