Hold… hold… hold…
And we wait and we wait.
We believe and we trust.
And we know God‘s Word is truth and once he starts something he completes it. He is a God of perfect timing and is never late.
Thank you Lord for teaching us as we go; thank you Mother Mary and Saint Andrew for the prayers answered - Thank you for your intercession.
The divine physician is at work
all the time – emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.
And we wait and we wait.
We believe and we trust.
And we know God‘s Word is truth and once he starts something he completes it. He is a God of perfect timing and is never late.
Thank you Lord for teaching us as we go; thank you Mother Mary and Saint Andrew for the prayers answered - Thank you for your intercession.
The divine physician is at work
all the time – emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.
Living a Christian life is difficult. It’s more than praising and going to mass, which is so important. Our flesh takes us sometimes to journeys we shouldn’t be taking. Our focus should be God so not to fall into temptation but it all goes back to the free will. And prayer is what sustains, guides and connects us to the space where you meet God.
“A day without prayer is a day full of unnecessary risks”. Ana Curras
We went to see Dr. Ellen whom Dr. Langford recommended we consult on the right arm and he said the x-ray showed there was no calcification and encouraged us to continue to work at it because, there had been progress from the prior year. That confirmed what Paul at CORE had said about David showing advancement every week and had not stop getting better. Progress continued.
David’s Neurologist, Dr. Nieves began a series of neurotoxin Myobloc injections to treat the spasticity in David’s right arm. We would monitor any progress and assess if it would be effective.
David was now reaching things by moving his trunk, which was something new. He was moving his legs out of the car and he walked on his own with both feet in the aquatic pool. He also held himself up with his right hand on my back and cleared his throat for the first time. David added many more new routines: turned off his room lights, locked the laundry door as we passed by, piled up the dirty plates after a meal, and folded the bathroom hand towel nice and neat. He also reached to the floor and bended forward. He became more conscious of his finances and his sense of humor continued to flourish.
We continued our ministry of service at the Saints Peter and Paul Gift Shop, and we got to meet many wonderful people, hear so many great stories of miracles and received many prayer requests. We felt so blessed in this mission of love. We talked about the power in service. If the service is good, it brings life to others while it nourishes the giver.
We met this lady at UCF who explained how her brother had never been able to speak since he was little and had never received therapy. She was grateful he was finally taking therapy at UCF. The joy in her eyes revealed a deep love for him. Being a mature woman, I asked how old her little brother was to what she said he was 59 years old. I thought how our service of love starts at home. The Lord wants things done through us. When we disconnect ourselves from people’s lives, we desensitize ourselves from other people’s pain. When we put things in God’s hands we allow him to accomplish His divine plan. He invites us to participate in this plan. It’s up to us to accept or not. We choose to be in his plan or stand alone or against it.
We went to David’s close and dear friend Chris S. wedding and it was wonderful for David to share with old school and church friends.
Eddy, Mel, David and I had a great time at Dr. Phillips Arts Center at the clown Slava Snow Show.
Miss Angie from bible study was very serious about David’s recovery. She would bring him snacks, cookies or chocolate every week. As we were leaving Aquatic therapy one afternoon, I read the email about Miss Angie passing and told David that she was on her way home. David pointed to heaven. At that moment, we were in shock and amazed to see the sky with a bright opening - as if it was receiving Miss Angie. As we lifted up a prayer we contemplated how creation always speak to us of God‘s amazing love for us. We celebrated a funeral mass and thanked God for having the opportunity of meeting her. God is a God of the living, so when we die, we are on our way home. Those who precede us can now pray for us in a different light. We believe. Such great hope and joy.
My sister Lucy came to visit us & we had such a great time watching movies and cooking.
My daughter’s second son, Jorge Steven was born on June 3rd with a congenital heart defect called Stenosis Bicuspid Aortic Valve where two cusps grow instead of the normal three and makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the restricted opening. Surgery would need to be performed as soon as the baby would gain more weight. My daughter Ana Carolina and Steven’s pain brought all the thoughts regarding the sufferings from David’s accident. All prayer warriors continuously prayed for the baby and for them.
The new appointed priest to Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Father Alvaro had been sent to the hospital to see him in the Newborn Intensive Care. This would be his first mission in our Parish. He baptized him at the hospital and called him a miracle baby because of how he gasped for air and made gestures as Father prayed for him.
 Father Alvaro |  Deacon Scott |
As David and I were working at the church’s gift shop one afternoon, Deacon Scott came over and with tears in his eyes told the story about the day that Ana Carolina and Steven left the hospital and came to the chapel with their newborn Jorge Steven. He saw that they were kneeled in front of Jesus and had placed the baby on the tabernacle table as an active consecration. He felt moved to pray over Jorge Steven. That day the church celebrated the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This feast is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost Sunday and falls on different dates every year. To our astonishment, the feast for the following year would fall on Jorge Steven’s birthday - June 3rd. God truly speaks to us constantly but we have to pay attention. This was no ordinary event and a special blessing was given to them on that day.
At the post surgery check up, the doctors were amazed of how great his heart was functioning. They mentioned that his case was the most difficult they had to work on and the best outcome of all. We celebrated and thanked God for that miracle.
At the post surgery check up, the doctors were amazed of how great his heart was functioning. They mentioned that his case was the most difficult they had to work on and the best outcome of all. We celebrated and thanked God for that miracle.
On Sunday, June 26, 2015 we joined Oceans of Hope and CORE at New Smyrna beach for a surfing day.
My sister Noemy and brother in law Hector invited David and I for the month of August at their home in Ohio once again. The time there was a blessing. Alex Javier visited and we had a great time together. At St. Roberts and William Church, David was prayed over by the healing ministry.
We attended a retreat in Michigan coordinated by my mother titled “Activate, Mobilize, Witness”. The spiritual insight by both Bishop Sam from Louisiana and Father Francis from Omaha gave us the opportunity for introspection and more transformation.
October was filled with visits and sharing with family and friends. My sister Lucy, brother Carlos, and sister in law Haydee came to visit. David surprised his brothers and bought three tickets to see the Orlando Lions soccer team and invited Fernando and Eddy. They had a blast.
Before the accident, David used his ability of expression to always have a kind word, to encourage people, motivate friends and loved ones to reach higher and dig deeper. Family and friends called him the Motivator. After a speech therapy session at UCF we were informed that David’s “Apraxia” would not allow him to speak ever. As we listened to the UCF specialist, David reflected such a peaceful look in his face as if he knew something I didn’t. At that moment David’s peace gifted me with tranquility. For an instant I was transported to the time at Miami JM Hospital when I desperately tried to convince the Psychologist that David would advance from his condition. Despite of the new report at UCF, David kept smiling assuring me that all would be ok. That evening, I explained it to the rest of the family and they all had just encouraging words and reaffirmed that only God would determine how David’s future would look like. Whether he would ever speak again or not, David found the richness within to express himself to others without words.
On October 30th we went on a “Pilgrimage of Mercy” to the Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine to see the relics exhibition and the incorrupt body of Saint Maria Goretti from Italy. God’s presence was surely there. Fernando, Ana Carolina, Steven, Jawad and Jorge Steven, Gaby, David and I were very touched and reflected on the marvelous role of the Saints in our lives. While praying I felt that I needed to continue the path I was on with David because I was where the Lord wanted me to be and not to be afraid.
November was filled with fun as well. We went to the Orlando Repertory Theater with my sister Lucy to see “Orphie and the Book of Heroes”. Cousin Christina came to visit from Miami and we had a great time with her. She mentioned how David’s accident gave them a different perspective of life. We went to a hockey game with the CORE team.
That year we attended the Sts Peter & Paul Church Christmas party with my mother and continued to lift prayers of thanksgiving for a year of hope and blessings.
 |  |
Many times I considered going to work part time but the doors would not open. I knew I had to place everything in God’s hands and trust in Mary’s intercession. One time I set up a payment on automatic withdraw by mistake. The day I had to make the payment, I received a check from a high school friend in Puerto Rico, whom I had not spoken or seen in over 35 years. How could she know? God was moving the hearts of family and friends, whether they knew it or not, because the help always came at the right time. It was a collective effort that came together so that I could remain at David’s side. This confirmed that I was where I needed to be.
There is a blessing in giving. But, through this journey, I have discovered there is also a blessing in receiving. Sometimes pride gets in the way of allowing the flow of love happen because of our prejudices and our concepts of grandeur which many times provoke a need to promote or exaggerate our giving. I recall in middle school how I wondered why Jesus didn’t eradicate poverty when He was on earth. He in fact told Judas “you always have the poor with you…” (John12:8).
We are called to share, to provide the knowledge, the resources and make changes in our world together. But we become busy building our lives with little or no time to look around to those in need. Our self-centered condition, our fears, our lack of generosity and with our lack of action, we convince ourselves that “others” will take care of this and that. And we remove ourselves from that reality. It is the poor and the less unfortunate, which provoke a thought in us. And that thought turns into compassion or inspiration. It is through them that the Lord moves hearts. As it becomes a joyful experience to be at the giving end we must embrace when we are at the receiving end because, we are the channel or instrument for the other to give.
To give a flower, a smile, financial support, a hug, time, a prayer. Receiving helps us to see the hand of God in action. The key lies in how we respond to the movement of the Holy Spirit. God continued to reveal himself in so many ways.
We are called to share, to provide the knowledge, the resources and make changes in our world together. But we become busy building our lives with little or no time to look around to those in need. Our self-centered condition, our fears, our lack of generosity and with our lack of action, we convince ourselves that “others” will take care of this and that. And we remove ourselves from that reality. It is the poor and the less unfortunate, which provoke a thought in us. And that thought turns into compassion or inspiration. It is through them that the Lord moves hearts. As it becomes a joyful experience to be at the giving end we must embrace when we are at the receiving end because, we are the channel or instrument for the other to give.
To give a flower, a smile, financial support, a hug, time, a prayer. Receiving helps us to see the hand of God in action. The key lies in how we respond to the movement of the Holy Spirit. God continued to reveal himself in so many ways.
St. John Chrysostom Every time we passed by a cemetery, David would start praying for the souls. He would make the sign of the cross and pray every time we would pass by the places my father enjoyed going to. We learned how offering our sufferings in prayer - we contribute to the redemption of souls in purgatory and do more this way than going on missions. “As a family, we pray for one another and those faithfully departed who are not quite in heaven need our prayers. Just as we have witness or experience answers to our prayers, those prayers for the souls in purgatory will also be answered” St. John Chrysostom. Praying for the souls in purgatory became a personal mission for David.
In May, the second Invictus Games, an international sporting event for injured servicemen and women, took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Jorge had the opportunity to gift us tickets to the opening ceremony where Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, First Lady Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, Actor Morgan Freeman, special guests and artists honored athletes from around the world who inspired thousands with their post injury fighting spirit. It was an honor to be part of this experience and touched David’s soul in a very special way.
Lindsey planting. One of my favorite hobbies has always been gardening which I had not done any since David’s accident.
Responding to a message I had posted in our neighborhood network, an old friend from where I used to work, messaged me that she had some plants for me. Without her knowing, one of the trees she brought had been on my wish list for years. When Lindsey asked David where he wanted the tree, I realize how we were planting new life on the anniversary date of David coming out of the comma 4 years prior. What a sign!
Responding to a message I had posted in our neighborhood network, an old friend from where I used to work, messaged me that she had some plants for me. Without her knowing, one of the trees she brought had been on my wish list for years. When Lindsey asked David where he wanted the tree, I realize how we were planting new life on the anniversary date of David coming out of the comma 4 years prior. What a sign!
David and I left to Ohio for our traditional vacation on August 11th. We went to see Footloose the musical that was amazing. The highlight of this trip was a special visit from Ashley Vargo, who had studied with David at Madonna High School in West Virginia and shared fun memories.
David was deeply touched by his sister Ana Carolina and Steven who asked him to be Jorge Steven’s godfather.
2016 was marked with lots of workouts and therapies.
The Ablaze Group at Sts. Peter & Paul and the UCF Friday Only Club became a favorite group of friends which David enjoyed sharing time, outings and experiences every week.
On Saturday, September 17th David and Fernando attended the Charismatic conference in Orlando and were reunited with Bishop Sam whom they had met at the retreat in Michigan the prior year.
We walked through the Door of Mercy for the Jubilee year and year of mercy on Wednesday, October 26th.
We walked through the Door of Mercy for the Jubilee year and year of mercy on Wednesday, October 26th.
On October 31st, Eddy told me their dear and close brother-friend Brandon had passed away. Around 4:00 am I dropped off Fernando to the airport to go for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic and told him about Brandon’s passing. He was devastated. On my way home, I prayed that I would find the right time and words to tell David. When David woke up I got him ready and after breakfast I told him what had happened. He immediately started to pray and then he began to cry. It was so surreal.
Brandon at the Appalachian Mountains.
A few years prior, Brandon had decided to make a backpack trail hiking trip. He told us he would go and search for God. We sent him off with a book to meditate and a prayer. When he came back from the trip, he shared a picture of himself on the top of the Appalachian Mountains overseeing the hills surrounded by a majestic view. With a true ecstasy he professed he had found God. At that very moment on top of that hill he breathed in His existence as he stretched his arms to take in the experience of getting in touch with God. He mentioned he could not believe how anyone facing all this beauty could doubt that God existed. His conviction was real. Brandon had experienced how much he was loved. We were renewed by his conviction and rejoiced together.
Brandon’s mother Pat came home on November 2nd and we spent time together talking about Brandon and the special bond that tied us to him. Eddy worked on the video for the service as a celebration of his life with many wonderful and special memories. Now Brandon would pray for us.
Brandon’s mother Pat came home on November 2nd and we spent time together talking about Brandon and the special bond that tied us to him. Eddy worked on the video for the service as a celebration of his life with many wonderful and special memories. Now Brandon would pray for us.
We couldn’t help but tried to capture the joy of celebrating life every day with special visits, family and friends.
Christmas was filled with special moments with family and friends.
“If I am able to sacrifice my time for love; if I can overlook the inconveniences for love; if I place the other person before me because of love; if I stay silent when I rather be critical for love; if for love I can leave my contentment space, then I have loved to the point of pain because I am dying to myself. I am dying to my senses, which only seek to please my needs”. Ana Curras