The Scalia Family Gift of Hope
In 1992, the St. Peregrine Healing Ministry asked artist Peter Rentz to carve a St. Peregrine statue for use at the Ministry’s healing masses. After he completed the beautiful 41-inch statue, our family asked him to carve a second, smaller, 18-inch statue of St. Peregrine that could be used at home. Our family wished to pray to St. Peregrine daily in our home as our youngest sister, Diane, age 31, had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Tragically, we lost our beautiful and lively Diane to cancer. Shortly after, our loving and devoted mother, Tina, was diagnosed with cancer. She was a devout and deeply religious woman who never viewed her cancer as an obstacle or hindrance. Rather, our mom saw it as a way she could encourage others to have faith that God would help them through their most difficult times.
Our mother told us: "I feel the need to do something with this statue.” She decided to share our 18-inch St. Peregrine statue with people local to Western New York who were diagnosed with cancer. Our family would bring the statue along with a St. Peregrine medal and prayer cards to those who wanted the statue in their home. We found that many needed the hope and spiritual healing offered by the statue of St. Peregrine.
We also provided a journal where families could write down their feelings and their thoughts. This journal was shared with other families that requested the statue. While she quietly fought her own battle with cancer, Tina visited over 160 families. She was able to relate to them and gave comfort where she could.
In 2009, in the company of her family, Tina passed away. Prior to Tina’s passing her middle daughter, Lynne was diagnosed with cancer. Six months later her oldest daughter, Karen, was also diagnosed. As a legacy to our mother and following our own belief in the importance of faith in healing, we continue to travel throughout the area to share the “traveling” St. Peregrine statue with those in need.
Our hope is that our family’s experience with cancer allows us to relate to both patients and families on an empathetic, compassionate level. We understand what a cancer patient experiences both physically and emotionally. We sympathize and offer advice to those family members who are caregivers. It is our mission to visit families to provide support. We want to let you know that you are not alone.
Our experience with cancer has taught us not to allow this disease to define us or defeat us. We encourage those afflicted with cancer and their families to consider the following suggestions for living with cancer.
Find spiritual comfort and hope in faith and prayer to St. Peregrine
Enjoy today to its fullest and look forward to tomorrow
Surround yourself with positive people – find friends that make you laugh and allow you to forget your illness
Help and give of yourself to those less fortunate than you.
And finally - realize your limitations – you can’t do everything, but everything you do – do it with love.