A New Prayer

Lane DeGregory: In the pre-operating room on the third floor of Tampa General, the two nurses lay in hospital beds, side-by-side.

Their husbands had pushed them close enough for the women to hold hands.

"It's going to be fine," said Pam Mizerany, 48, squeezing her friend's fingers.

Debbie Ismer, 56, smiled. "They said you're going to feel bad. But I'm going to feel so, so good."

Debbie's husband snapped pictures. Pam's husband smoothed her white sheet. Then the chaplain came in and folded the women's clasped hands into his.

Both nurses bowed their heads. They have prayed with this chaplain for years, for their patients.

On Wednesday, he prayed for them.


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