My second elbow broke at some point last week. I will have surgery to replace the elbow as soon as the swelling and blood resolve. When the surgeon replaced my right elbow a year ago he said the left elbow would eventually break as a result of 30 years of rheumatoid arthritis destruction causing the bones to be as thin as an eggshell.

I hoped I would have a few more years before my 11th surgery but it is time to put Coraggio! into action — I choose to see the good aspects of it breaking at this time, I will make the best of the situation, and I look forward to a positive outcome with an amazing artificial elbow!

Ciao Boston!  Coraggio coming to spread the message on How to Live a Life of Purpose and Joy Despite Myasthenia Gravis!

MA/NH Chapter Annual Meeting Sheraton Framington
November 6, 2011 11-3pm

Guest speaker Lisa Gigliotti

There are many pain management options for chronic illness, injury, or terminal disease outside of medication or surgery approach.

Learn more about available pain management options, palliative care, and the Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management at http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-27417_45947_45948—,00.html

Contact your local hospice organization for palliative care options.

With humble gratitude to Governor Snyder for his commitment to raising awareness about pain management options available to Michigan citizens, and for promoting education of health professionals on the efficacy and importance of good pain control;

And for providing me an opportunity to improve the lives of Michigan citizens who experience pain through today’s appointment to the Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management! http://michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-53480_56421-259881–,00.html

Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain & Symptom Management

What a great surprise to receive the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America “Great Lakes Greatest Volunteer” Award at the annual chapter meeting last month! See MGFA-GL newsletter…

“… for her dedication to the chapter this past year. Traveling all over the state with her “Coraggio” presentation, she helped patients and supporters to take control of their diagnosis by having the courage to “own” good health, positive attitude and enjoying life’s passions by utilizing work-arounds! Thank you Lisa!”

The “Great Lakes Greatest Volunteer” award is a tremendous honor, but I believe even more deserving of the award than me are those that wake each morning with pain or muscle weakness yet go about the day with a smile and positive attitude, those who listen to others with myasthenia gravis or chronic illness, and those caregivers who lovingly and selflessly perform whatever task is the need of the moment. With humble gratitude to MGFA-GL chapter!  But we’ve only begun– more Coraggio to go!

http://myasthenia-mi.org/Summer_2011_Newsletter.pdf

Posing with the statue of San Francesco di Paola at 2009 Festa are: Tony De Luca, IACL President, Lisa Gigliotti, 2nd Prize winner of Pizza Pie Contest (Pizza Margarita) Phil Muccio, and Jennifer Orlando, IACL Secretary.

San Francesco di Paola (St. Francis of Paola) was born in Cosenza, Italy, same province as was born my Nonna. He was a follower of St Francis of Assisi and fostered healing of the sick by encouraging them to believe their faith could produce a miracle of healing.

The Italian-American Club of Lansing honors San Francesco di Paola tomorrow with an outdoor Catholic Mass followed by grilled Italian sausage and goat (crapetto).

As we honor San Francesco di Paola, let us take a moment to thank our caregivers; those people in our lives who encourage us to be well and to believe in miracles! Grazie!

http://lansingiac.org/events/picnic.pdf

Great-grandfather Gennaro Rizzo, World War I Italian Army Cavaliere (cavalry) uniform

On Memorial Day I recall my Great-grandfather Gennaro Rizzo’s heroic November 1918 efforts, darting between Eastern Alps mountain passes and barrage of bullets, carrying armloads of ammunition pressed to his chest with determination to reach the Italian Army artillery cut off by enemy fire.  His bravery won him a Vittorio Veneto World War I Italian Medal of Honor. (See story in Coraggio! Book #1, page 25, and attached photo of Gennaro Rizzo in Italian Cavaliere (Cavalry) uniform.)

I silently bestow a Medal of Honor to my Great-grandmother Giuseppina, who during that same time courageously birthed her third daughter, cared for her three-year old and six-year-old daughters, and fostered and sold fig crops for income — all without her husband – and with fearless faith, determination, and Coraggio.

On this day, while I honor all the men who have served in wars, I acknowledge and bless all the women who fervently prayed for their safe return, who carried on the family farm, or entered the work force while their husbands and sons were away.  These women who determinedly raised children and cared for elderly family with whatever celebration could be created from rations, so children could experience a semblance of normalcy, joy and family love despite the void from absent family members and resources. 

I breathe in the strength and courage these women exuded to overcome the emotional and financial struggles of their day. The strength and courage of their example helps me heal the emotional strain and financial worries of the previous week and fortifies me against any potential emotional strain and financial worry of the week to come. Their simple but indomitable carrying-on of life sparks the wisdom and intuition I need to carry on with joy and purpose. Coraggio!

Coraggio’s message of encouragement live on Fritze & Friends tomorrow from 5:45 pm – 6 pm WILS AM 1320 for Mid-Michigan listeners or live-streamed at www.1320wils.com  Join us on your ride home!

Gracious radio host Cheryl Fritze will not only engage an energetic conversation about the important lessons learned from mothers, she’ll help spread Coraggio’s message of

**reframing a difficult situation to view it in a fresh, positive way, and

**making a daily gratitude list to boost hope and internal joy!

What a boost of enthusiasm it was to meet each of the Young and Fun Despite MG during the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation America national conference in Baltimore MD!  They are truly living life with courage and grace despite MG!

I especially enjoyed bonding over similar life challenges faced by the young & fun:

• The Dating Scene – whaddya say?
• Will my friends ever include me again after canceling on dance night at the bar because my MG was acting up?
• Is gym workout lifestyle possible after MG diagnosis?
• Bikini or not bikini after thymectomy?
• The dreaded prednisone bloat

Let’s keep encouraging each other!  Post your latest thoughts!

Not only did our mother give us life, she taught us life lessons through the years of love, patience and courage.  We may not have been aware of her worries or heartaches because she wrapped us in loving arms or brought us belly laughs by her infectious laughter.

We bow our heads in gratitude and utter a prayer for our mother, our grandmothers, the religious sisters who guided us, the teachers who educated us, and all others in mothering, mentoring roles in our life.  To honor them we carry forward with love, laughter and courage!