the final hours…
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| This photo was taken September 2014. Jessica is on the left wearing the USNA shirt. |
Miss Courtney will be in the arms of Our Lord within the next day. The “death rattle” has been present in her chest for several hours now and her breathing labors more and more. Her lips, fingers and toes all show the signs of death fast approaching.
My Mom is holding her now and Handel’s “Messiah” is quietly playing on the iPod. There are so many of you praying my daughter to heaven that I wanted you to know the journey is almost over.
Just keep praying for peace. It is coming my friends. It is coming for my girl very soon.
I also wanted to share this beautiful testimony written by my sweet niece Jessica. She is my brother Joe’s eldest daughter and my Courtney has made a permanent place in her heart.
“For those of you who don’t know this already, my cousin is dying. She has been for the past few months. While most people would be pretty upset and sad about this (and trust me, I’ve had my moments), I’m choosing not to be anymore.
I look at her life and all I see is a beautiful story of a girl who has fought her whole life and who deserves to have her peace. I see happiness and struggles and through it all, God’s love and light shining through constantly. Part of this is because of people I don’t even know. People who have seen my aunt’s blog and heard their story and who have prayed for us and who have reached out in the most amazing ways to help in any way they can. Because of my cousin’s life and her incredible story, God has been able to touch hundreds of lives.
Not only has He blessed those directly affected by Courtney’s life, but He has also blessed those who walk the journey with us thousands of miles away. To these people I want to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart thank you. Most of you will never see this but I hope that you know how much my family appreciates your prayers and your support in all it’s forms. God bless you When I take a step back and look at this whole picture, I stand in awe.
God may not be working the miracle we have all been hoping and praying for for 22 years, that Courtney may be healed and live, but He is definitely working a miracle in other ways.
I’m so proud of you Court I love you so very much and I know that I will miss you more than you can know and that it will be extremely difficult when you leave, but God is holding you securely in His arms. Him and Grandpa Green are looking down on you and smiling. They give you the strength to keep fighting another hour, another day. I know God has a perfect plan for you and I know we’re all worn out on this side of heaven, but we continue to trust Him and His beautiful plan for you. Just know that whenever it is time, we’ll be ok.
You have so many people waiting to welcome you with open arms into heaven and we will love and pray you into them. We’ll never forget you Court and the amazing impact you have left on this world will live on forever. We will cry, we will smile, and we will support each other the rest of the way through this journey and beyond, just like we always have. Don’t you worry about us Keep carrying out our Father’s plan for you and we’ll keep on supporting you. Boy heaven doesn’t know what it’s in for when you get there. They ain’t seen nothin yet.
You will finally be free from all the things that bound you here on earth. I know we will all be celebrating with you from here. I’m so excited for you to experience that Take care of everyone up there for us, all the cousins and my siblings that we never got to meet. I know they’ll be happy to have someone to play with I am glad you’re not in pain anymore and I just want you to know that I love you You will always be a part of my life, of who I am.
You taught me so much about faith and love and I wouldn’t trade the years I’ve been able to spend with you for the world.” Jessica
These moments we are having now are true miracles, gifts from our daughter to us as she leaves this world to return to her Beloved.
We are blessed beyond measure and we are humbled to be in the presence of a saint on her final journey home.
Blessings,
That was beautiful. Prayers continuing to be said for you all.
Such beautiful words–thank you for sharing that with us! And it has been a privilege to be able to share this journey with you, I for one am grateful that you have all been so willing to open your lives, your hearts to people you don't know. I've found this to be a tiny sharing in the entire Communion of Saints! May God be with Courtney, and all of you, in the coming days.
My family continues to pray for you during this Advent. You are beautiful people and true Icons towards the Father. Blessings from the Mangiones
I have a candle lit for you in my kitchen window. We continue to wrap your family in our prayers.
Such a beautiful, heartfelt testimony from a lovely young woman. I continue to hold all of you in my prayers.
I am praying for you all, Mary! I was reading your and Courtney's story yesterday, and I am struck by how much beauty and grace Courtney brought to this world. Many prayers for peace…
So beautiful. Thank you for sharing. We are praying.
Prayers for Courtney as she makes this last transition from this life onto the next. Prayers for all of you during this time. Our Lady will be waiting to receive her Christmas Eve. What a special day to go to heaven.
Did Jessica go to Navy?
Also, this spoke to me as so heartfelt. I loved the smiles on everyone while you held your girl
Praying for precious Courtney. How beautiful her homecoming will be!
For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Prayers for the final step in Courtney's journey. Thank you for taking the time to update us and for the privilege of praying along with you.
Beautiful letter. I am praying for you. I look forward to asking Courntey for her intercession for the nonverbal children I work with.
Beautiful!
I haven't commented here before, but I have been following. I will continue to pray for all of you, and especially for Courtney. God bless you all.
<3 *tears* <3
Mary and family, keeping silent prayerful vigil for you all. Thank you for being a hero and champion of the sanctity of life! Love and prayers, David Costanzo and family
Beautiful post, so touching. God bless you all. May His peace be with you.
Father bring Miss Courtney home!!! And peace for her and her family. In Jesus precious Name.
Thank you for sharing Courtney with so many! Blessings to you all!
We are praying! God bless you all.
What beautiful words from her cousin. Aching and rejoicing but most of all praying with you.
So beautiful. What a blessed family! And you all have taught us all so much. God bless you all with His abundant peace.
I have been following your story since a friend posted a request for prayers for you all on Facebook. I wanted to know your story, so I read through your earliest posts. Such a beautiful story, even in the very difficult moments. The world would look at Courtney and see a lack of life, of usefulness, potential and meaning. Courtney -and you all-have shown us that every life has a purpose and plan from God. Even this waiting which has been so difficult has it's meaning and purpose, rooted in the will of God. What a testimony to the world. I hadn't posted before but wanted to let you know of my prayers for you all. May God's peace and mercy be with you.
Making my daily offering for your whole family today. Praying for peaceful passage for Courtney, for job for Jerry, and peace and acceptance as your family begins a new stage of life moving on without your dear girl. Lovingly, Christine and family.
Your Courtney will always be in my heart and your family in my prayers. You are truly an amazing example of Faith and motherhood. I will ask your small Saint Courtney to intercede for my daughter Courtney who has autism and cannot speak for herself. Holy Mary Mother of God pray for us………………
God Bless you all!
Renee
Such a beautiful message from Jessica. Holding your family in our thoughts and prayers over the coming hours and days. Can you imagine what her first days in heaven are going to be like? To be there to celebrate Jesus's birthday? What a party must be! May He continue to give you peace and comfort.
Beautiful. My little prayers have been and are with all of you.
Praying!
You have my prayers (and waterworks).
Praying… Chaplet of Divine Mercy. And for Courtney to intercede for my son.
I have this picture in my mind of Courtney running into Our Lady's arms… Then they sit by each other heads together holding hands… Talking about things and your Courtney is loosed from her earthly body and just dancing around not burdened by the pain of her poor little body any more!!! O wow if you don't mind I will keep that picture in my heart because I believe what yall are feeling now is only granted to a special few… Holding on to a saint in her last hours on earth. Praying for courage,peAce acceptance and no regrets… Yall have done so much for her in her 22 years… She was blessed to have saints on earth caring for her……praying in Louisiana!
Will join in the prayers and have asked another to pray and she will. My heart goes out to you all. I have a 27-year old special needs son so I understand.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Courtney is touching so many lives. Keeping your family in my prayers as she is loved into the arms of those waiting for her in heaven. May Jesus fill your hearts with peace!
Continued prayers for Courtney and the family as she prepares for the next side of her journey. This letter from her cousin is beautiful and reminds me of the story my mother would tell about what she believed about death — the crossing is like going to the biggest and best family reunion of your life where everyone is the best version of themselves.
Prayers for peace, for you all as Courtney is welcomed home.
So beautiful…continuing to pray…she must be preparing for Jesus' birthday party…making sure every last minute job is taken care of for the King of Kings…my heart hurts with you and simultaneously awaits the rejoicing Courtney will soon experience! Love ~Charlene
My husband and I are praying for you in this different sort of silent night…holy night.
Praying, and thank you for sharing that from Jessica, so so beautiful!
It looks like beautiful Courtney wants to spend Christmas with her Heavenly Spouse. I cannot imagine anything more beautiful. You and your family are in my prayers.
How appropriate that Courtney would choose Christmas to go from one mother's arms to another! I pray for peace for all of you on this Christmas Eve.
It has been an honor to love Courtney through your words, please know we hold her in our hearts and our prayers as she makes her way home.
A mutual friend of ours shared your blog with me, and I've been reading it every
Pressed submit too soon…I've been reading it every day for a week. I am so touched by your story, and will continue to pray for Courtney as the Lord welcomes her home.
Praying and thinking of you all here in northeast Kansas. Peace… Suzanne
Mary, I found your blog a few weeks ago and have been silently following it ever since. Your posts are both incredibly beautiful and sad, your tremendous faith and love so powerful! Thank you for sharing Courtneys incredible journey, God bless her and your entire family. Praying with you all. xXx
Praying for you all Mary, you all are so beautiful.
Wishing you and your family peace.
So beautiful, Mary. Thank you for sharing, and prayers coming!
Only the wisdom of faith can ease the emotional pain of loosing the physical presence of a loved one who has went on to join the heavenly host in everlasting life in heaven, and even allow us to celebrate that final homecoming.