I Called For Backup

It was June 30th, 2012, a Thursday morning. My husband off from work was edging by our sidewalk. I was getting ready to run to start a five hour training day on my regular work day off. Our daughters were off from school for the summer and sleeping in.
A neighbor was out walking, as my husband said, 'hi', to her. He also asked about her husband. He had not known what had transpired in their lives that year. She stopped and said that her husband was dying. He wasn't going to make it much longer. It was a matter of months, to the point they moved her daughter's wedding from October to August.
I overhearing this as I was stepping outside to go for my run. I responded acknowledging her dilemma. I responded, "I will pray for him."
I was devastated as I ran I prayed. Then after a mile. I stopped my watch, standing on the sidewalk of a bridge, I pulled out my cell phone from my back pocket of my running shirt. I called for backup.
First, I called a priest and made a prayer request. He said he would for my neighbor. Then I called a minister, she said she would as well light a candle for him. The next day I had a client who prayed a lot. So, I made the request to her as well. Her and I prayed together in my office for my neighbor.
Three weeks later the wife walking by our home again. I saw her. I asked how her husband was. She stated, "Well the scan last week showed 80% of the tumors were gone. The doctors can't figure it."
Time passed. Our youngest and one of her friends went trick or treating, me escorting them. Soon we arrived at that neighbors home the kids rang the doorbell. My neighbor's husband answered. He looked good.
A year later, it was Halloween again. Our youngest again had me escort her. The neighbor's husband again answered the door giving out candy. He looked healthy.
A month ago he and his wife were out walking briskly about two miles. I thought about this today as I ran. I thought to myself, 'I'm glad I called for backup on that...'---Jody-Lynn Reicher

Afterword: He and his wife now nearly a decade later past the DOD that doctors predicted. Are still walking together every day around our block.

Comments

2023 Holiday Letter from the Reicher's

Well, I didn't think I'd be doing a Holiday Letter this year, but here goes... The Spirit of Norm is in the air. As the wind whips with minus a true snowstorm. In hopes the Farmers Almanac was correct, I pray to the snow gods. Rain ensued the month of December thus far. We have nearly tripled the amount of rainfall usual for December in New Jersey. And I've witnessed its treachery. Storms such as these hit us hardest in July. Then remained fairly intense through til about early October. Our daughters are doing well, Thank God. Their Dad would be proud of them. Our oldest Sarah, now a Junior at UCLA pursuing her degree in Chemical Engineering. She's digging the whole California scene. Which I thought it was for her. She's had some good traveling on her off times from school. For her March 2023 week off, she drove her and a few friends out to Lake Tahoe and went downhill skiing for a first in nearly 5 years. She had to rent the ski equipment. Funny enough when ...

She's Not Exactly Betty White

She? Yes, she is not exactly Betty White. Nibbles is cute and funny, though. She's one of our two bunnies now nearing 100 years old. She at times appears to need a wheeled walker absolutely, with tennis balls. But instead, I've now spotted her, little rugs covering our living room to dining room floors. Not too many of them, for she would think she was close to a litter box and then there'd be a big mess. Right now, I'm working mostly remotely. This allows for me to check on her four times a day. Too, I've made my office temporarily in our dining room. And thank God for all that. Because I have to make certain her right leg that can no longer function as part of her hopping mechanics to get around, does not get hung up on the side of the litter box. I have to clean her hay excursions, she cannot always control her hay poops, never mind her bladder. That's where my excessive laundry loads have headed. No big deal. I barely use the dryer. I have a drying rack a...

Balloons Are Amazing

Especially the ones that have helium in them. Balloons for some reason seem to be a sign of happiness. I remember as a child when our family would go to the annual Fireman’s Picnic near Labor Day weekend. It was an annual event put on by the volunteer fire department my dad belonged to. I can’t remember what I loved the most about it. Yet, I could say the helium balloons were in the top three items at that celebration of sorts for me. The hamburgers were a gift from God. Not the kind of food I saw regularly, because it was once a year. I can’t recall any other time I’d eaten a hamburger at home. We could afford chicken. We’d eaten squirrel, which had actually been shot by one of my dad’s friends when firing of what I believe was a BeeBee gun. And venison was had when one of my dad’s friends hit a deer with his late 1960’s early 1970’s suburban vehicle in Maine, totaling it of course. Too, for a few summers we’d received massive amounts of blue fish for free. It’s still my favorite food...

Writing Reality

Search This Blog