My dear friend, Susan died yesterday on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Susan was a truly beautiful soul. She was my Spiritual Guide for a while during a time when I was needing help growing in my Faith.
Susan fell ill more than 13 weeks ago with what was thought to be an ordinary sinus infection. But Susan didn't get better. She suddenly began to have seizures. Within a couple of days, the doctors here were unable to control her seizures and she was flown to the Mayo Clinic. She was kept in a medically-induced coma while the doctors tried everything they could think of. They never did find a cause for her seizures, except that it appears that something triggered Susan's immune system to attach the limbic system of her brain.
She leaves behind her husband Todd who is devastated. I asked their daughter how long they had been together and she told me that Todd had given Susan a necklace with a note in sixth grade! They have four children here on earth and three (I think) that were born into heaven. I guess Susan has finally gotten to see those little ones she never got to hold here on earth.
They received so many graces while Susan was in the hospital, which is a beautiful Catholic hospital in the Mayo Clinic system. Their youngest son even made his First Holy Communion in his mother's hospital room. They received excellent spiritual care from a couple of holy priests. Susan was even able to receive the Precious Blood of Christ through her feeding tube several times.
Her passing was peaceful, with her whole family present. I am sure she was doing Christ's work even in her coma and that she is experiencing eternal glory with him in Heaven.
I will be making some Millecosedde Soup from the recipe she gave me when she brought a big pot of it over after my youngest was born. She also brought a pot of homemade chicken noodle one winter when my husband had pneumonia.
I am so happy that her suffering is over now, but I will miss her.
Please pray for Susan and her family. Hug your family and friends. We never know how long we have here to love.
