Prayer Offerings for Margo
12 July 2022: Our dear purple infused Margo died peacefully on the 6th of July. Thanks for all your prayers and support.
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I was made aware that some people no longer use Facebook so are unable to add their own prayer intentions for Margo and her cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
This page will serve as a prayer wall where anyone can add their intentions and offers of prayers for Margo.
Here is a snapshot of what we shared on Facebook with extended family and friends on Monday, June 20th:
Dearest family and friends around the world,
You all know the challenge Margo has had with cervical pain and we are blessed that she is recovering from that surgery and getting better every day. Four weeks post op and her surgeon is very pleased with her progress – she is right where they would expect her to be at this point. Each day she gets a little better from that surgery with the pain gone and just the final bits of post-surgical achiness lingering.
During the lead up to that surgery, Margo had a lot of imaging done of her head, neck, shoulders, and chest area. In one of those images, they found an area of shadow and thickening on her left lung and so she was referred to a pulmonologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center and they did a PET scan and then a needle biopsy.
About a week before her cervical surgery, we learned the result of that biopsy and that Margo has a rare form of cancer – Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma – which is a cancer of the lining of the lung. It is at Stage 3, surgery is not an option due to her existing lung capacity, and this cancer has no cure. Treatment via immunotherapy or chemotherapy only adds a few months to the median survival rate which is 12-15 months with either treatment.
After much prayer, reflection, talking to the oncologists, surgeon, and our priests for spiritual guidance we have decided to not undergo any treatment since the side effects impact quality of life significantly. We would much rather make Margo’s quality of life a priority instead in whatever time she has left with us. Every day, at Morning and Evening Prayer, we pray for a miracle for Margo’s healing, but we also acknowledge that all is in God’s hand and according to His will.
We know there are so many awesome prayer warriors here amongst our families and friends and we ask for your prayers for Margo’s healing but if that is not God’s will, then we pray that she has a blessed and easy transition from this life to what I pray is her heavenly reward.
Over the course of the last two weeks, Margo has been enrolled and accepted for palliative and eventually hospice care with Community Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeast Florida – an organization she volunteered with for 20 years. They are a blessing for us and offer so much help. At this stage it is focused on getting things in place for later.
Much is unknown about the future, so prayers give us great comfort.
Thanks for those prayers.
Blessings,
Rich and Margo
Shared Wisdom: Accumulated Quotations
One thing that never stops, whether I am in a writing hiatus or not, is the continuous collection of words of wisdom spoken and written by others. I seem to have a mountain of them on my desk or collected in my computer. I have noticed that there is one modern day spiritual writer who seems to speak much to my heart. His name is Paul Ferrini and he has been involved in spiritual work for more than 35 years. He is a prolific writer with many books to his name and one day I hope to attend one of his retreats. You can learn more about Paul at his web site www.paulferrini.com. In the meantime here are just a few of his spiritual insights.
“When you don’t want to do something, say "no" clearly.
A simple "no" said clearly from the heart can prevent the drama of self-abuse.
When we no longer betray ourselves by saying "yes" when we want to say "no", we will no longer attract people into our life who will disrespect our boundaries.”
“Some people complain about the boat.
Others try to escape it. Neither choice is helpful.
Until you accept the boat for what it is, it cannot take you to the other side.”
“You are the judge and the savior
No one else can condemn you for your mistake or release you from your guilt.
You must come to terms with what you have done.
You must acknowledge your error and atone for it.
The forgiveness of others is nice to have, but it means nothing if you cannot forgive yourself.”
“Compassion
Your compassion arises
when your ability to love
no longer depends
on how others treat you.”
“Authentic Spirituality
God doesn’t ask you to pretend to be someone or something you are not.
God wants you to be who you are with all your contradictions and dichotomies.
If you have to deny any aspect of who you are to be spiritual, then you are creating an inauthentic spirituality.
True spirituality should be an instrument of revelation, not a tool for denial.”
I hope I have peaked your interest enough that you will go running to Paul’s website. I find him to be a magnetic yet gentle spirit even before I have met him in person. Blessings on your journey.
4 responses to “Prayer Offerings for Margo”
Buonasera dall’Italia cara mamma Margo, le scrivo con il cuore queste parole come fosse la mia mamma, sperando le facciano piacere, perché anche se la distanza è tanta, il cuore è l’affetto di una madre ci fanno sentire vicino…. Le porgo un abbraccio (virtuale) forte forte forte: ciao Margo…..
Hi Margo. I’m a friend of Giulio. I’m sorry to here about your illnesses .My prayers are with you and your family 🙏🙏
Buongiorno Margo!
Sono un Amico di Giulio e posso dirle che, con il suo Amore, è diventato un Uomo degno di stima e di Ammirazione.
È una Mamma esemplare 😘 ❤
Dearest Margo.
Giulio just kindly informed me about this. You are most definitely in my thoughts and prayers sweet girl! I hope that all of our thoughts will ease and keep pain away and give you all the serenity you need to face this and have the best outcome! You deserve the best as the kind wonderful human being that you are. I am sorry that I haven’t been good at keeping in touch but please know you have been a great friend to me and I have good memories of you ever since I met you as a child and friend of Marco and Giulio. I am sending lots of love, hugs and kisses. I love you Margo and wish I was there to hold your hand😘😘😘