Sunday, January 10, 2010

Jessica Turns 22 in 5 Days!!! Today I Turn 51 !!!

Hi everyone,

To view Jessica on Fox TV, Click on Link Below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW_vstm0bS8


Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Today is my birthday. It was 51 years ago today, that I came into the world. At the time, my parents lived in an apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. I was born into a nice Italian family- to parents with real Italian names - Salvatore & Josephine! I was their third child, my sister Caroline and my brother Vincent came before me, and after me came my brother Charles. We were all named after our grandparents, only my mom "americanized" our names from Carolina, Vincenzo, Serafina, and Calogero respectively!

I must say that God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family and a wonderful life. Yes, there were sad times ( the passing away of my Dad at 61 and my brother Charlie at 40) and then there were happy times (the births of my three daughters - Jessica, Katherine & Michelle). I thank God for being an ever present - "presence" - in my life, especially these past 10 years, with my husband David's illness and now with Jessica's illness as well!

I also want to thank all of you - my dear family & friends - for being with me, standing by me, loving me, supporting me, and also for "holding me up" at times --- you are all very special to me - a true gift from God!


Remember, my wish is twofold for this birthday:

1) For Jessica to be well again - free of pain and sickness!!!

2) On this Friday - January 15th - for Jessica to receive the most well wishes on the blog for her birthday as she turns 22!!!


May God bless you all!
Sarah Gina ( aka Serafina)*

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you all the desires of your heart!" (Psalm 37:4)

***To post a Comment, CLICK on Comments Below***

26 comments:

  1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH... I think back to those times in Brooklyn/Holmdel. Sunnyside Ct. held a lot of laughter and good memories. Our 2families were intertwined like spaghetti on a fork. Sarah, I am so proud of you. You were always so intense and goal oriented and taking things to completion. I give you a standing ovation for your tenacity and your actions that scream out your love, your selflessness and your determination to get Jessica well and back to all of us. I love You and I pray you have a birthday today filled with love, grace and your beautiful Jessica. All my love, Aunt Rosie

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  2. Dear Sara Gina,

    May your special day be filled with joy! You are a very unique ladie,God has blessed you in MANY ways!!My Birthday wish for you is to see some sort of improvment in Jessica today that it will lift your spirit to soaring hieghts!
    We are 1 year & 1 day apart,tomorrow is my 50th,YAHOOOO!
    Today I went to a new church here in Naples & included you both in my prayers.

    Peace to you,Jodi

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  3. Dear Sara Gina,

    May your special day be filled with joy! You are a very unique ladie,God has blessed you in MANY ways!!My Birthday wish for you is to see some sort of improvment in Jessica today that it will lift your spirit to soaring hieghts!
    We are 1 year & 1 day apart,tomorrow is my 50th,YAHOOOO!
    Today I went to a new church here in Naples & included you both in my prayers.

    Peace to you,Jodi

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  4. Happy Birthday dear friend! Love & Miss You!!
    xxoo "Cuz"

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  5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

    i wish i could throw you a huge bithday party (cause no one deserves it more than you)!..youre 51 but you dont look a day over 35!haha i love you sooo much and i hope that even tho youre stuck in that hospital that you still have a decent birthday, youll defeinitley never forget it, thats for sure hahaha

    happy birthday again and i love you very much

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  6. A very happy birthday wish to you, Sarah! I hope that today the staff and new friends in Monterrey will make you feel special and loved and cherished. You deserve so much! 51 -eh? I would not have guessed. Despite the curve balls that you have had over the last few years, you have maintained your youthfulness. How did you manage that?! :)

    Thanks for including a bit about yourself. It is really nice to learn more about you and to share in this day in some small way. Were I there, I would give you the biggest hug and congratulate you in another year blessed by God. Yes, even though this has been a hard decade, God has certainly seen you through it and that is a true blessing!

    It is my prayer that you will get your birthday wishes and then more! That God will reveal himself to you in a new and wonderful way, that you will feel His presence, concern and love over you, your family and ov er Jessica.

    Jessica: Congratulations on your mother's birthday! Today, you get the awesome chance to wish your mother a very happy birthday in person. As mother and daughter you will always have a special bond, but it is my bet that you will be even closer because of all of the challenges you have faced together. This is as much your celebration of her life a it is yours. God gave you to each other and for all the right reasons! May you feel better today and be able to share with your mom, your fondest memories of her from early childhood to right now.

    God bless you both.
    -Fern

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  7. Dear Gina: Happy Birthday. Hope the sun is shining on you today. Heard that Dave should be home today also. As usual our prayers are with all of you daily.
    Love Charlene

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  8. Dearest Gina, Happy birthday, my friend! As we were driving to church this morning, and the song "Jessica" by the Allmann Brothers Band came on the radio, I had to smile! It was another one of those signs that we know are always there! I want to wish you a happy birthday, Gina, and to align my prayers with yours on this special day that everything you wish for, you will have in abundance. God is quietly doing important and great work in Jessica's and your life right now. I pray that this work will be revealed very soon in all its glory. Gina, you have a lovely way of making us all feel important and special, and of really sharing your life with us. Your descriptions of your experiences on the blog, written with the gentle devotion of love and the deep trust of faith, read like poetry. I feel privileged to be your friend, and want to thank you for the gift of friendship you have given me. Happy birthday, Gina. God bless you today and every day. Love always, Angel

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  9. Sarah, As Fleetwood Mac said you are the poet in our hearts...a constant source of inspiration for your never ending grace and fortitude in the face of many trials. It is indeed a privilege to have spent so much time with you and Jessica, our "sweetmates" in Mexico. We wish we could be there now to share in your special day for you have such a joie de vivre and live each day to the fullest. I know how difficult it is to spend your birthday under such circumstances, but we made the best of it, celebrating with Oriental Garden's yummy Chinese food on mine, a birthday I will never forget. Hugs and kisses to you and Jessica.

    Cathy and Devon

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  10. Hola Serafina, and Jessica!
    CumpleaƱos felices Sarah Gina!!!!

    All day long I've been humming, "I know a place where we can go"....still don't know what the real name is of the tune! Just in my mind of memories in Mexico with you! My wish today is for your wishes for Jessica's pain relief and recovery to be fulfilled! With God all is possible and I trust that!

    You have been our visual path to Jessica's progress and we want to be your visual healthfelt support from afar!

    Happy Birthday dear friend. Kisses to Jessica!
    XOXO
    Nancy & Joe

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  11. Happy Birthday Gina! I hope your birthday is as special as you are. You are such an inspiration to everyone you meet. Your love, determination and spirit leave me in awe. I pray with you for Jessica's complete recovery. May you enjoy your birthday with Jessica today and look forward to many more together again with your whole family. Lots of Love my dear friend, Marianne

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  12. Happy Birthday Sara!
    I have been following your blog and admire all you have done for your daughter and family. You sound like a remarkable woman. I pray your birthday wishes come true.
    A friend in Bonita Springs

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  13. Happy Birthday, Sarah Gina!

    We will pray that you will receive the desires of your heart! And that He will bless you with even more!

    Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

    With love & prayers,
    The Turners

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  14. 51 "shout outs" to you, Gina, on your birthday! May all your wishes come true! -Jane & Steve

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  15. Thinking back to our birthday dinners out in GC. You, Ellen and me. After bashing that tennis ball we'd go out and celebrate our special day.
    Wishing you a Happy Birthday. Enjoy your day with Jessica and your new friends.
    "Make new friends and keep thee old, one is silver and the other gold."
    prayers from Saratoga,
    Linda

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  16. dear mommy,
    Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to mommy, happy birthday to youu!! I love you mommy! you are the best mom eveerrrr. you dont look a day over 20!! you'r e the besttt. happy birthday againnn! you are the best best best best best best best best bestestestest motherrrr everrrr!<333

    H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! !

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  17. Happy Birthday Honey,

    May God bless you on your day. I don't think any Hollywood screenwriter would ever come up with a script to mimic what we are going through right now.

    Suffice to say that you certainly deserve a better birthday gift than this.

    I think of you everyday. You are the glue that binds are family together.

    Lets hope that 2010 is the year of healing for Jessica and the year are family comes together again.

    No matter what happens we know that God is in control. I thank Him for you and my wonderful family everyday.

    Love your Husband


    David

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  18. Dear Gina

    Happy Birthday! May you get your wishes and may 2010 be a start to a healthy long life for all of you.
    We will continue to pray for Jessica, David, Michelle, Katherine and you.

    Happy Birthday! Tell Jessica we think about her every day.

    Paula, Ray, Ashley and Kevin

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  19. Dear Gina,

    Happy Birthday Gina! May all your Birthday Prayers and Wishes come true! You are such an inspiration to me. I admire your Faith and Inner Strength. May God Bless Jessica with His Healing Graces. May God Bless You for all you do for Jessica, your Family, and Your Friends! Thank you for sharing Jessica's journey with us. May your Family be reunited - all in Good Health in 2010. With Love, Friendship, and Prayers, Marianne E. Quinn

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  21. What does hope, steadfast perseverance , and unconditional love look like? It looks like Sarah Steven's, Jessica's unbelievable Mom, and my second Mom as I called her in Mexico. Sarah Happy Birthday, after Jessica, you're the bravest person I know. I love you and hope you and Jess are having a great day.
    love, Dev

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  22. Daer Gina,
    I am sending many Happy Birthday wishes and lots of love for your birthday today. May this new year, and yours and Jessica's birthday be the beginning of good things ahead. I pray for you all more than you can know and I pray for health and healing to come to Jessica.
    May you have peace and joy today on your birthday and in the days ahead.
    with love,
    Cathy

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  23. Happy Bithday Gina!
    Love, Nancy Ernenwein

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  24. Happy Birthday Gina and many, many more. May all your birthday wishes and prayers come true.
    Love, Dorothy & family

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  25. Happy Birthday Gina!

    My mother Minnie wishes you a very Birthday as well. She always asks about you and Jessica.

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  26. LOVE YOUR SISTER CAROLJanuary 15, 2010 at 11:13 AM

    TO MY BABY SISTER...I WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY...SO FAR AWAY...YET ALWAYS IN MY HEART...I LOVE YOU AND PROMISE THAT WE WILL MAKE UP FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAYS AND HOLIDAYS WE HACVE MISSED TOGETHER...LOVE YOU ALWAYS..YOUR SISTER...CAROL

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