Shall do Mig. It can weigh heavy on you heart when it comes in bunches and lasts for days and weeks. Brighter days are ahead.

Sorry to hear that, Mig! Hang in there; you family's in my thoughts and prayers.

The Col's Dad got home last night but he is having complications due to a procedure he had done in the er.

My Dad is out of ICU now. His pneumonia is getting better so thanks for the prayers XOXO

I will keep you and your families in my prayers. Stay strong and God Bless.

Michael Tassone,
Pittsburgh, PA

Tuesday, April 6, my grandkids will be 2 weeks old. Our little boy is faring quite well; off the respirator and getting stronger every day. Little princess is having a tougher time. Her respiratory system was not as developed and on day 2 she was moved to a Philadelphia hospital for a higher level of care. But she is doing well and all tests are positive. She just needs a little more time to develop her lung power, which has been happening. Little Mom and Dad are torn between two hospitals an hour apart. The angels have been sent to watch over them. Many people are praying and the collective strength and power of prayer are watching over them. Thanks for your continued prayers and "good thoughts".

Thanks for the update MC. Sometimes these things simply take time and it seems everything is going in the right direction. I'm sure before too long your little Princess will be fine once she has her lung power. I'll continue to pray for your whole family. Hang in there and please keep us posted. God bless you all!!


TIS

So glad to hear that they continue to grow and improve, each and every day. May God bless them and continue to watch over them - and Mom and Dad, too. I'm sure this has been tough on all of you. Can't wait until you're chasing them around!

Eddie passed away today. Please keep his parents and his Sister in your thoughts and prayers. My heart is breaking for his Mom(my Cousin)she lost her Son on Mother's Day.

That is very unfortunate, Mig. 37 is such a young age to die. I am very sorry for your loss.

Well, I was hoping I would never have to join in this thread to ask for prayers, but unfortunately, here I am.

I just found out about a month ago that my grandfather has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and at this stage, it is terminal. Now from what I understand, when caught early, prostate cancer is usually very treatable, and there's a pretty high survival rate as well.

Unfortunately for my grandfather, they caught it far too late. It has already spread to his bones, and he has tumors in his shoulders, neck, back, and ribs. Due to his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, chemotherapy is out of the question, too.

He made a visit to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, but they turned him away because they do not accept his insurance. I really have nothing else to say on that.

This week they are going to the University Medical Center in Baltimore to speak to a prostate cancer specialist to see if there is anything that can be done to help.

The doctor he had been seeing has told him he has 3 to 5 months left to live. I am trying to remain optimistic, but given everything that I know, I can't help but expect the worst.

I am not an overly religious person, but I do believe that there is something out there. So to all those who do believe in a higher power, I humbly ask for your prayers in my grandfather's time of need. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

{{{ Mig }}} so sorry to hear that!

XDCX, I'll say a special prayer to the Big Guy for him and your family.

XD, I am so sorry to hear that. It's a terrible thing, to watch a loved one suffer. I hope that whatever time your grandfather has left is as filled with love and as pain-free as possible. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

X, I am so sorry for you. Your grandfather will be in my prayers.



TIS

XDCX,

My heart goes out to you and your family. I will keep your Grandather in my prayers. Will you be able to go to Baltimore and visit with him? God Bless.

My condolences Mig!

XDC, Hugs! Hang in there!

So sorry to hear about this. You'll be at my stomping grounds. This is where I work.

My hopes and prayers are with you Mig.

Back in March, I posted a prayer request for my friend Amanda, who was in the terminal stages of a 9 month battle with Lymphoma Cancer, and I want to take the time to thank Mig and Sicilian Babe for the words they offered me in my time of grief...Mig, Sb, your prayers and kind words were truly a source of comfort to me in my hours of need, and I want you to know that I received news of Amanda's passing just a few hours after your messages that morning, shortly after my parents arrived to say goodbye to her one last time in her Dallas hospital room.

Originally a Boston girl, she grew up in Texas and is buried on a little hillside overlooking the road her family takes into town every day...I loved Amanda very, very much, she had an amazing energy about her and always lit up any room she was in. I pray that some part of her wonderful spirit and energy that she shared with me will forever live in my heart, and that I may always remember her (and us) for who we were, and not what time has made of us...if that makes sense.

And of course, I want to thank you ALL for listening, and for everything you all do around here to help make this board a great place for us to come together to laugh, cry, discuss, and spend part of our lives with one another each day. I just ask that you'll pray for Amanda's soul, and for those of us who now have to somehow live out the rest of our days without her.

But I seek solace in the words of those that have gone before us, like the last words of a soldier on the battlefield:

"Do not mourn me dead, for think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again."

God Bless you, sweetie. Love you always.

Amanda Michelle Valadez 1982-2010

Ice,

I'm so sorry to hear of your friends passing. What a beautiful girl Amanda was. She surely sounds like she brightened up the lives of those around her. My sympathy to you and her family. You will all be in my prayers.

Take care.

TIS

Thank you, dear Tis. You older kids are like surrogate parents to many of us here and I'm truly grateful for you all.

Oh my God, Ice. 28 years old? I'm so sorry. She was a very beautiful girl. I'm sure she was even more beautiful on the inside.

Thanks, Pb. What really compounded the situation was that her grandmother, who had been in a Boston hospital room for months, passed away about 11 hours after Amanda in the early hours of St. Patricks Day, no doubt from a broken heart. Somewhat ironic for the two Irish girls.

Needless to say, the ballad "Danny Boy" will ALWAYS have very special meaning for me.

I wish I could offer some comfort, Ice. There is little to give when you lose someone that close to you, someone who was obviously so special. You just have to be grateful that you knew her and that she graced your life in the short time she was here.

Thanks, Babe. You're the best. As I said earlier in this thread, it really does help in the healing process to be able come here and talk about it with you all.

I'm sorry I didn't update you guys earlier, but I honestly just couldn't even bring myself to talk about it. I know there's an infinite amount of pain and suffering in the world and that my broken heart is one of many, but when you lose someone so close to you it's truly as if a piece of you is gone forever...

Right now we're just trying to be there for her young son whose care has passed to Amanda's younger brother and his wife. So that's priority #1 in my life right now, and I pray that I can be there for him as the years go by. He's really going to need all the love and support he can get.

Ice,
Let time be your friend. That's all I can suggest. Look into her son's eyes and I'm sure you will find Amanda there. Won't that be lovely??

Babe, you are so right about that. When I look in his eyes, I see the same light and energy that radiated from Amanda's. It's so awesome and awe inspiring that I really can't put it into words. The last time I saw him I just couldn't help but hug and kiss him the whole time as if it were Amanda herself. I talked about how he's going to need us, but really, WE are the ones who need HIM.

What's ironic is that she wasn't married when she had little Conner Patrick, and her mother, being the Irish Catholic she is, was not at all too pleased with her daughter's decision to say the least. I never said anything to her of course, but she knew my own feelings about the matter and that most of the girls I associated with were not the types to do what she had done.

And now? Well...I can only say that we THANK GOD that we have a piece of Amanda remaining with us today, no matter what state he was born in. I learned a very valuable lesson about projecting my self biases onto others, and I think it's something we can all learn from.

Sometimes fate takes a hand, doesn't it?

I was seven months pregnant with my youngest when my father died. Seven weeks before his death, we also lost my uncle. And in between, my then four year old had half of her left kidney removed. Oh, and I lost my job!

However, when my daughter was born, she saved us all. Her birth was the miracle that we all needed to lift us from the depths of despair, to use a cliche. She was and always has been my hero, as I'm sure that Conner will always be to all of you.

So sorry to hear about this, Ice!

Ice - I'm sorry I didn't get to see your original request. I'll send a prayer out for her and her little one.

I said my prayers as asked. Hope they are answered.

Thoughts and prayers as always...God bless.