If you get a moment, could you pray for my dad?

[nuxvomica]

My father was admitted to the hospital a few days ago, on his 84th birthday, complaining of severe abdominal pain. When his blood pressure started dropping, they brought him into surgery, expecting acute diverticulitis. Instead they found a strange condition that he has had ever since an appendectomy performed when he was in his 20s. Over my lifetime at least, he's struggled with numerous chronic, non-lethal but mysterious problems that may have been caused by this condition. He appears to be recovering OK though he has a low-grade fever. They say he'll be out of the woods in the next few days as long as he doesn't catch pneumonia or suffer a heart attack.

My dad is a second-generation Italian-American, a World War II veteran, an FDR Democrat, an old-guard '60s liberal, and a prolific LTTE writer since his retirement. This past election took a toll on him, as it has on us all, and I wonder if the stress may have exacerbated the condition to the point that his life was in danger from it after 60 years of tolerating it.

This will be my family's first Christmas ever without dad at home and it will be strange. It makes me think of all the families who have loved ones overseas this Christmas, or in hospitals or have lost them forever due to this government's recklessness. Those are the folks my dad has been most concerned about over the past four years. So if you get a moment, could you say a prayer for them too?