In 2010, at the age of 38, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given a short life expectancy. The illness was very painful. I had convulsions, which felt

like electric shocks going all through my body. I pursued treatment—surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—and my body didn’t handle that too well, either.

The tumor returned more aggressively in 2013. Again: surgery, chemo, radiation, and again: You’re not going to live. At most you have six weeks. None of the treatments were working. They discharged me and gave me the option to go into hospice, but my mother brought me home instead.

When someone gets a diagnosis, they are especially vulnerable at this time. They think, “What am I going to do?” “Who will take care of me?” If there is an option to take a pill to kill themselves, they could really feel like it is their only option. This is why it is so dangerous. When I was very sick, the doctor told me I was going to die and asked me if I wanted to give up. This was so confusing, and I was discouraged. If there had been a pill I could take…well, I didn’t want to suffer.

But my mother said, “Let’s pray, and let’s see what will happen when we pray.” And the whole community of St. Raphael’s gathered around me to pray—they came to our house in the day and in the night. I received communion every day, and each time I felt stronger. The priests came with their holy oils to anoint me, and I began to get better.

Minelly Villareal was a parishioner of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland. In 2010, Minelly was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Minelly passed away on April 25, 2016, with her loving family by her side, but during her illness, she wrote this reflection on how it helped her to understand how God has always been with her, even when she didn’t realize it.

Before, I had been almost in a coma. I couldn’t even swallow. The power of prayer is amazing.

God will always bring into your life the people you need to overcome your difficulties. One doctor in particular was one of those great helpers that God placed in my life for me. He gave me and my entire family all the support and care that we needed. He fought to get me the best treatment I could possibly get. I know God put him there because of his kindness and incredible help through my journey. God will always send help, always put the right people in your path, and always lead you closer to Him.

In order to deal with this trial, I have held tight to my cross. Pain is part of life, and through the witness of the love and care of everyone around me, I knew that God was with me every step of the way. Every time that I felt pain, I meditated on the cross. I put myself on the cross, and in this way I could identify with the Lord. It was intense and beautiful at the same time.

Every day I realize more and more that God will never leave us nor forsake us. There will be times in your life when you are lost and scared and don’t think there’s anybody there with you. But I’ve realized that God has always been here with me. Even when I didn’t see Him and didn’t think He was there, He was. He was here saying, “It’s okay, I’m

By Minelly Villareal

He is always with Me

transformfear.org

even when I didn’t see Him and didn’t think He was there, He was. He was here saying, “It’s okay, I’m here, I love you. Don’t worry, it will be fine.”

here, I love you. Don’t worry, it will be fine.”There was a time when I thought less of myself because

I wasn’t working or producing anything. But I have realized there is nothing wrong with receiving help, and I stopped feeling bad about it. Humility is a gift that comes from the Holy Spirit, so you need to accept it and say, “Yes, thank you God, for all the things you are giving me.”

Even though I’m in a wheelchair, I still go out. My family and I go to restaurants, and we have a lot of fun. We sing, we laugh, we listen to music—we enjoy ourselves. Life is a beautiful gift that God has given us—a very precious gift.

Now I’ve been diagnosed with a third tumor. With every new challenge I say: don’t give up. Fight until the end. We are all soldiers of Christ, and it is important for people to know that God will not leave you alone. He will be with you through other people. He will give you strength you didn’t know you had. The power of God is amazing.

My sister’s legacy is....“Never give up, trust in God, and be thankful for the Lord’s Mercy.”

In September 2015, Minelly had a third brain surgery. The prognosis was devastating, but Minelly never stopped fighting for her life, always trusting God.

Minelly’s disease, suffering, and journey, unified our family giving us the privilege to be by her side during the most difficult time of her life and to grow in God’s faith together. We learned from her that there is no reason to be scared of suffering because the presence of God is real in the moments of tribulation.

Thanks to our merciful God, the St. Raphael’s community, our family, and our friends’ continuous prayers, support, and unconditional love, Minelly went to the presence of the Lord in peace. Minelly passed on April 25th, 2016. Her legacy: “Never give up, trust in God, and be thankful for the Lord’s Mercy.”

Maria Orozco, Minelly’s sister

Prayer to St. Joseph

O Blessed St. Joseph, who breathed your last breath in the arms of Jesus and Mary, obtain for me the grace of a peaceful death. Defend me from the attacks of my enemy in my final hours, to which I now invite you, that you may assist me by your presence and protect me by your powerful intercession.Obtain for me this grace, O holy St. Joseph, that I may breathe forth my soul in praise, saying in spirit, if I am unable to do so in words: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.” Amen.

What is palliative care?Palliative care is intended to relieve suffering during an illness. While not guaranteed to completely take away all suffering, it can make difficult symptoms manageable. Palliative care can be administered to patients at any point during their illness.

Palliative care includes:• Treating every person as a unique case• Nausea management• Shortness of breath management• Anxiety management• Depression treatment• Pain management• Hunger management• Medicating WITHOUT the goal of ending life;

however, at times, as Pope Saint John Paul the Great affirmed in Evangelium Vitae, it is licit to relieve pain by narcotics, even when the result is decreased consciousness and a shortening of life. * *Pope Saint John Paul the Great. Evangelium Vitae 65

90% of hospitals operated by the Catholic Church offer palliative care

Center to Advance Palliative Care, capc.org

#AlwaysDignified

The Archdiocese of Washington’s Transform Fear resources are designed to help you understand the Church’s teachings on end of life issues, gain practical information about preparing for the end of life, and reflect on what it means to have a hopeful and holy death. These fliers focus on the dangers posed by physician assisted suicide.