[Magdalen] Please pray for +WestMo

[Ginga Wilder]

Prayers for Bishop Marty, his family, and the people of the Diocese of
WestMo.

Ginga Wilder

On Fri, Nov 18, 2016 at 9:13 AM, Jon Egger <revegger at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
>
> I have realized anew in the last few days that personal circumstances
> sometime intrude on what I consider to be the trajectory of my life and
> ministry. Today I need to share with you about just such a personal
> circumstance that will certainly effect the course of my life in the days
> to come.
>
> About two weeks ago, following slightly troublesome lab results and a
> biopsy procedure, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is
> unfortunately an all-too-common occurrence in men my age. In preparing to
> deal with this condition, my doctor requested I have a CT scan and a bone
> scan both to define the extent of the tumor and to be satisfied that the
> cancer has not spread. These scans were accomplished this past Monday,
> November 14th, and the next day, Tuesday, Donna and I sat down with my
> physician to talk over the results of the tests. The scans verified a small
> mass in my prostate and also identified another small mass in my right
> kidney, which – as it turns out – is the more concerning of the two.
>
> The affected organs need to be surgically removed, and I meet with a
> laparoscopic surgeon next Wednesday to set the date for the first of two
> surgeries, the removal of my right kidney. Thankfully God saw fit when
> humanity was created to give us a spare, so I will be able to live and
> function very nicely on my good, left kidney. The second surgery, a
> prostatectomy, will follow about 3 months later.
>
> Catching the tumor in my kidney, which is the more problematic of the two
> issues, was a very serendipitous outcome of the CT scan. If I hadn’t had
> the prostate problem, the kidney cancer could have grown silently until it
> was far advanced. I am fortunate that both tumors are small, in an early
> stage, and completely curable through surgery.
>
> The expected recovery time for each of these surgeries, though shorter than
> I would have guessed, will affect my schedule of meetings, visitations,
> etc., so I ask all members of the diocese to be understanding if I or a
> member of the Bishop’s Staff asks to reschedule a meetings or event.
> Working with my care team, I will try very hard not to let my medical needs
> interfere with several, vital, diocesan events in the near future – events
> about which you’ll hear more in the days to come – and not interfere with
> the impending birth and celebration of our second grandchild (soon and very
> soon!) However, I cannot be certain that recovering from surgery will
> follow the schedule I desire. Again, personal circumstances sometime
> intrude on what I consider to be the trajectory of my life and ministry.
>
> Therefore, I share this information so you will know that the Bishop’s
> Staff and other diocesan leaders will be on the job to ensure the good
> order of the diocese, so that you may know my personal situation, and to
> solicit your prayers for Donna, for my family, and for me in this time of
> challenge.
>
> May God richly bless each of you with health and thankful hearts as we come
> to our national day of Thanksgiving and then with expectancy and faith as
> we enter the Season of Advent.
>
> P.S. Clergy, please share this with members of your congregations who may
> not have received this email. You can do so in whatever way you see fit to
> assure all in our diocese are updated.
>
> I am filled with hope,
>
> +Bishop Marty
>