Wednesday, October 08, 2008

With Mamãe in my mind and heart today

I love this picture of my parents--in 1947. Mamãe is in the hospital today and prayers and thoughts are flowing from my heart and mind.

If you have a minute, say an Ave Maria with me!

Update October 9: I want to thank everyone for the beautiful outpouring of emails yesterday with prayers for my mom. I just now read an email report form my oldest brother who was with her for most of the day yesterday. Mom has been suffering for a while and the tests show she must have had a "silent" heart attack a while back, but never knew due to her diabetes. Doctors are recommending a quadruple bypass and my brother says that although the surgery is quite common the most dangerous thing is the post-surgery period. We don't have a date for the surgery yet, and she will remain in Intensive Care until then, with very limited visitation. My sister said the three hospitals--one where she is, one she was yesterday for exams and the one where she will have surgery-- are all Catholic: Saint Lucas, Saint Catherine and Saint Theresa. May all of these great saints intercede for her!

I want to add a bit about my mom: many of you have heard me speaking about what a great woman she is. Her strong spirit and unshakable faith are two of her beautiful qualities and all of us who know her are aware of how important these are right now! Mom has spent her whole life giving: giving birth to ten children and adopting another one, teaching, educating, and feeding the poor who have always lined up at the doors of every house she has lived in. May God, in His Infinite Mercy, reward now her great heart and grant that she will still have many peaceful years in this life with better health and loving children and grandchildren at her side.

30 comments:

love2learnmom said...

Beautiful photo! I will pray Ana.

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

Thanks from the heart!
Ana

Suzanne Temple said...

Such an adorable couple. You have a prayer from me as well.

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

Yes, Suzanne-- I looove the photo. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Dear Ana,

I am praying for your Mom and for all of you. You can be assured of our support in prayer. I know that this must be a hard time for you, for I know from personal experience what it is like not to be able to be present when my mother was sick.

God Bless You,
C. T.

Anonymous said...

I saw Ginger and Phyllis and asked them to pray too. Sister Alma sat next to me in Mass and I asked her too...we are storming the gates on behalf of your beloved!

Keep me posted.


G.

Anonymous said...

You are all remembered in my special prayers today -- thanks so much for coming down to Lincoln to share in my ordination joy - thanks, too, for the beautiful hand-made card (!), as well as for your lovely photos, thoughtful blog entry, and, most importantly, faithful prayers of your family over these several years!

What a treasure!

I still remember the first time I met your husband - we never made it past the front door of the McNeelys, and when John P. happened by an hour or so later and espied us in the very same location, he quipped with his usual rapier wit, "Oh, no, the Johnnies have found one another - now you'll never get them to stop talking!"

Outrageous!

Love and prayers,

B.

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

It is days like these when we truly give thanks to God for friends! Thank you and God bless each one of you!

Anonymous said...

Yes! I'll offer Communion for your mother today! Many many prayers coming your way! Sarah M.

Anonymous said...

Our prayers are with you! - Ruth

Anonymous said...

We are thinking of you and hoping your mother is doing better soon.

Anonymous said...

Aninha,
I'm so sorry, I do know what you must be feeling. I have said a prayer for all of you and will continue to do so. Sending lots of love from Albuquerque!
XOXO
Sarah and Marisol (Albert's out of town..)

Anonymous said...

We are all praying here--God be with you all.

Anonymous said...

Ana,
your family is in our prayers.
Maria

Anonymous said...

Oh, Ana, I am so sorry to hear this. Our prayers will definitely be sent up for the Braga family. Please keep us posted.

M.

Anonymous said...

We will be praying for her and all of you.

Jan

Anonymous said...

Ana, I just opened my email...I am so sorry to hear this news; Mary and I will go right to prayer.
God bless you with His Trusting Peace
C.

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

I cannot express, without shedding tears, how much all of your prayer-ful emails has filled my heart with hope and faith today. May God bless each one of you. I am adding them here one by one so I can always remember this most prayer-ful, friend-full day!

Anonymous said...

Ana,

Prayed a decade of the rosary for your mom in the car...the resurrection. May God bless you with peace!

Tammy

Anonymous said...

Dear Ana and all, will be praying with you for your Mom (and Dad) and everyone ...love you, ss

Anonymous said...

Ana,
We will continue to pray for your mom. She and little Marie Breda have been on my heart today.
God bless you,
Shannon

Anonymous said...

Ana,
I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I'm sure the distance makes this an especially difficult time for you. You will all be in our family's prayers. I have a favorite novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe that I will begin today for your mom and your family. Love, Janel

Anonymous said...

I'm glad your mom seems better. I remember how horrible it was when my mom was in the hospital a few years ago. Every time I thought of you today, I said a prayer for your mother.

We all will remember her in our prayers tonight before bed.

Anonymous said...

Dear Ana,
Your mom and family are in our prayers. Thank you for keeping us posted and we will just keep praying.
Love,
Dawn

Anonymous said...

We included your Mother and family in our family Rosary tonight.

Anonymous said...

You can be sure that she and all of the family are in Tom's and my prayers. Do keep us posted and updated.

Anonymous said...

So glad that you have given us an update. Our prayers will continue for you all. Please know you are in my thoughts through out the day and as I awake at night. Your mother is such a lovely human being. I know that God is with her.

Anonymous said...

Ana,



It is so important the love and faith a mother passes onto her children. It shapes who they become. I have been praying for your mother, you, and your family.



Dave

Ana Braga-Henebry said...

Thank you to all of you-- and the others who have called!

RunningCatholic said...

LOVE THE PICTURE! SO CUTE!