By Gretchen Keiser

The Advent and Christmas season at the archbishop's residence in Atlanta is being taken "one day at a time ... with God's help," according to the sister of Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM.

Doris Fields of Chicago has been staying at the residence since September with another longtime family friend, Erma Laws of Memphis. The two women are helping to care for the 53-year-old archbishop, who is battling cancer.

Since the first week in November, Archbishop Lyke has been receiving hospice care at home. Aggressive treatment for the kidney cancer that had metastasized to the lining of his lung was discontinued after it failed to stop the spread of cancer.

Being cared for in his suite at the residence, Archbishop Lyke is helped by family members and personal staff, who are assisted by a nurse from the hospice branch of Visiting Nurse Services and by paraprofessionals.

Pat Davis, R.N., the hospice nurse, said the program enables patients to remain at home in familiar surroundings and to be cared for by friends or family members, with the support of on-call medical personnel. The program also enables the patient to exercise autonomy in aspects of their care and is supportive of their wishes.

She said the archbishop is "always thinking of others" and "likes to be aware and alert."

"He has his good and bad days, his good and bad nights," his sister, Doris, said.

Mrs. Fields said the many expressions of concern and prayer have been a tremendous help. She asked people to "keep us in their prayers, which they are doing all over the world."