Leukemia taking hold

Those who read my entry “Awesome Gift” will know of young Ethan’s fight with leukemia. The phone rang at 6.15 this morning. It was Ethan’s dad telling me that Ethan was slipping fast and could I come and “give him the last rites.” I said sure. So I showered and dressed and drove the thirty minute drive to their home. On the floor in the lounge room little Ethan was lying on a makeshift bed in front of the television. He was extremely thin and could only manage to open one eye – and even then he was having trouble focussing on me. He was obviously in a state of distress, dad and mum by his side trying to comfort him. We spent some time in prayer and I anointed him, perhaps the youngest person I have anointed. I know some priests would bark at me saying he was too young to be anointed because he has no comprehension of what anointing is all about. I don’t care, and, anyway, I’m not sure that I even comprehend what anointing is all about. I’ve seem some amazing things happen to people who have been anointed and I have no explanation. So if ever I’m seriously ill, perhaps I won’t deserve to be anointed!

I’m not sure what will happen. It could be hours, and it could be months. As much as I don’t want to cause grief, especially at Christmas time, I hope in a way that Ethan goes soon. This wil be easier on him, and easier on the family in the long run. The longer he lives, the more difficult will be the grieving. Then again, we just never know what’s around the corner.

For those Catholics who read this, please, don’t ever think that only those near death can be anointed. That’s why we no longer call them the “last rites”, but “anointing of the sick”. Anyone who is ill, about to undergo surgery, has an addiction or a mental illness and so on, is able to be anointed. It’s too late, in a way, to wait until someone is at death’s door. Please, call a priest much, much sooner. This way, the person can receive some spiritual support, as well as medical.

The other news of the day is that an aunt of my mother’s has died. I’ll have a funeral to do on Friday. And you know what I say, “Funerals always come in threes.” So . . . whose will be the second . . . and the third?