Special guest, special blessing
Five-year-old Rachel Cogil loved the food for dinner at the Motherhouse, and even more than that she loved the blanket that was a gift from Sister Jane Guenette. And she even loved all the attention from all the other sisters in the dining room Friday afternoon, offering prayers and thoughts to Rachel and her parents, Craig and Roxanne.
At 5, Rachel doesn’t understand that this was just the first stop on what will be the several day drive to Southern California and the medical center at UCLA. It’s a sure bet she won’t love the surgery will will undergo there. Her parents understand the risks, as does Rachel’s aunt, Sister Christy Cogil, who is in Iowa caring for the family’s three sons while Mom, Dad and Rachel are in California.
The primary reason for Friday’s stop at the Motherhouse in Concordia was so the child could receive a special blessing during the morning Mass. Father Jack Schlaf, Motherhouse chaplain, invited Rachel and her parents to stand before the altar after the homily. Sisters Marcia Allen, Pat McLennon, Pat Eichner and Ramona Medina came forward and laid hands on Rachel while sisters in the pews extended their hands for the blessing. Father Jack anointed Rachel with holy oil while administering the sacrament of the sick.
Please continue to remember Rachel, her parents and family in prayer during the coming weeks.
I”m glad the surgery went well for her. I”m still praying for her and her family
Love,
Kelly Tyler
I just found the news about Rachel’s surgery. Thank God it went well. She her family remain in my prayer.
Love,
Mary Fran
Christy,
I am gald Rachel’s surgery went fine. Hopefully, the boys are behaving for you. I know for the short time I worked with Rachel they could be a handful for both Roxanne and Craig. I will continue to keep the whole family in my prayers.
I hope so too, Christy. That
is so hard for a little one to have to undergo such an
operation.
I missed her here at Motherhouse because of Mary but
it’s great you can send all those updates for us.
Dear Kelly,
Thanks so much for your prayers for Rachel. She had surgery last Thursday, March 26 and was able to speak when awakening in the recovery room (a very good sign). Her left side is paralyzed but, she will hopefully be able to regain movement of everything except fine motor movement in her left hand. The third day after surgery was the hardest when Rachel discovered that she could not move her left side. She told her Daddy, “I just want my two hands again.”
Rachel’s three brothers are able to visit with her and Mommy and Daddy almost daily via webcam on a program called SKYPE. We get to see Rachel improving each day and she loves to talk with her brothers. What a wonderful gift this technology is for us.
Thanks for continuing your prayers. We are hopeful that she will not need a shunt for her brain and that her physical recovery will come speedily so that she can return home soon.
Blessings, Christy
You and your famliy our in our thoughts and prayers.
Please keep us up to date on how she is doing.
and if there is anything we can do for you.
love always,
Kelly Tyler