MEET JO ANN MIRABELLI, SHE HAS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO SHARE
Have you complained about your quarantine? Guilty! We are missing out on so much and it’s hard to put it in perspective unless you have a personal connection to someone struggling with the symptoms; but, what about those that are just trying to “LIVE WHILE THEY CAN” -check things off their bucket list - why - because they truly know how short life is.
We last met Naperville mom and community volunteer Jo Ann Mirabelli in June 2017 when a sick twist of fate brought her 2011 cancer journey back with a vengeance, yet with grace and strength she forged ahead, humbly keeping her emotions in check by keeping it real via www.facebook.com/joannmirabelli/. She whole heartedly took her doctor’s advice to LIVE WHILE SHE CAN.
Even with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (terminal cancer which has traveled to other organs in the body), she LIVED – checking items off her Life List that hangs on her kitchen cabinet. She visited the Renaissance Fair and Japanese Gardens, hiked Waterfall Glen, climbed a gorge in New York, took a Cinderella carriage ride in Nashville; ate a rooftop brunch, saw the Blackhawks, Hamilton and Mean Girls in Chicago; smelled the tulip and lavender fields in Michigan; got lost in the sunflowers of Paris, IL; found peace in the waves of the Key West blue waters; saw the sparkle of Vegas lights; the awe of the Arizona Red Rocks of Arizona; and dreams came true on the black sand beaches of Maui. Even more personal, she watched her one daughter graduate from college and the other get married, while also enjoying her son’s swimming and high school moments.
Jo Ann was LIVING her best life even through chemotherapy; but then the stark reality of COVID-19 hit and added the infliction of isolation, which was just another dimension of hell to her cancerous life. She already knew her time was limited – the doctors said July 2021 is a long shot at best, but this is her goal. What the heck? “I had so many plans, hopes, dreams and they all are just slipping away because of COVID-19,” she shares. “People often say that “when COVID is over, they will ______”, I’m not sure I’ll be here or in any shape to truly live when COVID is over.”
She is grieving the time she is losing and wishes she could put a pause on cancer so she can live just a little more; however, she understands she must LIVE within the parameters given, so she is doing just that and traveling virtually, painting canvas’ at home; and playing games via Facetime and Zoom with family and friends. She is still LIVING - working through the good, bad and ugly of life as she knows it. A stark reminder to always LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE – no regrets – LIVE WHILE YOU CAN - - - while you still can…………………….
-Kristen Kurcharski, Photos Submitted
