Power of Faith Amid Health Battles
- The family of Ernest “Ernie” Ray Lynn, the son of country star Loretta Lynn, have kept a positive attitude and faith in God and the future as he continues recovering from surgery to treat kidney failure and heart surgery.
- Ernie’s mom Loretta passed away peacefully at age 90. Loretta is a two-time Grammy winner and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH) explains that when kidney disease worsens over time, it may lead to kidney failure. “If less than 15 percent of your kidney is working normally, that’s considered kidney failure. You may have symptoms from the buildup of waste products and extra water in your body,” the NIH explains.
- A study published in Cancer includes data that found “69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health” compared to “only 45% of the general U.S. population.”
- New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans previously spoke with SurvivorNet about how faith can help people cope with the complex emotions that come with cancer.
- “It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you’ve never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, ‘God, help me, be with me,'” Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet.
Ernie’s health struggles comes more than a year after his mom Loretta passed away peacefully at age 90. Loretta is a two-time Grammy winner and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Despite Ernie not having his mom around for support as he tries to get healthier, he’s grateful to have such a loving family and wife, Crystal Lynn, who have maintained hope and positivity for his future.
Read MoreJust last week, she shared a video clip of Ernie sitting comfortably in a sofa chair telling his fans, “Hey, for all of y’all who’ve been praying for me, I appreciate it and love you all for it.
“I’m getting better, I just had some heart surgery and stuff and I’m getting better every day.”
Both Ernie and his wife have not disclosed specifics into his health struggles as they’d like to remain private in his respect.
Crystal explained in another post, “I know that social media has made it easy for us all to share things that we normally wouldn’t, however in this instance I’m going to keep the details of his health private out of respect for him, as well as because not everyone out there means well and might misuse the information.
“That being said, Ernie continues to make small improvements each day and will hopefully be able to be discharged soon so that he may return home to continue healing. He has a long road ahead of him, as you’ve seen, but he is a fighter and God is fighting for him as well, so I’m confidant that he will pull through these unexpected adversities.”
She noted how it will “take him a while to heal” and even a “a simple cold … could be fatal to him” in this healing period, adding, “He has open wounds….so as happy as you are for him right now, a simple pat on the back or a hug could cause him to experience extreme pain so again, we appreciate you respecting his space.”
Earlier this year the Lynn Family shared a sweet photo of Ernie and his mom announcing he underwent surgery due to kidney failure.
The post read, “Today, Loretta’s son Ernest Ray underwent a critical surgery as a result of kidney failure. In moments like these we are reminded that all that really matters is faith and family.
“We would love to know you are praying with us for Ernie.”
Crystal said in a followup Facebook post on January 23, that just two weeks prior, and in Fall 2023, Ernie underwent an operation for his kidney failure and dialysis.
She explained how he needed another operation that day as the prior surgeries didn’t have good outcomes.
“It is a life saving and life sustaining operation, so we desperately need it to work this time so that they don’t have to take more drastic measures,” she said.
We’re delighted Ernie and his family remains faithful during this arduous time, something many families with loved ones who are battling cancer or any type of disease can relate to.
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Understanding Kidney Failure
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH) explains that when kidney disease worsens over time, it may lead to kidney failure.
“If less than 15 percent of your kidney is working normally, that’s considered kidney failure. You may have symptoms from the buildup of waste products and extra water in your body,” the NIH explains.
For those who need to replace lost kidney function, the following treatment options exist:
- hemodialysis (treatment to filter wastes and water from your blood)
- peritoneal dialysis (treatment that uses the lining of your abdomen, or belly, to filter your blood inside your body)
- kidney transplant
Additionally, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is described by the NIH as kidney failure that is treated by dialysis or kidney transplant.
It’s important to note that kidney disease can also lead to other health problems, including high blood pressure, anemia, heart disease, mineral and bone disorder, and malnutrition.
The NIH recommends people with kidney failure can do the following to feel better:
- continue treatment as planned
- take medicines as prescribed
- develop a healthy eating plan with a dietitian
- stay physically active
- maintain relationships with family and friends
“Treatment with dialysis or transplant will help you feel better and live longer. Your health care team will work with you to create a treatment plan to address any health problems you have. Your treatment will include steps you can take to maintain your quality of life and activity level,” the NIH adds.
“Your eating plan plays an important role. When you have kidney failure, what you eat and drink may help you maintain a healthy balance of salts, minerals, and fluids in your body.”
How Faith Can Help Cancer Warriors Cope
Ernie Lynn and his wife’s faith amid his ongoing health issues is actually quite common amongst cancer patients coping with their diagnosis.
A study published in Cancer includes data that found “69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health” compared to “only 45% of the general U.S. population.”
Cancer psychologist Dr. Andrew Kneier helped co-author “Coping with Cancer: Ten Steps toward Emotional Well-Being.” He also co-authored a column published by Stanford Medicine with Rabbi Jeffery M. Silberman, director of spiritual care at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. They offer more context to the impact faith has on cancer patients.
“A person’s faith or spirituality provides a means for coping with illness and reaching a deeper kind of inner healing,” Kneier and Silberman said.
“Coping means different things to different people: it can involve finding answers to the questions that illness raises, it can mean seeking comfort for the fears and pain that illness brings, and it can mean learning how to find a sense of direction at a time of illness. Religious teachings can help a person cope in all of these dimensions,” Kneier and Silberman continued.
WATCH: Turning to Faith During a Cancer Journey.
New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans tells SurvivorNet about the importance of finding ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a challenging health diagnosis, such as cancer.
“It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you’ve never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, ‘God, help me, be with me,'” Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet.
“You can reach out to God, and you can reach out to people, your friends and, family, and say, ‘I can’t do this on my own. I need you.’ “It’s in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can find something deeper that we never would’ve encountered without this hardship,” Evans continued.
WATCH: Religion helps these survivors get through difficult times.
Maintaining a Positive Mindset
Keeping a positive, grateful attitude through cancer has been shown to help the journey, too, according to anecdotal evidence from experts.
Cedars-Sinai colorectal surgeon, Dr. Zuri Murrell tells, SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn’t that mean I’m good at saying that the cancer won’t grow.”
“But I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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