My name is Philip Johnson and I am an officer in the Navy. After graduating from the US Naval Academy in 2006, I served as Gunnery Officer onboard USS VELLA GULF (CG 72) from May 2006-July 2008, which included one Persian Gulf Deployment. From July-October 2008, I served as Fire Control Officer onboard USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7), deploying to the Persian Gulf for two months.
In June of 2008, I awoke during the middle of the night to my arms and legs shaking, unable to move or speak, before blacking out. The doctor diagnosed me with sleep paralysis - a harmless condition. Every 4 weeks, I experienced one of these episodes. In October of 2008, a roommate on the ship witnessed an episode, and reported that after blacking out, I was convulsing for five minutes and would not respond.
The doctor sent me to a Neurologist, who immediately diagnosed me with epilepsy and ordered two tests: an EEG which measures brain activity, and an MRI which scans the brain. The EEG results were normal, but the MRI revealed a brain tumor the size of a lime. Because of the type of tumor, it can not be removed, and only an upcoming biopsy can tell how fast it is spreading throughout my brain. The tumor is growing in the portion of my brain that controls motor skills and sensation in the right side of my body. Currently, I only experience occasional numbness and weakness on the right side of my body, but the symptoms will get worse as the tumor spreads.
This blog is dedicated to documenting this long road. I beg your prayers as I deal with this tumor, but I ask you to pray even harder for those who suffer from conditions far worse than mine.
62 comments:
Terrible news, thanks for doing this update. God Bless
I'm praying for you, Philip. And asking Fr. Price for his intercessions.
Dear Philip, I am Carmen's mother and I remember you quite well from the day you came to our house. I am very sorry for your suffering. I greatly appreciate your writing as I find it most beautiful and encouraging for us moving through our daily routine. I will have you in my daily prayers, penance and sacifice. I pray that the Holy Trinity grant you the strength and courage needed every minute.
Magdalena Cardenas-Lara
Dear Philip, Keep strong, knowing that the Lord is with you. We all have our journey in life. Some people have it more difficult than others, but with the Lord with you Philip, it makes it much easier than those who don't have their faith in God to be with them. You have that. Peace be with you!
Hi Phillip,
I am deeply sorry for what you are going through. I found your blog through facebook. You are in my prayers. God Bless you in your tough journey!!
Soli+Deo
My God bless you and Holy Mary keep you. Your courage is very edifying for me.
Please consider offering your illness in the manner outlined in the Guide for Victim Souls of the Sacred Heart, and in union with the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus.
http://guideforvictimsouls.blogspot.com/
With my prayers,
Erica K.
Philip, I'm very sorry to hear the news. I will offer the Holy Sacrifice for you tomorrow, and will continue to pray for you thereafter. Your great faith will give you the proper perspective to approach the mystery of suffering. I pray God give you the grace to persevere in that faith. God bless you and Our Lady surround you with Her love.
Dear Phillip,
I pray for healing for you. I pray that God comes and heals you of your tumor. I pray you find peace and comfort in God our Father.
God bless you in this trial.
I also have a blog. Feel free to read it and follow it while you are able.
Eileen Mae
Dear Philip,
You don't know me, but my friend asked me to pray for you--you are the same age as my third son. I can't imagine how you are feeling. I can't remember what it is like to be so young. But I am so grateful for your Faith, and that you are going through this trial with Our Lord and Our Lady close at hand. My family will pray God's glory to be manifest in you, and for strength, peace and miracles. God bless you, and please pray for us as well.
Syler Womack
Hi Philip
All thing come together for good, for those who love God .
Please look into this sight
Dr. Robert Young is a very brilliant man and has done wonderful natural things for people with tumors, cancers ,and many other ailments .
phmiracleliving.com
God Bless you and yours
Laura-Lynn
Dear Philip,
May God bless you. Thank you for your exemple of faith.
Henri
Dear Philip:
I have another Catholic friend who suffered the same malady. He became a saint in abandonment. It is a Gethsemane you are in, as we will all be sooner or later. And our Lord is there; and you are given the opportunity to pray with him, "remove this cup...if you will...but let your will, not my will, be done".
Uniting this suffering in complete abandonment with Christ on the Cross for the salvation of the world, and for particular intentions, is an oblation of love if you will make it that.
If God delivers you to remain in this life, it is still an oblation because you have already suffered. But if He calls you to make your self-giving the final sacrifice and calls you Home, let go of this world and follow His Light into "what eye has not seen nor ear heard". Rest on Him, my unknown brother, and simply follow Him to His Kingdom, whatever His will. And please remember us in you suffering. Become a saint in your abandonment to the divine will.
Each of us has a cross to bear, and I thank you for allowing us to share this one with you. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you my friend!
dear Philip...i will write you and e-mail also, but i wanted to connect with you immediately...thank you for sharing your situation and most importantly, presenting your faith, trust and passion toward Christ and our Holy Mother Mary...i am immediately praying for you on your behalf and will keep at it...i do not want to pry of overload you with comments and/or suggestions...i have a medical background from years ago before i entered the media ministry, but would love to do anything possible to connect you with others that may want to pursue options on your behalf...please feel free to ask me for any information as i'd be glad to contact Neurosurgeons from my past that are outstanding as well as brilliant...Prayer and devotion to our Lord is fore most in my thoughts for you now and i will diligently pursue God's healing touch, grace and mercy on your behalf...i will also ask my friends at work and at St. Boniface and at the Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community to pray diligently and fervently for you my Brother...
We are with you my friend recieve the accompaniment of my prayers
You are an awesome child of God Philip. Not many people 'get it' when it comes to eternity but I see you have been granted a very special grace in this regard. I will remember you in my prayers and at Mass. I am sending your page on to others to help them comprehend this grace with your help. May your life have a profound effect on others.
May God bless you and hold you during this time of sacrifice.
Fran
Phil,
Thank you for your beautiful example of knowing how to carry your cross. What a huge and heavy cross He has asked you to carry. Your updates are appreciated as I desire to know how you are doing and to know the latest updates. Please be assured of my prayers daily for you and asking for the intercession of Our Lady and for Our Lord's mercy on you. May your pain be lessened and your joy be increased. God bless you, Phil. Lord's peace be with you!
Anne Devine
Phil!
Jimmy and I are praying for you. It's horrible to be writing/catching up under these circumstances, but I wanted to let you know that there are folks up in Boston praying for you! Stay strong!
In Christ,
Luke DelVecchio
Dear friend Philip
I'm praying for you , Philip.
God bless you.
Dear Philip,
While the news is bad I sense that you understand the strength that only God and the Sorrowful Mother will dispense upon you to carry this cross. It seems that you will know intimatley and understand the Royal Road to the Cross. Thank the Good God that He has given you the opportunity to suffer for Him and earn many graces. Your name and intentions will be shared with my friends as I ask them to pray for you and I will ask our Priest to mention your name and ask for prayers next Sunday. I am lighting a candle now for your intention.
St. Joseph Mascotti and St. Luke interven and guide the doctors who will treat Philip.
May God and Our Lady of Sorrows strenghten you.
Tim
Dear Philip,
Be assured of my prayers.
May Christ, Our true God, the physician of our souls and bodies, bring you healing and salvation through the grace of the most Holy and life-creating Spirit, and the ever merciful favor of God the Father.
Through the prayers of the Most Holy Mother of God, O Saviour, save your servant Philip.
[Fr Protodeacon] David Kennedy
I wish you the best, now and forever.
Start eating apricot pits on a daily basis. I know several people whose tumors shrunk away within weeks (although their tumors were located elsewhere). Since it will take a few days to get apricot pits, eat apple seeds until then, which have some of the same nutrients.
Dear Brother in Christ,
Be assured of my prayers that Our Lord and Our Lady Queen of Heaven will shower you with love and grace
and the healing thou needest.
(former YN1, USN)
Deacon, NAORCC
The Ferrelli's and the Morson's as well as tons of others are praying for you! I think about you every day and all of the time. I hope that you will get better if God wills it. But he has a plan for you that none of us are sure of yet. I do know that I have been telling my friends about you and one said, "Wow, this make me appreciate my life that much more. To think that I complained about taking out the trash and keeping up with school." So you have touched lives already- even if you don't know it or them. We are still going to get married though, even if it is pretend. I love you, Philip!
Dear Philip
I have no words to console and comfort you.I shed tears but I admire your faith.Our Lord and Our beloved Mother Mary are certainly with you in this hour of your suffering and agony.Please remember there are people all over the world to share your grief and Pray for you.I am in India I just prayed for you and assure you my prayers with all others. "Mary our Mother and our Queen,StPeregrine, the Cancer Saint,all you angels and Saints please help Philip and all those like wise suffer in this world.Amen.
My wife and I are praying for you Philip. As one who has had exploratory brain surgery for lost eyesight, I know how the headaches can be.
I wish you might check knowthecause.com and see what a doctor Simoncini might say there after viewing your xray. You might find new treatment for your condition without surgery.
Louis
Dear Phlip I am asking the Lord our God to send you all the soul, heart , mind and strength to go through this day with joy and peace.
Carmen, Pedro and I love you,
Magdalena Lara
Dear young man:
I am a mother with four children. I can't help but be moved by your courage and steadfastness and faith in Our Lord and His Blessed Mother. Know that I will be keeping you in my prayers every day and night. Do not despair, for God and His Blessed Mother are always with you.
You will have my prayers. Also, I just watch "Sunday Night Live" with Fr. Groeschel and he had some guests speaking with him concerning Fr Solanus Casey. He was a priest known for many, many healings. I will also say some prayers to him to intercede for you. You may read more about Fr Solanus here: http://www.solanuscasey.org/index.shtml
Peace+
Philip, I am overwhelmed when I read all the compassionate comments from people that care so much for you. With so many people praying for you and your family loving you so much, you are truly blessed in ways that many of us will never know. Your strength and faith is an example for us all. We love you and support you. Please let us know what we can do to help. We are all praying for you.
From a USNA alum, Catholic convert and mom of 10: we will pray for you! God bless you and may He use all of your sufferings for the greater glory of God.
Prayers for you sir.
Any news of what type of tumor the biopsy identified?
Dear Philip,
I have all my Bible study group praying for your special intentions. Your courage is filling us with admiration for you.
Magdalena, Carmen's mom.
Please give our love to your parents for whom we are praying too.
Hi Philip,
I just came across your blog through a link at Orbis Catholicvs. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and may God give you the grace and perseverance to carry his cross! Be assured of my continual prayers for your intention.
You are in my prayers. Thanks for your example of courage in the midst of strife.
As for the comment regarding apple seeds, I'd be careful. Apple seeds contain a cyanide-type compound. I don't know about the other seed that was suggested. Just a friendly FYI.
Shawn
Hi Phillip,
Just wanted to let you know that the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (Mother Anjelica's order) are praying for you. I hope you are doing better and I will keep you in my prayers, too.
Dear Philip,
I will remember your intention for physical healing in all the Masses this Sunday in our parish.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place my trust in thee.
Prayers up for you Philip.
How do you know so much about your faith at such a young age? You've taught me about the way of the Cross.
God bless you and I'll remember you in my prayers.
Please be assured of my prayers; God bless and strengthen you and yours!
In Christ,
Brian
helloo phillip i got ur page through a friend `` i am proud to be a Roman catholic`.. As i set my eyes on the pic of ur MRI scan pic of ur brain tumor ..consider your self made WHOLE again for the pray thee that the POWER that raise OUR Lord Jesus Cgrist from the death should from this moment on visit u in anywhere u are now in the world for in the spiritual realm distance is not a barrier ..So my brother in Christ i said be healed in Jesus Christ Name!!!!! ..Amen!!!!
This , my brother is a trying moment for you. A test of your faith and steadfastness. As the days go by ,u may feel more humanly and depresssed, but never let go of the image of the blesed mother always interceeding for you. I believe in the power of prayers.(2 kings 20:1-6).That is d story of Hezekiah..
Cling to the Lord in faith and never let go. But in all things,May His will be done".
God has a reason for everything. U cannot imagine how many u have touched with these stories, ur reward is surely great. All u need is believe without doubt, and call on HIM. He sees u, He knows u, and He can hear u, so call. Thanks and God's blessings.
HELLO PHILIP,
I JUST READ ABOUT YOUR STORY, AND I AM MOVED BEYOUND ANY IMAGINATION WITH SUCH HUMILITY YOU HAVE ADOPTED CONSIDERING WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A MONUMENTAL FORCE YOU ARE FACING, AND I CAN ONLY SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS AND LETTING US KNOW THAT WE CAN FACE WHATEVER COMES GOOD OR BAD WITH SELFLESS HUMILITY AND I WILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS, AND PLEASE KEEP UP THE FAITH AND MAY THE PEACE OF THE LORD CONTINUE TOGIVE YOU ALL THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE YOU NEED AND TO BE WITH YOU.
Philip,
I just saw the picture of your tumor, and I must say that made it "real" for me. Please know I am praying for you and will offer Mass for you tomorrow (Nov 21, '08).
I'm sorry to hear of your suffering, but I hope you can find some consolation in it and know that God's love and mercy is stronger than all of this. You are in my prayers, and I pray that God continues to give you strength in your journey.
Philip, my name is Jim and I am currently in my second round of chemotherapy for stage four lymphatic cancer. After the regrets and remorse, I decided to make a blessing of it. As I speak with others about it, I ask for their prayers, telling them that I will gratefully accept any and all prayers. Due to the Catholic Answers Forums, I have souls all over the US, Canada, Germany, Australia and Indonesia praying for me.
At work, there is a woman who considers herself a pagan. I asked her to pray for me, but she replied that she did not even know if God existed or what He was. I explained to her that she did not have to know Him, but that He would hear her every prayer. Now, she is praying for me. This is a miracle, since I could not have even paid her to pray before this.
When she recently heard that the side effects are taking their toll, she sad that she would have to pray even harder for me. She then added "Your evil plan may just be working". Praise God in Heaven! I have a copy of "Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To" by Anthony DeStefano that I will give her. I believe it will speak to her, since it starts off asking God to reveal his existence to the person praying.
It was revealed to me that the purpose of my affliction is to draw others closer to God. So, cancer has turned from a curse to a blessing. So many are praying for me, both those whom I know as well as complete strangers, that it can only be a blessing. A blessing because it brings them closer to God in prayer. For myself I ask only for the strength to bear my cross, no matter where it leads. I have not been let down.
My advice is to turn it into a blessing.
Christ's peace, my brother.
Jim
I just learned of your site from Damian Thompson's blog.
Thank you for your courage. If one day someone from my family or myself are in a similar situation, I will take you as an example of strength and faith.
I shall remember you in my prayers.
Lorenzo
Philipp,
I am thinking of you and entrusting you to the LOrd to give you all the strength you need. Yo are an eample to me and your faith encourages me.
Magdalena Lara
In Sweden, too, people are praying for you.
Dear Philip, I have just learned of your site from Damian Thompson's blog.
You shall be remembered in my prayers.
May the Lord bless you and keep you from all evil.
C
Dear Philip,
My family will add you to our prayer list. We will be praying the holy rosary for you and put you under the mantle of our lady.
Theresa and Family
Hi Phillip,
i see and understand wat u r going tru. i admire ur trust and love in our mother the blessed virgin mary and also in our saviour JESUS CHRIST. No difficulty on earth is too big for HIM to resolve. As u look forward to the day of this operation, i join u in prayers to ask the LORD OUR GOD to give u de strenght and courage to sail tru and at the end all GLORY AND HONOUR will be to HIS name. AMEN. I am Collins Amaechi a Nigerian and an ex-seminarian.The LORD is ur DOCTOR AND SURGEON.
Dear Philip, Miracles do happen. I witnessed one right in front of me one night.Another, was to me an inexplicable healing and yet another ,a cancer that vanished in a young man.I met a person in St. Peter's square whose cure was investigated by the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints:the intercession of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross ( Edith Stein).There was another , I believe, through the intercession of St. Charbel in our hospital.So I will pray to Father Price -- he had my first two names.
Viva Cristo Rey,siempre!
Anon. M.D.
Dear Phillip, With Carmen we are thinking and praying for you.
Magdalena
Mon cher Philip,
Je pense a vous souvent en ce temps penible de votre vie, mais je sais que la sainte vierge vous tiendra dans ses bras et vous donnera le confort necessaire pour que vous puissiez vous guerrir de cette maladie a fin de puvoir devenir pretre.
Vous etes dans mes prieres
Dear Phillip,
I am in Boston with Carmen. We are bothe entrusting you to the Holy Trinity and the VIrgin.
Best wishes always,
Magdalena and Carmen Lara
You know I'm praying for you every chance I get. I didn't know you had this site.
Jen
Dear Philip,
I hope you are able to manage your days. I pray for you often. I have the ladies in our Bible Study (the prophet Isaiah this time) praying for you. I also ask many saints to intercede on your behalf.
Magdalena Lara
Dear Philip
I will pray the Rosary for you. I have also forwarded your blog on to some friends.
GOD Bless
Elaine - New Jersey
Philip,
I am thinking and entrusting you to the Lord. Besides, I pray to these Saints: St Rita, St Maximilian Kolbe, and St Philomena to intercede for you.
Magdalena, Carmen's Mom.
Dear Philip,
While I have seen you at Mass at OLL, we have not had the opportunity to chat, and just now read the link Deacon Steve posted. Thank you for your example of faith, trust, and perseverance. 1 Peter 1:2 "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
Please know you will be in my thoughts and prayers, and I will offer rosary prayers for God to hear your prayers and the prayers of all those who love you and care about you. Rev 21:5
Philip
I hope you get the chance to lead Mass
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