I believe Toni will survive COVID-19.

I am happy to report that my sister Toni, though still in the ICU at St. Mary’s in Hobart, Indiana in critical condition, infected with COVID-19, sedated and on a ventilator, has turned a corner towards recovery. For three days in a row, we have seen baby steps towards healing. Toni will be healthy again.

I believe in miracles. (Thank you, Susan, for sending me this quote by Audrey Hepburn):

I believe in pink.

I believe in reaching out to my family and community of friends and students.

I believe in Chicken Soup for the Soul. Beth calls this “Jewish Penicillin”. Thank you, Beth, for bringing us this soul food.

I believe poems can heal the spirit.

The love of a sister
On my heart lies greatly
Now that she works so hard
In every breath she makes.

-Howard Eustis

I believe in eye-glass bending Toni-Hugs.

I believe that love, meditation, energy work, optimism, and prayer can help heal another person.

I believe in in community.

I believe in the power of words.

I spoke to Toni using the hospital iPad. She was deeply sedated, the sound of her ventilator keeping time with my breath. She looked peaceful.  I used my calmest  “shavasana” voice and asked her body to heal and told her not to be afraid. I told her she was safe. Here is Toni’s meditation.

You are going to be healthy.
Everyone is praying for you.
Our cousin Padre Vincenzo in Sicily prayed for you all day.
Every day, Nora talks to the doctors and nurses to hear about how you are doing.
We talk about all the fun things we will do when you feel better.
We need you Toni.
The world needs you Toni.
We miss you.
Right now, I want you to relax and rest.
The doctors and nurses are helping you to get healthy again.
They are very nice people.
Please don’t be afraid of them.
Your body is working so hard to be healthy again. 
Everyone loves you.
You are safe. 
You are going to live. 
Soon you will be able to breathe without the tube.
Soon you will be able to talk again.
Soon you will be able to dance again! 
You have so many get-well cards waiting for you at your house! As soon as you are better, the nurses will read the cards to you.
Your friends can’t wait to see you again. They miss your smile and your sweetness.
We are so proud of you.
You are amazing.
Remember when mom and dad used to say to us, “Curaggiu! Curaggiu!”? Well, now is the time to be brave. Curaggiu!. You can do this. We are all praying for you.
We can’t come visit you because of the virus. But we can talk to you this way. 
You don’t have to try to talk now.
You will get healthy again. There are other people who have been sick with this virus and they got better. You will get better, too. And you will go home again.
The doctors and nurses have to cover their bodies and their faces so they don’t get sick. They look strange, but they are good people. They are helping you.  Don’t be afraid of them.
They are always watching you, even if they are not in the room. 
The machine in your mouth and throat is breathing for you. Soon they will take it out and you will breathe on your own. Just relax and sleep as much as you can.
The medicines they are giving you are helping you get strong again.
We want to see you dance so get strong soon.
You are pure love. 
You are beautiful.
You are strong.
You are healthy.
We are praying for you to get well.
We love you, Toni.