An early Christmas miracle for me!

This week’s successful surgery to repair my knee prosthesis with a part the FDA approved for one-time compassionate use. GRATEFUL for Univ. of Michigan Orthopedic Surgery, family, and friends who shepherded me on wings of expertise, care, and prayers.

Mille Grazie Michigan Creative for the exciting day of filming video shorts to spread the message within each Coraggio book: Courage to Take Charge Despite Illness or Loss, Courage to Believe in Miracles, Courage to Conquer Pain, and Courage to Honor People with Disabilities and at the End of Life.

Filming the messages also served as a different kind of lens…for me to use GRATITUDE as the lens through which to view the events unfolding in my life, especially the most challenging of events, for gratitude will show me the way to live through the challenge with purpose and joy.

Rest in Peace Jen Walsh.

Your courageous advocacy in the face of persistent myasthenia gravis, and your similarities to the Coraggio story of loss of mom at an early age, Italian Nonna who provided motherly love, and a myasthenia diagnosis, earned you the First Annual Coraggio Award.

Your relentless efforts to help others with MG will be greatly missed.

Feel my gratitude from your heavenly perch.

My dose of courage for the day?  Meeting Jamie Spore, Ms. Wheelchair Michigan, prior to her recognition on the Michigan House Floor.

competition platform was:

 “To empower others to persevere with hope through life’s challenges.”

Jamie’s words, example, and beaming smile charged me with inspiration and encouragement.

Thank you  to The Big Show Radio and TV host Michael Patrick Sheils to tell early morning listeners about ways to manage your pain! Tune in at 4:34 minutes to hear about Gov. Snyder’s and LARA’s links.

Perhaps because my father’s name, Pasquale, meant “Easter”, his favorite holiday was Easter.  We will gather around the Pane di Pasqua tomorrow, the “Bread of Easter” that Nonna lovingly made for him each year, to celebrate his first Easter in a heavenly realm.  Nonna told us that the seven hard-boiled eggs baked inside the soft, sweet braided dough, symbolized the Seven Last Words of Christ.

As with Spring comes renewal: thank you to Tepel Brothers Printers for the visionary renovation of the Coraggio Book 4 cover texture and coil; to Devereaux Beauchaine for colors that POP like spring growth, and to Harriet Tepel, Martha Harper, and Amy Roberge, for the invigorating cover unveiling celebration!

May the new Coraggio Book 4 bring Hope to this season of Promise and inspire those who hear the six Coraggio talks now through April.  check out the dates and locations on this website’s home page for a talk near you!

On this day we honor the courage of those who protect our nation’s freedom. As this year’s St. Thomas More Award recipient I wish to also honor those whose Moral Courage protected our freedom to express our belief in God and openly worship in Houses of Faith.

At Red Mass, Oct. 2014

On the last day of Pain Awareness month, check out the “State of Pain” in Michigan report. The report was picked up by the Associated Press and media outlets around the country heralded Michigan’s resources for accessing pain treatment and management. http://wnmufm.org/post/mi-agencies-address-chronic-pain-management

Read the recommendations of the Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management; and all the best practices and pain self-management tips here: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_63294_63303_45947—,00.html