My neighbor up the street told me that at her new job, a young co-worker shared that he had testicular cancer. He was going in for an operation and they would have to remove everything. She was just sick about it. She said he was a cute Mormon boy who had served a mission and recently married in the temple. He had already made a donation to a sperm bank so if he survived the cancer, he and his new bride might still be able to have babies in the future. My friend wondered if the church was taking good care of him and if there was anything that she, and her co-workers, could do.
I told her not to worry. His ward would no doubt smother him with care. If she liked, I could contact his ward and see if they could share meal duties. I happened to have a friend who lived in the same town as he did. She might be in the same ward. It was easy enough to find out.
I found my friend vacationing in Arizona. (Thank goodness for the accessibility of cell phones!) She didn’t recognize his name but she just happened to have a new ward directory with her. There he was, listed with his wife. (The fact that my friend had a directory with her is amazing enough but a newly updated one?? How often does that happen?)

From her, I got the name and number of her ward Relief Society President. (The RS Pres. has responsibility over all the women in a ward including tracking “welfare” needs. I’ve held the same position in my own ward since June of 2006).

I called and asked the RS President if she knew the couple. She said yes, the wife had been coming every week but the husband had stopped coming some time ago for no good reason. I explained what the young man was facing and that his co-workers wanted to coordinate taking in meals. She was shocked to hear the news and said she’d visit them right away.

This is the email I received from her the following Monday:
“Thank you so much for your phone call on Saturday morning. I was able to track them down by afternoon and had a good conversation with both of them. Your neighbor’s efforts were an answer to Ann’s [name changed] prayers. So please thank her and tell her that when you talk with her. Ann was being respectful of Ken’s [name changed] tender feelings. They haven’t been married a year yet and this is a big trial for them.
I talked with Ken and shared with him that I had two nephews go through this. “Our ward was fasting Sunday for another member who has cancer of the thyroid and having surgery on Wednesday. After talking with the Bishop, we quickly sent an email around and made a few phone calls. We added Ken to the ward fast. Ann came to church yesterday and received a great deal of love and support. The Elders quorum was going over after church to talk to Ken. We have meals going in and support all over this. Thanks again for the heads up.
“Ken will have surgery on Thursday where they will remove his other testicle. He said that the doctor told him on Friday that it is in his lymph nodes and has spread but they don’t know yet where and how far. So he does have some hard days ahead. I told Ken that the Lord really must love him to answer prayers through a new friend at work. He tearfully was touched that those he works with would even be interested.”

I’m sure being new in the ward, this young couple felt they didn’t have friends yet with whom they could share their personal burden. Maybe they didn’t want to come in feeling like a pity case. For me, it was a testimony about how the Lord works. He knows who we are. He knows what is happening to us. Our secrets aren’t secrets from Him. He knows where we need help and He’ll get it done. It is up to us to take the action that is required. I love how this has turned out for this young, frightened couple. I pray that all will go well. Maybe it won’t. But if it turns for the worst, at least they won’t be alone. Nobody should be.

Everything else is going really well - I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I love being Relief Society President more than I ever, ever thought I would. I'm not the best organized one they've ever had, but I have a couple of wonderful counselors who patiently remind me of things to follow up on. I love them!! And Heavenly Father too. He is too good to me!! I pray that He is blessing your life with great happiness and will continue to do so through out the New Year. Happy 2008!