Hope Renewed

A miracle happened last night.

Colleen leads a meditation group on Tuesday evenings at the church. I went after work. A new couple were there – Frank and his wife Suzanne. Frank told us he’d recently had a lung transplant and when I asked him why, he said he’d had a disease.

“It’s a rare disease called IPF,” he began and I could scarcely believe my good fortune as he briefly told his tale.

I told Frank and the others that I, too, had been diagnosed with IPF. I found support in that small group. Frank and I exchanged phone numbers. He looks great, Ms J! He’d had the surgery on Christmas Day last year. He’s 65, ten years older than I. If he can do it, so can I. I left the church feeling encouraged, supported, unafraid of the future.

“It’s been quite a journey,” he told us. “But I’m well on the road to recovery.”

I’m so glad we met. I’m so glad I decided to attend Colleen’s meditation group. I nearly didn’t go. I hadn’t slept well the night before in Windsor. Scary thoughts of my uncertain future held sleep at bay in the wee small hours before dawn. But my workmate, Jimmy, urged me to go.

“You always say you enjoy it,” he said. “The shuttle goes right past the church. Why not jump out and go to the meeting?”

Honestly, friends, I believe God Himself put Frank and I together in that room last night. Frank told me he’d be more than happy to discuss his journey with me and to answer any questions I might have. I will contact him. I will definitely contact him. He lives right here in Mimico. I could walk to his home in fifteen minutes!

This is the most uplifting news I've gotten since first learning of the condition in December!

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