Catholic comedian finds ‘family’ support when crisis strikes

Catholic comedian, author, and podcaster Jennifer Fulwiler doesn’t have a lot of extended family. But when her oldest daughter went in for brain surgery on Monday, the Fulwilers found a global "family" in the Catholic community.

Fulwiler has been a well-known figure in the Catholic world since her memoir, Something Other Than God (2014), detailed her conversion from atheism. More recently, she's made a career of clean comedy, and many Catholics have "followed" Fulwiler over the years. Her testimony and light-hearted jokes paired with keen insights on everything from parenting to "finding your blue flame," have brought her a devoted following.

So when Fulwiler adopted an unusually somber tone in a podcast published outside of her normal schedule, and titled, "An update. We need prayers," new and long-time listeners knew something was amiss.

Fulwiler shared that her oldest daughter, age 22, had been complaining of headaches. When she went to get checked out, doctors discovered a brain tumor. One that needed to be operated immediately.

The staggering diagnosis has changed the family's life in just a few hours, the comedian said. On Facebook, she simply shared, “We need prayers. My oldest daughter has been in the ICU, facing a very serious diagnosis. As I type this, she is heading in for a 10-hour brain surgery involving four neurosurgeons.”

One of the most moving parts of the podcast, when Fulwiler had to pause to regain composure, dealt with her experience of her Catholic "family."

She explained that she and her husband are only children. Three of their four parents are deceased and so their family support in this situation is extremely limited. In her always frank style, though, Jen said that what she is missing in family by blood, she has found in her family of the Church.

But she shared that she found comfort at Mass, particularly in the routines of the ritual, and knowing that all around the world, Catholics are hearing the same Bible readings, offering the same prayers.

It's for this reason, she said, that she is sharing about her daughter, asking for prayers. It's part, she said, about what she loves about the Church. She put it simply, “I know that I belong.” 

Fulwiler invited prayers for the intercession of Our Lady of Champion, the only approved Marian apparition in the United States.

Fulwiler asked for prayers and she has certainly received them. Two thousand three hundred responses on her original Facebook post (at the time of writing) are just one small indication of how much the Catholic world -- her Catholic family -- is surrounding the Fulwiler family with prayer.

Many posts expressed direct prayers for Jen and her daughter, Lane Claudia. “Dear Lord, I pray for complete healing of Lane. May the Lord guide her medical team's hands. Jesus I trust in you!” reads one. “Prayers for your daughter and her surgical team. May Almighty God guide the hands of surgeons and may her healing begin as surgery ends,” reads another.

Fulwiler posted updates as her daughter’s surgery went on for over 10 hours Monday. She shared how she still was waiting for an update after 5 hours. With a trace of her typical humor, Jen also shared how she had literally spilled holy water from Lourdes on her daughter pre-surgery, saying, “So she’s all set there.” She had said earlier that Lane had received Anointing of the Sick.

After the surgery, Fulwiler posted that it went as expected and that they don’t yet know the extent of what they’re dealing with.

“Thank you all so very much for your prayers and encouraging words," she added. "It truly means the world to us.”

Directors at the shrine of Our Lady in Wisconsin heard about Fulwiler's request and were quick to respond.

They assured: