Hello, my friends and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast Monday morning moments with John O'Leary.

So during the five agonizing months in the hospital, physical pain,

emotional anguish, and unceasing monotony were constant companions in my life. And yet, one thing I treasured

was the sound of the door opening each afternoon with the hospital volunteer delivering mail.

It might sound small, but it was a big deal. Over those months, I was blessed to receive hundreds of get-well cards, love letters, and

care packages. Sometimes I would recognize the sender's signature, but far more often the note

of encouragement would come from someone

I'd never even met. Each note, though, whether from a friend or from a stranger, provided a

lifeline to a world outside those four walls, reminding me that someone, somewhere,

was thinking about me. No, it did not necessarily change my day, but it reminded me,

this is important, that I was not alone. I thought of that kindness when I read the story of

this month's on fire for good honoree. Phil Zilke was first diagnosed with stage four

Hawkins lymphoma at the age of 25.

He spent weeks hospitalized and endured agonizing treatment during that time and afterwards.

To mitigate risk of infection, much of this time was spent in total isolation.

Now, while suffering in life is inevitable, enduring it alone so often leads to hopelessness.

And that's when he received a care package with a card signed by a perfect stranger, saying that they were praying for him.

Phil just could not believe that people, he did not not even know would take the time to reassure him

that he would be okay, that he mattered.

This one simple card from a stranger transformed his experience from one that could have made him

retreat inward, someone that fueled a fire for outward service.

From that fire rose Phil's friends. It's a not-for-profit dedicated to providing hope,

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