My Brother

This is my brother Ernie. He is now 25 years old. And he has Cystic Fibrosis.

Years ago when he was diagnosed with CF, we did not know what it was and we did not know how long he will be able to live with this disease. We are thankful to God that he has always been there for my brother and the rest of the family.

Thanks also to great doctors at Children's Hospital that have been helpful everytime he was hospitalized. And over the years we have learned so much from CF. Great research has been done in the last years.

But without God's help, we do not know what we had done. I can say that my brother is a very strong person. He has gone thru a lot. So many medications, so many hospitalizations. And the treatments are quite expensive. We are thankful that there are certains programs available to help my parents with the bills and medicine.

Now that he is an adult, he enjoys doing things every young adult does. Can you believe that he is the one in this next picture. Yes, it is him. He is a Mexican Rodeo Cowboy.

I am so proud of my brother, because he has not let his illness depress him or keep him bed ridden. Yes, he needs to take his medicine regularly and carries his pulmoaide everywhere he goes. And he makes sure to get his regular check ups with his doctors to make sure everything is ok. Sometimes he needs to be hospitalized for a few weeks. He needs to take care of himself and avoid getting sick with a cold or flu. He can easily get pneumonia if he does not get treated soon.

CF affects the lungs and digestive system. Please if you are able to donate to the CF foundation, your donation can make it possible for many CF patients to live longer and also make it possible to find a cure.

Please also pray that a cure will be found.

Thank you and God Bless you.

San Blas

I just had to post something on this very special day. This morning as I was reading the daily readings and a short biography of St. Blaise, I got an amazing revelation.

Years ago, about 30 years ago. I was in surgery to have my tonsils removed. My dear Grandma, will always remind me of this day. I remember it as it was yesterday. My grandmother took me to church the day before I was admitted into the hospital. I remember kneeling in front of the image of the Nazareno. The image of Jesus dressed in a purple tunic and carring the cross. We lighted a candle and she prayed for my surgery to go well.

I was admitted to the hospital on February 3, and the surgery was performed in the evening. Now that I know that St. Blaise is the patron saint of throats. I can say that my dear Grandmother made sure that I had my surgery on that day. The surgery went well, and when I woke up from the sedation, I was on an elevator on my way to the recovery unit, until a room was ready for me.

When I returned home, I remember that I was given popsicles and icecream. My Grandmother was there next to me all the time taking care of me. I also have an uncle named Blas, the Spanish form of Blaise. And my husband had an uncle named Blas too. His uncle was 103 years old when he died this past Sunday, may he rest in peace.

Thanks to Charlotte for her coloring page of St. Blaise, my children are coloring it now.