My mom as I began to tell you was very engaged in life and very committed to God. Growing in the generation that she did it was a very common practice to smoke. It had a social component too, so many people did. I too confess that being brought up in a family and culture that touted its use, that I too smoked for a while. But, fortunately for me the non smoking message was getting out to my generation. I also had gotten married and my wife did not want to have children and have them exposed to it. So, I gratefully was able to stop the smoking. I was not a heavy smoker , but then again as the years unfolded I came to realize that one cigarette was really one too many.Here’s why,

About I guess 15 years ago, while my wife and children were vacationing on the beach in N.H, my mom and dad took a day trip up to see us. We thought that we would take a walk with our kids and stroller up to the boardwalk for ice cream.

My dad came up the stairs to our unit on the second floor and said Hi, we are downstairs when you are ready. I said wheres mom? He said she could not do the stairs she is not feeling well. I remember running down to see her, she was standing there smiling and said hi, I could see her breathing was labored. I said, mom whats wrong? She said nothing and took out her inhaler that she supposedly had for allergies. Well, I do not think that we got ice cream with her that night because she could not walk 10 feet without being winded.  My family was devestated. She told us it was allergies for the longest time and my father respected her wishes and did not tell myself or my siblings a thing. Finally, we all got together and told her we need to know. She said that she had C.O.P.D. from the smoking. My mother did not want to burden us, typical mom. You see, both my mom and dad smoked probably 40 years of their lives, they had both quit 8-10 years prior to the onset of her COPD. It came from no where. When you smoke the lungs become clogged and you go from breathing okay and suddenly you cannot breathe. As she would say, the damage was done. She would often say darn cigarettes.

My mom showed so much courage through out her battle that it was just so amazing to witness but it was heart breaking to us all. My mom eventually was on oxygen at her home. She had portable tanks that she in the beginning would get into her car and go to the store for short stints. She used to pull up at my work in her car and she would call me from her cell phone and say, Hi honey, are the other boys in the office too? She was referring to two of my brothers that worked with me. She said come out to the car, they had sales at the store so I picked up stuff for all your families with my coupons, hurry because your father is probably getting worried he’s going to kill me .LOL My mom as she would say, just kept on trucking along. So loving, so generous. As she was ready to leave the parking lot she would blow me a kiss and to tell the boy’s the same, I know that there was no way that she could carry those bags and place them in her car, there must have been an angel loading them at the store for her. I would alway’s start to say mom, this is too much and she would flail her hand at me and smile. She then took her index finger put it straight up over her lips and gently shushed me. She then would do a 10 point turn in my driveway before she left. She did it her way 🙂 My brothers would walk into the office and say whats this, meaning all th bags? And, I said mom was here and sends her love eachone of us has bags here and theres chicken packages and stuff in the refrigerator too. My brothers would look at me and would fill up with emotion then each one would call my mom to thank her. She was Christ in motion. The progression of COPD to full blown emphysema was slow and steady. In about 2008 she was now pretty much in the house, she started to attend St. Eulalia Parish for church because it was easier for her to park and get in to the sanctuary. Plus outside of the church is a large statue of the Blessed Mother so when she was too tired to walk etc, my sister would take her up and sit in front of our Blessed Mother and do the Rosary. It brought here so much confort and joy .

My Father, prayed with my mother everday and she was suffering you could see it but she would say I am fine and smile. She would say offer up the stuff. She did her St. Raphael oil from the healing ministry at church and the prayers etc. We did it with her all as a family when we were together. You see, Prayer to us is not an embarassing thing. It was not ackward. It was no accident that God selected my dad for her and gave her the 5 children that she was told that she would never have. We were there to comfort, honor her, and love her in the time of her need as God was preparing her for her salvation and glory that awaited her, God himself. She had her Christian music on and watched a little tv, EWTN etc. She was more of a reader always looking to read something. A very bright women. The last movie that I remember her seeing in the theatre was I belive Jaws. LOL More importantly she had all of her family surrounding her as she so richly deserved.

When I see people regardless of their age smoking, I always think, God I wish those things were outlawed. Especially seeing what it does to beautiful people. My mom did not deserve it thats for sure, I will continue this shortly .

God Bless You !

Dr. Cohen presents  “Smoking Stinks”

 

A song for my mom. We need to remember and celebrate those that we love. Amen 🙂

 

Another Miracle from God happened this evening that I will share shortly. As I have said before God is closing the circle in so many of our lives right know. bringing people back together it is breath taking to watch and experience.

God loves us all so much, and wants the best for us.

Love and Blessings,

Danny