Prayers for Tim
 

Tim Murphy said I could post the following information.

Tim has been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. It is very early stage and it is of a type that can be surgically removed. Other than that, his physician says he is in perfect health, which bodes well.

I'll keep you posted as more is known. In the meantime, all prayers are more than welcome.

Cathy

Is that Tim Murphy?

Yes. I've clarified above.

I don't usually pray, but Tim's religious fervour has always been compelling,
so I'll do so now.

Duncan

My best to Tim. Here's to a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Best wishes to Tim for a good surgeon and a full recovery. I'm five years cancer-free post-surgery, myself, so my thoughts are with him now.

John

I'm very sorry to hear this news and wish Tim a happy outcome to his treatment.

Clive Watkins

Best wishes, Tim. I have great faith in your ability to get through this, and emerge from the surgery with a clean bill of health and a load of good poems about the experience.

God bless you, Tim.

Good luck, Tim. You are made of sterner stuff.

We're all pulling for you, Tim. May your path to full recovery not involve too much discomfort.

It is good to hear that the cancer was caught at an early stage. I hope that that means that the surgery is relatively easy and the recovery quick and lasting.

Susan

Thanks to one and all. They just go down your throat and don't open you up, so it's noninvasive surgery. And I have a great model of courage in the face of cancer in Alan. In Sam too. My brother asked a good question, are you afraid of death? I am not. I'll just hand Peter a copy of Devotions and then have a jolly reunion with Alan.

You will, Tim, but my prayers are that it will be a while yet before you do. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I'm very sorry to hear the news, and happy for you it will not involve surgery, Tim. All courage and fast & easy healing to you!

Best wishes my friend. You are never far from my thoughts. What passes for prayer from me is ever yours.

Fond wishes

Jan

Tim, prayers and best wishes for your full and quick recovery from this. I'm glad to hear they found it early.

Best, Bruce

My best wishes for a complete and swift recovery, Tim.

Thanks again to all for prayers and best wishes. Dr. Johnson stopped in for an hour Friday to view my 21 Charles Becks, hear a couple odes, and compare cognac to calvados. He wants me to go to the Mayo Clinic, where my brother sees a professor of gastroenterology for a precancerous lesion of his own. Here is yesterday's new prayer to Alan. Tim

Pathologist’s Report

We forded Baffinland’s bone-chilling streams
near an inukshuk marked le Cercle Arctique.
Wyoming’s Barnard was our loftiest peak,
I fished trout from Montana’s tarns and streams.

Past our horizon, Anegada Reef,
graveyard of inbound Spanish treasure ships,
grilled lobster buttery on my blistered lips,
decades of sailing never came to grief.

My life already boasts sufficient length,
high adventures in the mountainous West,
serious squalls at sea, a skipper’s test.
Cancer? Alan, look down, lend me your strength.

I'm thinking of you, Tim. All best wishes.

I don't what what to say or pray, Tim, but that's not a problem, according to Romans 8:26-27. So, unutterable groanings!

So sorry to hear this, Tim, but at the same time encouraged at the good prognosis for recovery and the fact its treatment is non-invasive. Praying for your full and complete recovery, God willing. Otherwise “in perfect health” bodes well for you.

All the best,
Siham

Very best wishes, Tim.

All the best, Tim, and keep writing.

I thought you might enjoy this, Tim. I'm thinking of you & praying for your good health.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/...aphysical-song

Thanks for the delightful Pinkerton poem, Ned. She wrote a remarkable big essay, 25 pages, on Devotions.

Adding my prayers to the rest, Tim. And God may be so surprised to hear from Duncan that he'll answer him right away.

Coming in late here, Tim, but I add my prayers and good wishes for a full recovery.

Hi Tim,

My very best wishes for a full recovery are winging their way to you, too.

Jayne

Good things, Tim. Be well.

Dear Sphereans,

I received some devastating news from Tim this morning. Jennifer Reeser, who will be his literary executor, has posted the following on Facebook: Tim's cancer is stage IV, spread throughout his esophagus, spine, and femur. Aggressive chemo treatments and radiation may gain him one year.

Your continued prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Devastating indeed. I will keep Tim in my thoughts.

That's very distressing news, Catherine. Many years ago now, Tim was very good to me in connexion with my own writing. Personally, we were chalk and cheese in many ways, but I owe him a lot and have always been grateful to him for his support.

Clive Watkins

Dreadful news, but thank you, Cathy and Jennifer, for letting us know.

I am deeply in Tim's debt for encouragement when I first showed up here. He'll be in my prayers, too.

This is terrible news. I am so sorry to hear it. I wish him well for the difficult times ahead.

Susan

This is very sad news.

Tim is writing some wonderful poems and reports he is in "the best of spirits."

I am very sorry to hear this distressing news. He will be in my thoughts.

John

Yes, he is in good spirits, and yes, he is writing some wonderful poems. Simply incredible poems, in fact, and his output -- consistently excellent, in quality -- has been in high gear for months and months and months now. I talk to him several times a day. The man is fearless and unstoppable. A force of nature. And yes, I will be serving as his literary executor.

Stay tuned, dear readers, while Hollywood and I bring you, "TIMOTHY MURPHY: The Major Motion Picture."


Jennifer

I am very sorry.