Pray for Me

A different kind of summer cocktail before CT Scan. With notes of vanilla and maalox, I imagined I was at the beach sipping Pina Coladas. On a hot NYC summer day, it hit the spot!

Tomorrow, Friday, a large mass will be removed from my colon.

Only in the past two weeks did I learn of the mass and many follow-up tests and screenings have revealed the path forward. Great uncertainty remains, but in time, all will be revealed. For now- we wait, we pray, and I write.

Over the past ten days, I have reflected on this new and unexpected journey. I will share some of these writings on my website- DrJimmyWalters@gmail.com. I pray to use this platform for whatever is to come to share my journey (with some humor sprinkled in) that I pray leads me closer to God (but not too close just yet), and that I can be an instrument of unity and peace.

Today, I write not to overshare, but to request your prayers and issue a warning.

First, the prayers.

Many of you already shared your support and love, and promised daily prayers- thank you. I can feel these prayers, and in fact, I am in the belief that healing has already begun.

I literally have people praying for me all over the world due to my relationships with so many wonderful and diverse companions and communities. I believe in the power of prayer, and that I do not walk this path alone. And I have never felt so blessed.

In your prayers, remember:

·       Those who sit in this same place of unknowing, especially those who lack the support from friends and family.

·       Those who need healing of the body, the mind, and the soul, especially those who have a troubling diagnosis and may be too physically weak or scared to pray themselves.

·       Those who lack the access and availability of healthcare to treat what is growing and spreading in their body.

·       Those healers, from doctors to nurses to those who keep medical spaces clean and those spiritual leaders who offer prayerful guidance and companionship.

Second, a warning.

Do not take anything for granted related to your health. You heard this before, but once you are in it, it takes on a whole new meaning and understanding.

Short story: about a year ago, I started to see blood in my stool and I just assumed hemorrhoids. When I went for my annual physical, the doctor dismissed it as hemorrhoids despite my request for a colonoscopy. I wasn’t 45 yet (the new recommended age), only 41.

The blood continued, and although never consistent, it become more frequent and intense. I visited Suzie’s new doctor, Dr. Saad, and she, too, thought it was hemorrhoids due to my good health. She tested my blood out of precaution, and found that I was nearly anemic. Thank God for Dr. Saad. A colonoscopy was scheduled and yes, the night before is not fun- but for those who grew up eating White Castles, you’ve been here before.

In all seriousness, I pray I caught this in time and all the early indications say I did. If I waited to 45, this large mass (almost 8 inches long) would have spread and I fear that the outlook would be incredibly bleak.

So, especially to those in my age range, but for all of you, take your health seriously. There is a rise in colon issues with younger people (an expert in the field believes that main cause is the amount of antibiotics my generation received as children (and as an asthmatic, that would track), the processed food we were and are exposed to, and genetics). Further research is required to find a definitive answer.

Scientists are working tirelessly to learn more and to discover new forms for early detection and treatment. The advanced robotics that will be used tomorrow for my colon surgery and specialized medicine for colon cancer are a direct result of government-funded research in partnership with leading Universities. Present and future cancer (and other health) research are being cut as you read this, so pay attention and speak up, because the lives of you and your loved ones are at risk.

If you have stayed with me this long in reading this reflection, thank you. I will be out of commission for a while, but I hope to share as often as I can to be in solidarity with those who walk a similar path, to request your prayers, and to raise awareness for early detection and for our present and future.

May God continue to bless you and from the bottom of my heart, thank you!