>No humor this time. This is deadly serious. If you have it in you to pray, please say a prayer for me.

Better... holding my thumbs for you. It's not exactly the same as fingers crossed, because fingers crossed mean "hope this works and Murphy is asleep". Thumbs held mean, at least here, "hope you make it and I root for you". Looks like a fist with thumb inside, but it's held to oneself and not extended in any direction.

There. Come back alone, just your better self.