Reader Kathie Lundquist writes:

My dad (Elmore), mom (Elizabeth), sister (Susan), and I need to ask you for your prayers for my brother Steven Duncan, who is at this moment in the intensive care unit at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.

After Steven called me this morning, I went over to his Tigard apartment to see him, and he complained of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and dizziness. He also had a bump on his head; he didn¹t know where it came from. We called my folks, and they came down from Mossyrock, WA to help. Steven had a (second?) fainting spell later in the afternoon, and after consulting with his primary care doctor, my folks decided to take him to the emergency room at OHSU.

The doctors there gave him a full workup and are continuing to do tests; they have determined so far that he has a blood clot that broke away from somewhere in his leg and is now lodged in his heart and lung. He has been seen by a surgeon, who put him on heparin and said he doesn¹t need immediate surgery, but the surgeon will be back in the morning to examine him further. Susan says that as far as she understands what the surgeon told her, there are risks with not doing surgery as well as with doing surgery.

My mom and dad are spending the night up at OHSU; Susan just left there, and I will go up to see what¹s going on tomorrow morning. I will update you when we have a clearer picture of what¹s going to happen. By the way, for those of you familiar with Steve¹s (unrelated) chronic illness, this has worsened considerably as well, which further complicates his care.

So, please keep Steven and all of us in your prayers, that the New Year will bring healing and hope for us all.

Thanks so much

Father, hear our prayer for Steven and his family. Grant him swift healing and grant them peace and consolation in this hard time. Mother Mary and St. Luke, pray for them. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.