Hello Steven

   Thank You for the kind message. I too value our friendship very much and I am grateful for the many people, like yourself, that have blessed my life. It is a bit frustrating at times though, having virtual friends here online. While it is a very rewarding experience , it does leave me wishing for more sometimes. I would like to be able to reach out and shake your hand or pass you a piece of Ally's hot apple pie. Oh Well. I guess I will have to just be grateful for what time we do get to share even if it is only in cyber space. Cyber Space seems to have something in common with spirituality though. It seems to have no boundries so here is a virtual handshake My Friend. Many Blessings for you and your family Steven, during this special season of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving.

   Speaking of gratitude, the Westberry family has a special message for all of us on this topic as is portrayed in this recent Caring Bridge update.

See All Photos   Welcome to the Caring Bridge site for Elizabeth Westberry. We will keep you all informed about her condition. http://www.embracingelizabeth.com 10-09-08-Elizabeth has experienced a widespread relapse. She is in treatment again and in need of prayers please. As of October 2007 Elizabeth has no evidence of cancer! We thank God and pray that she stays this way.     Read Story

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008 01:53 PM, CST Subscribe to journal update notification We had a very nice Thanksgiving. Surrounded by people we love who love us. Elizabeth has been feeling pretty good. Her cough is rough and she complains of pain throughout the day, but usually denies that she needs any pain meds. For such a small and fragile little girl she has a very high tolerance to pain. Today her and Lisa are going to a friends house. Elizabeth loves to go there and visit with them. We told her about a new Day Spa just for kids in town, and Elizabeth smiled and said she wants to go there. Lisa is going to try and take her there tomorrow. We have some time off while waiting for her to (hopefully) continue to recover from pneumonia before going to clinic Wednesday. They will do counts and give her the MIBG injection for the scan on Thursday. I got a response from Dr. Kushner telling us to follow the team here for instructions, that he could not make a decision to give chemo being so far away, and given the fact they he has not seen her yet. So she is not getting any treatment for her cancer right now. We have to wait until she has cleared this pneumonia before giving more chemo. Elizabeth enjoyed getting to see her cousin Jeff yesterday. She beat him at Junior Monopoly and Trouble! She loves him very much. We have so much to be thankful for, not just yesterday, but every day. Sometimes when I look back on my life, I realize how much this cancer has put things into perspective for me. The little moments and things that for so long may have been taken for grated are now daily celebrations. For some it might seem silly, but the little things like seeing a smile, watching Elizabeth eat and knowing that it is strengthening her, or lately even screaming temper tantrums, that while annoying, are also comforting...because I know that the screams are helping to clear the infection in her lung. Not just the moments that involve Elizabeth...but the whole family. I can say that Lisa and I have been more of a team now than ever, and I love her deeply. Chris is a wonderful big brother and is turning into a young man. Elizabeth looks up to him for everything. Gratitude and humility seem to go hand in hand. Every time I look at the guestbook and see how much people care enough to stop their day, read about our daughter and offer their prayers and support, I am filled with both. Love, Westberry Tribe     Read Journal

GUESTBOOK SIGNED 3 TIMES TODAY Please feel free to let us know you stopped by to offer support by signing the guestbook. You may also visit this site: www.embracingelizabeth.com     Visit Guestbook

Greetings All

   Rather than just posting another update on Elizabeth's recovery, I would like to address another aspect of the power of prayer.

   I do not claim to be a religious person as in organized religion. I consider myself to be a spiritual being who recognizes a higher power in my life and a universal energy that unifies us all as a species. It is because of this belief structure that I have come to believe in the power of prayer. The power of a healing light and energy and the spiritual connectedness that will one day unite us all in a universal way.

   The power of prayer has been studied scientifically and the results are irrefutible. The following is an example of this study on the power of prayer. I hope this will inspire more people to offer their prayers and their healing energy for the sake of those who suffer. Those, like Elizabeth and others whom I believe, will one day serve as a message of hope for all of us.

Scientific Research of Prayer: Can the Power of Prayer Be Proven?

Feel free to copy and circulate this article for non-commercial purposes provided the Web site and author are mentioned.

See Related Articles in MEDITATION AND THE POWERS OF THE MIND

Throughout time, the power of prayer has been questioned by science. The analytical mind of the scientist calls for proof of the existence of a higher being. These scientists, both the faithful and nonbelievers alike, have produced studies into the affects of prayer on our physical as well as spiritual well being. Although most of us, who possess the belief that prayer can and does work, do not require physical, quantitative proof of the power of prayer, it is interesting to read the results of these studies.

One of the most quoted scientific studies of prayer was done between August of 1982 and May of 1983. 393 patients in the San Francisco General Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit participated in a double blind study to assess the therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer. Patients were randomly selected by computer to either receive or not receive intercessory prayer. All participants in the study, including patients, doctors, and the conductor of the study himself remained blind throughout the study, To guard against biasing the study, the patients were not contacted again after it was decided which group would be prayed for, and which group would not.

It was assumed that although the patients in the control group would not be prayed for by the participants in the study, that others-family members, friends etc., would likely pray for the health of at least some of the members of the control group. There was no control over this factor. Meanwhile all of the members of the group that received prayer would be prayed for by not only those associated with the study, but by others as well.

The results of the study are not surprising to those of us who believe in the power of prayer. The patients who had received prayer as a part of the study were healthier than those who had not. The prayed for group had less need of having CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) performed and less need for the use of mechanical ventilators. They had a diminished necessity for diuretics and antibiotics, less occurrences of pulmonary edema, and fewer deaths. Taking all factors into consideration, these results can only be attributed to the power of prayer.

The August 31, 1998 issue of Jet Magazine questioned whether prayer could lower blood pressure in high blood pressure sufferers, Again the obvious conclusion was reached. The magazine reported of a study conducted by Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. This study had over 4,000 participants over the age of 65. The study found that those who pray and attend religious services on a weekly basis, especially those between the ages of 65 and 74,

http://www.plim.org/PrayerDeb.htm

Sincerely, Billdaddy