I dedicated today’s yoga classes to my sister Toni and all who are currently suffering from COVID-19. Toni was diagnosed with COVID-19 eleven days ago and has been fighting for her life since then. Her left lung partially collapsed yesterday and her right lung partially collapsed today. She had emergency surgery today and is now on a ventilator.
The worst part of Toni’s situation is that, other than medical staff, no one is allowed to be with her. Absolutely no one. Toni suffered brain damage as a child and is, in some ways, much like an eight year-old girl in a 67 year-old woman’s body. Knowing that she is alone is by far the most painful part of this whole experience.
For now, she is sedated and resting. We have complete trust in the medical staff tending to her. Plus, we have a mountain of healing thoughts and prayers being said for her.
Here is what my friend Jerry wrote and I couldn’t agree more:
The world needs Toni and people like her to teach us about compassion, loyalty, family, and overcoming challenges.
Toni is, among other talents, the Best Potato Salad Maker in the Universe. And she makes great salads, too. Below is Toni’s Potato Salad Recipe. Actually it is my mom’s recipe, but Toni mastered it and since mom is not around anymore, we will give this one to Toni!
Who doesn’t love potato salad? Right up there with Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad is pure comfort food. Perfect for Pandemic Times. I have listed the ingredients and you will have to figure out how many potatoes you want and how much mayonnaise you’d like to add, etc. Be creative.
Toni’s Potato Salad / L’Insalata di Patate d’Antonietta
Potatoes (Boil potatoes with the skins on them. Cool the potatoes. Peel them. Cut them.
Hard Boiled Eggs (Cool the eggs, peel them, slice and chop them, save some slices for garnish)
Celery (Sliced thin and chopped fine)
Green onion (Scallions) sliced
Mayonnaise
Mustard (maybe 1 teaspoon)
Salt and Pepper
Paprika to sprinkle over the top
Below: Toni with big cuddly Teddy Bear, nephew Adam Stanley
i love the pictures of Toni, especially of the 4 sisters and with the potato salad. I always considered my mother’s potato salad the very best. Funny thing: it’s exactly the same as your mother’s! (Occasionally I switch to “patatas al alioli” (tons of fresh garlic & parsley -and potato- w/ home-made mayo, but I always come back to this recipe. My mom, from Bangor Maine, couldn’t boil an egg when she got married, but she became a great cook in Wisconsin. That doesn’t explain the similarity b/c your mom wasn’t from the Midwest. Hmmmm. Oh well, I can attest to it’s being really good.
With all the medical care, concer, support, and love, I have to believe that Toni will be a little stronger and more stable tomorrow than today and that she will make it. 💖💖💖💖💖
But wait!! Suzy, my mom lived in Indiana for 45 years of her life! So she certainly learned to make potato salad in Indiana. There is a Sicilian potato salad made with garlic and vinegar…but this particular recipe, Toni’s recipe now, is so simple and so good. So your mom learned to make this dish in the Midwest in Wisconsin and my mom in the Midwest in Indiana! So!!! Thank you for your lovely comments. Love, Fran
Toni is so lucky to have you, Nora, and Zina as sisters. You all keep all of the rest of us pumped up and praying for Toni and sending her love and positive energy.
God Bless you Toni. To the power of healing prayers and thoughts for you and your amazing family. XOXO
Love this, she’d be beaming with pride if she knew that you were bragging on her and her delicious salad making skills of many kinds! I look to the day that she gives us that big beautiful smile again! I keep giving Toni shout outs saying stay strong Toni, your going to get through this, we love you!
Thank you for including us in your family’s travail. We are all in this crazy potato salad of a time, hoping for nourishment in pulling together, even if from afar. Love to you and Toni and anyone suffering with COVID-19.
Oh Fran! Sending healthy vibes to your sister and to your whole family. Boy this year really bites to big one!
I love potato salad and will have to give this recipe a try. What a nice tribute.
Beautiful Fran, I hope writing this gave you some comfort. So unfair for this to happen to Toni, who is so loving and innocent. She has so much to give to the world. I love what Jerry said about her. Love to you and Rick❤️❤️❤️
How sad for you, Fran, to watch your dear sister suffer from Covid! I wish her well, and you, too, as you cope with this unfortunate outcome.
Her salad recipe sounds delicious! I will try it!