Prayers for Laura

By now you probably know that talk show host Laura Ingraham has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She made that announcement at her website this morning and underwent surgery today for what her doctors described as an "angry tumor...a #7 on a scale of 9."

In Laura's own words:

You know I hate Drama Kings or Queens, but I am asking for your prayers today and for the foreseeable future. On Friday afternoon, I learned that I have joined the ever-growing group of American women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As so many breast cancer patients will tell you, it all came as a total shock. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who love me--my family, a wonderful fiance (if he thinks he's going to get out of marrying me because of this little blib, he's sadly mistaken!), my friends, and my church. I am absolutely blown away by how helpful and kind everyone has been--including total strangers who have experienced the same rollercoaster of emotions. The sisterhood of breast cancer survivors is inspiring. I am truly blessed. On Tuesday I will have an operation and within a few days will know more about the future. I am hopeful for a bright future and a "normal" life (well, scratch the "normal" part). Anyway, people have gone through much worse, and I know I'll obliterate this. I am thanking you in advance for your prayers. You are my family. And remember, I'll be back sooner than you think.

One of the obvious perks of being a popular national figure is the vast support available from those who are eager to offer their thoughts and comforting condolences and prayers. To be sure, when battling a life threatening disease, like cancer, the more support one can garner, the easier that battle is going to be.

Laura, to her great credit, said to be sure to put the troops first in our prayers and that there were many others who were worse off than her. God bless her for her selfless outgoing concern for others.

So many others, unfortunately, don't have access to the airwaves nor do they have hundreds of thousands of dedicated fans to get them through their trials.

My neighbor Millie Coker is battling bone cancer. She's a good woman and has the support of her family, church and neighbors, but she would really appreciate the prayers of as many people as possible.

I have another friend, whom I haven't seen in years, who just learned she has breast cancer. Leah, wasn't the most popular girl in college, and she doesn't have a vast support system, other than her church and an online forum, but she, too, would appreciate as many prayers as possible.

It's wonderful that Laura has so many people praying for her...more power to her and may God speed her healing...but there are others who need our prayers as well...people you work with; people in your neighborhood; people at church and people in your own family. We need to remember those folks, too, because they might not have a vast support system. In some cases, you might be the only support they have.

UPDATE: (from Laura's website)

THE POWER OF PRAYER AND LAURA UPDATE: Laura's breast cancer surgery yesterday "couldn't have gone better," in the words of her surgeon Dr. Katherine Alley. Initial sentinel node testing done during surgery showed no signs of cancer involvement in the lymph nodes, and we all hope that this good news is confirmed by more in-depth tissue testing done over the next 48 hours. "The outpouring of love and concern coast-to-coast in prayer, emails, telephone calls has left me feeling more blessed than I can possibly convey," said Laura Thursday morning from home. "I really don't know what I did to deserve such kindness but I will gladly wrap myself in it," she chuckled. "It's weird but getting cancer has made me feel more blessed than I ever felt before, and I will do everything I can to return the generosity 100-fold when I am feeling a bit better." According to Laura and her friends who were there throughout, the entire staff at the Surburban Hospital Outpatient Medical Center in Bethesda, MD was amazing. Absolutely top-notch! According to one of Laura's friends, as she was being taken into surgery, she joked about whether the hospital was running a "two-for-one" surgery special--"a lumpectomy and a lift together--20 percent off!"

Never underestimate the power of prayer!