"Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts from their masters and superiors. Having never considered anyone else superior to myself nor found anyone who I was superior to, I had nobody to receive a gift from.
On Boxing Day of 2016, I was rushed to hospital after one of my lungs had collapsed. My terminal illness of C.L.L, had transformed itself into a Lymphoma and a more aggressive form of chemotherapy was recommended for the new cancer which had developed, should my body recover. Over the following two months, I almost died twice and I later discovered that a 'Do Not Resuscitate' had been placed on my medical file during the time it looked like I wouldn't make it.
For two months of hospitalisation, I had literally dozens of Masses and thousands of prayers said on my behalf. Through my church, family members, neighbours and Facebook contacts, my wife Sheila and I daily received hundreds of messages of support and encouragement. Never, in the whole of one's life had any man ever felt so loved as I did! To have died then would simply have been the wrong ending to my story.
I am pleased to say that though my illness is terminal, it is presently stabilised, and the past six months have been the best six months I have experienced over the past four years. During these last six months, I have not needed blood or platelet transfusions, nor any hospital visits, apart from two to see my cancer consultant for my three-monthly check-ups.
Last year, when my front door was opened to be rushed to Airedale Hospital, on the step was a cardboard box. It was so light in weight when lifted, it appeared empty of all contents. I thought that my brother Peter must have been playing a huge joke on me. The box stayed unopened and remained so at my hospital bedside until after I had seemingly turned the corner.
When I eventually opened the cardboard box, as soon as I lifted the lid I was silently blasted with an explosion of prayer and good will, and what a difference they had made to my recovery! It was some time after I'd returned back home that I remembered that there was another who was superior to me; my Lord and Master. It had been He and You who had brought me back home with your Boxing Day gifts of love.
Thank you, everyone, for your love, prayers and support over the past year. May your God go with you, may the sun shine down on you, and the wind of good fortune be forever at your back. Happy Boxing Day, 2017." William Forde : December 26th, 2017.