Paul Stachel called me a few weeks back to discuss Nitalia and the direction our lives had suddenly taken.
First, let me say that I only know Paul in passing. But by the end of this phone call, I felt a brothership with him that I have rarely felt in my life. He spoke to me with the sort of knowledge that only comes from experience. I know most of you know about his families battle with cancer and the miracle that the good lord had granted them. Samantha is a true inspiration.
Paul had mentioned that he was going to plan a hike with some of Nitalia’s classmates and also was going to dedacate his soccer teams tournament to Nitalia. The idea was simply beautiful. This would give Nitalias friends a chance to be a part of her recovery as well as teach how important life is. Paul went out of his way to make this an event for the kids. He even had shirts printed for the kids and their parents. Then he sent us some here in Memphis!
When we told Nitalia about Paul’s plan she got a HUGE smile. Just knowing that she was on the minds of her classmates made her feel so special. The hike was a great success. Thank you to ALL that took the time to share in our journey. We love you all.
Paul…I cannot thank you enough for all that you do for our family. Not just the example of going the extra mile to help a family in crisis, but also to take the time to explain and teach the children how precious life and friendship is.
I have a new friend…His name is Paul Stachel
Thanks For The Shirts!!!
Below is the thank you letter Paul sent out to the families that participated in the hike:
__________________________________________________
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
Dear Stallions, Gators, and Friends,
WOW! You all are amazing! With your compassion for Nitalia Conti, you raised and donated so far $4,716 for the Conti Family and donations are still coming in. We expect to well exceed $5,000 by the end of the week. This is a true testament of the strength of a community working together for a worthwhile purpose. Each of you (whether you were at the hike and/or party in spirit or in person or both) was an integral part of the effort and on behalf of the Conti Family thank you for your hard work, wishes, generosity, and prayers.
For those of you who attended the hike and gathering, we hope you enjoyed it. Words cannot come close to describe the tremendous energy that was created by the events on January 31. This incredible aura was only possible because of the immeasurable spirit and joy that each of you brought with you that day. Your attention was in the true spirit of the day – so congratulations on a job well done.
We can only hope that Nitalia’s journey and this day shifted something inside each of us that even if it was just for that moment……that moment up at the top of the mountain when a community of classmates held hands praying for their friend and asking to find the most meaningful treasurers from the experience.
So each classmate should feel very proud of the effort they put forth raising money, climbing a mountain, and praying. Writing a check is easy charity – working for their friend is love. Awesome job!!!! And thank you for your hard work.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller
Below is the prayer done on top of the mountain:
“At a time in our life when things were very unclear to our family, our daughter drew a picture of our family holding hands under the canopy of a beautiful rainbow. We knew in our hearts that she was telling us that, while our path was unclear, there would be light to guide us and to be aware of all the rainbows before us and within us. Our prayer for Nitalia and her family today and always is that as things seem unclear, illuminate your path with the light from inside of you and from your family, friends, and your community here today.”
Said as a Community:
We join our hearts and hands
We ask that Nitalia’s body return to God’s perfection
And may all of us involved gain the wisdom we need from this experience.
“While you have a thing it can be taken from you… but when you give it, you have given it. No robber can take it from you. It is yours then for ever when you have given it. It will be yours always. That is to give.” James Joyce
Feel free to allow your child to read this message and a big thanks to all of them!!!!
Thank you,
Stallions and Gators
Hi Angel,
What a great thing this man did for you. I am at work and read this and was crying. The people at work think i am a nut, when they look over at me and i am crying. Then they know i am on your site and they understand. I loved the pictures of you and your sisters. I am glad your day turned out to be easy yesterday. Hope today is the same. Tiff and i put gold hoop earings on the baby and now i call her little greeseball baby. She is so fat and so cute you just want to bite her. I will give her and Mikey big kisses from you. Every time i go on the computer to send you a message, when i am at home Mikey draws you pictures. I will save them for You. If i get time i may mail them to you. Well got to go do some work. I am thinking and praying for you all the time. Hugs and kisses to all. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I LOVE THIS FAMILY SOOOO MUCH AND I ENJOY TAKING CARE OF NITALIA. THEY ARE MY FAMILY AWAY FROM HOME. THE GIRLS ARE SO LOVELY AND VERY WELL MANNERED. MOM AND DAD ARE ALWAYS FULL OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER. THANKS MOM FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS ABOUT ST. JUDE AND ME. I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WHENEVER YOU NEED ME. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND PLEASE COME VISIT ME WHENEVR YOU WANT TO. LOVE AND KISSES TO YOU NITALIA AND YOUR SISTERS XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Hi Nitalia,
Wow, just when I think that your spirit has touched so many in Memphis, I read that your loving energy is still working it’s magic here in Arizona. You are the most inspirational little lady in the world!! God is using you in more ways than you can imagine. I believe that you will be healed and restored, but you will be forever transformed by the universe. Your spirit can transend this earthly world and summon the angels in the heavens to stir the souls of the multitudes of who only need to hear your name to act with love.
There is a catholic saint, St. Peregrine Laziosi who is the patron saint of those with Cancer, his story is pretty amazing : Tradition has it that the night before surgery was scheduled Peregrine spent much time in prayer before the crucified Jesus, asking God to heal him if it was God’s will to do so. Falling asleep at one point, Peregrine had a vision of the crucified Jesus leaving the cross and touching his cancerous leg. When Peregrine awoke, the wound was healed and his foot and leg, seemingly miraculously cured, were saved. He lived another 20 years.
Now there is a visualization for you, know that Jesus would do the same for you.
I love you sweetheart, and am continually sending out positive prayers and thoughts through the universe directly to you. So when you feel a soft breeze brush by your cheek, know in your heart that it is my love blowing in the wind to find you.
All my love,
Aunt Mimi xoxo
Hi Nitalia and the rest of the Conti family. Chase and Sammy and Jim and I hiked for you last Saturday and truly felt that you were there with us. During the hike we talked about your return to Scottsdale and that we would hike the mountain again when you return healed… Looking forward to it. We pray for you all daily and wish you a speedy recovery and return to Arizona! God Bless.
Hi Nitalia,
Just visiting your site after sooooo long! The new update is really amazing. I also just wanted to wish you a Happy Groundhog’s Day AND a Happy Black History Month!! Did you see the groundhog’s shadow? I think we did.
Well I gotta go now but I just wanted to say I (we) all miss you and can’t wait for you to return! Keep walking with the Lord!
Kathy
(The Riveras)
Wait! I almost forgot!!!
P.S.
Please, please, PLEASE HURRY and come home because EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE misses you even people who don’t write online.
WOW! What awesome friends you have Nitalia! Those shirts are pretty cool too!
What a wonderful network of people you guys have back at home…that’s really something special!
Keep on keepin cupcake!
Hi Mrs. Perkins,
Thanks for hiking for me. It sounds fun to hike the mountain when I come home. Keep the prayers coming. Thanks for writing I love reading the comments. I was wearing my shirt and thinking of you guys while you were hiking.
Love,
Nitalia
Dear Nitalia and family,
I enjoyed your new movie so much. I have been praying for you everyday, several times a day. I am so amazed by God’s love and miracles every day. I cannot wait to see each one of you and hug you !!! Our class misses you so much. I have an empty desk saved for Aviona and look forward to your return to Arizona. Keep healing and come home soon. Love you and miss you all.
Happy Valentine’s Day !!
That hike was so fun…we were thinking about you the whole time!!!! we hiked the mountain as fast as we could to help you with a speedy recovery…..and it worked!!!!! cant wait to see you at home!!!!
Love and BIG hugs
Nina
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hi Nitalia,
I need to comment on what Nina said- “hiked the mountain as fast as we could”, well, some of us had to be PUSHED up the mountain and can claim “better late than never!”. I mean pushed as in physically, not coaxed. I wanted to be there for you. Peggy Johnson, God love her, she encouraged me when it was too hard-and my asthma kicked in and we kept thinking of you and thought about what you were going through and just became strong for you!! I am hiking straight trails from now on!!
This was an amazing experience and I know Sam Perkins taped it. Hopefully you got to see the wonders of all the green shirts hiking up the montain. And, it was all for you!! Paul Stachel did an amazing job organizing this.
Love, Mrs. Solod
Sara, Noah and I had a wonderful time hiking for you. O.K. they had a wonderful time, I just prayed I would make. Every time it got tough I thought of you and all you have been through and realized how easy I had it. What an amazing spirit of community we felt as we hiked, and at the top, the love for you and your family was amazing. You are bringing people together and touching our lives, yet you aren’t even here. There is a song called “Touching Heaven, Changing Earth,” when I think of you I think of this song. You are touching heaven, bringing out angels everywhere, and you are changing earth. Not only here, but in Memphis and around the country, when people log onto your website and read your amazing story. Keep up the amazing healing, we can’t wait to see you again. And we want to hike that victory hike with you when you get back.
love,
Mrs Harpenau
Hey Nitalia!
I hope you are having a FAB-ulous time in Memphis! I can not wait until you come back. The hike was so awesome!!! I ws the first girl up and down the maountain. I do not know if I already told you this but we got a new puppy!! It is a yellow lab and her name is Ellie! She is so cute but she is so energetic!!! Well, I hope you are having a wonderful time in Memphis! I know the Lord is watching over you and will always be with you where ever you are! I love you!
Love,
Megan xoxo