Munda's Last Mile - Audio/Video

Good-bye, Munda - Photographs

On Tuesday We Celebrate a Life

Munda DiIulio passed away on Friday, September 25, surrounded by family.  Shauna sent along this information over the weekend:

The viewing is on Monday at Bethel Assembly of God from 4 pm to 8 pm.
The funeral is on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.
There will be a dinner to follow, everyone is invitied.

If you are staying at the hotel, Country Inns and Suites 717-337-9518, tell them you are here for the DiIulio funeral and the cost will be $75.00.
 
Our thoughts and prayers are with Shauna and the kids.

Keep Praying

I just talked to Munda's wife, my Aunt Shauna, to tell her that our cousins, the Muck "kids" out in Ohio, just bought five and a half miles, bringing our fundraising total to $925. "That's really great news!" she said.

Shauna sounded exhausted. When I visited them on Wednesday, Munda was aware that I was there, and even asked me for help adjusting his bed, at one point.  We watched television.  Shauna asked him questions and gave him medication.  He had a little rattle in his breath toward the end of the evening, we noticed.

Yesterday, Munda fought really hard.  He's getting weaker and weaker.  He is no longer alert, although the nurses say he can still hear.  His breathing was very quick last night, and they changed his medication dosage.  Shauna told me that she is constantly listening for his breathing - "like when you have a baby in the house."

"He's really brave," I observed on Wednesday.  Shauna replied, "You know, through all of this he has never complained, not once."

Today at 11 their favorite preacher will stop by, as will the nurses.

Let's all pray for Munda today.

Please Keep Munda in Your Prayers!

I just talked to Shauna, who is at home with Munda; they have a hospital bed for him there, and everyone drops by when they can.  He's a little more alert today, she said.  But his situation is very dire at this point, the nurses and doctors underscore.

"Are you coming to the Nov. 6 dance?" Shauna asked.  (See my Sept. 22 posting for more information.)  It turns out that my parents might drive down from Johnsonburg to attend, she told me!  It's a funny thing about our family that I have to call other relatives to find out the latest about my parents.  (Right?)  We've laughed about that before!  But it's a good network, and it works - in a roundabout way.

Which brings me to my reason for writing:  Munda really needs your prayers this week!  Pick up the phone, pick up a pen, send an e-mail, say a prayer, or whatever way you choose - directly or indirectly - to let Munda and Shauna know you're thinking of them.  Thank you for your support!  And mark your calendars for the November 6 Aero benefit dance in New Oxford!  If you can't come, please consider donating an item to be raffled off.  Rumor has it that the items to be raffled now include:

- a pair of designer sunglasses
- a stylish handbag
- a garnet necklace
- a velvet and satin shawl/wrap, and
- "Run for Munda" t-shirts.

OH - and this web site has now raised over $250 for Munda and Shauna!  Thank you VERY much!  I'll probably be selling t-shirts in Johnsonburg this weekend (at the Alumni & Friends gathering at the fire hall - and before that at the car show).  And Ray and I are going to run a total of 35 miles this weekend as a part of our training for the JFK 50.  Let's keep all of those numbers rising, okay?

November 6 Aero Energy Benefit Dance

Joyce Miller has the following updates about the November 6 Aero benefit dance:
7:00 pm until 11:00 pm
New Oxford Social Club Pavilion
New Oxford, PA
Click here for location and directions.

Tickets are now available! Contact Joyce Miller in the Aero Payroll/H.R. Dept for tickets, or call 717-624-5810. Be sure to ask all your family & friends… We want to make this dance a success!

If anyone would like to donate food or anything for the raffle prizes, please see Joyce or Rhonda. (e. g. crafts, gift certificates, etc.) or contact Krista, who can put you in touch with Joyce or Rhonda.

Hanover Texas Roadhouse Benefit

On Monday, Sept 21st, Texas Roadhouse in Hanover held a fundraiser for Munda. Texas Roadhouse donated 10% of total food purchases to Munda.  Thank you to everyone who participated!

This Little Light of Mine

Dawn doesn't come as quickly as it used to - have you noticed, too?  So my morning running equipment these days includes a nifty headlamp to help me see in the dark.

I hear that Munda needs our prayers.  So, how about we "shine a light," okay?  Like in the Book of Matthew (5:14-16), and even the words of Elton John - you know the song, right?  (Okay, Sir Elton is singing about the good ol' USA shining a light out to the world.  I'm talking about saying a prayer to shine a light out for Munda!)

One last thing for today: There are 7 days left in the first Run for Munda drive, and we're WAAAAY short of our goal.  Click here or contact me to donate today!

Worth a Thousand Words...

These new family portraits are beautiful - I'm speechless!  Munda, Shauna, and the next two generations:

and just one more:

Hanover Home & Garden, Nov. 6 Dance Update

On Saturday evening, September 5, Munda's wife Shauna wrote:

"Munda is doing so much better. Not ready to run, but he's up and about! The steroids are doing their job. He hates them but he wants to be moving. He wasn't up to attending the fundraiser at Hanover Home and Garden, but Rachel, Edie (our 91-year-old who I talk about all the time to you guys), and I went for lunch. It was truly amazing, the effort and support that everyone was giving - their time, talents, and money. Even in these tough times people still have the heart and care enough to dig down deep and give. It was just over whelming. Joanne and John came tonight with lots of goodies that were left over. We will have eats for a long time. I told the kids to come help all week.

 

I really wish all you could have been here to share in the joy of caring. Dennis and Karen who own the store were so pleased to have met so many of our friends and co-workers. As you all know we don't have family close by, so we have made everyone our family and they have welcomed us with open arms. We are really blessed to have such great friends. 

Next event - a dance - is being held by Aero Oil on November 6, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. I hope it will be a celebration of how much better Munda will feel, and that he will be able to attend.

Keep Munda in your prayers and know that we love you all.  

Shauna"

In Run for Munda news:

Ray and I ran twenty miles Saturday. Ray lives in Hampton, Virginia, and we ran on the nearby battlefields at Yorktown, where the British General Lord Cornwallis surrendered to then-General George Washington in the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War, on October 19, 1781. (To read more on this battle, click here.) Part of our run was on "Surrender Road":
 

As I was telling Ray, it felt strange to be going for a leisurely jog around battlefields - where so many people gave their lives and where our country was born.  "But maybe the soldiers who sacrificed so much would be pleased to know that in 2009 people go jogging around the battlefield, enjoying peace, prosperity, and the leading place of the United States in the world that their sacrifice made possible," I added. So maybe they would appreciate our modern-day use of a cannon?

Ray pointed out: "This isn't exactly a leisurely jog, you know?"

In any case, it was a beautiful day for a run. After we finished, we drove to the York River and took a quick dip - ahhhh!

Shauna, thanks so much for your update.  You and Munda are in our thoughts and prayers.
  
Love, Krista

Wish Upon A Star, Okay?

Today Shauna sent this update on Munda: 

"Munda was in a wheel chair for three days. Could not stand on his own. Yesterday late morning he was able to stand and move slowly to get around.  He has been sleeping around half of the day.  Late afternoon or early evening he comes around and wants to sit on the deck. The doctors put him on mega doses of steroids. It seems to help.  The new cat scan showed no new  tumor growth but masses of swelling. Hopefully the steroids will take care of that.

The doctors goal is to get him to Florida and back. Right now there is no way he could go.  It would be great for him to see his brother George and sister Kate.  All he talks about is seeing the little ones' faces when they see the Disney castle, just like our kids did. So with the Lord willing and Munda able to, we'll be able to do that.  Keep him in your prayers and we still have that miracle waiting to happen. It did before. Thanks for caring and sharing. Even though Munda can not talk it makes him feel good when people call and show they care.  Love to all Shauna"

Up and Around with Munda!

Munda's wife, my Aunt Shauna, just wrote:

"We had Munda in a wheel chair for a few days, but today he is up and moving a little. He has had a lot of swelling in the brain, and that's what is causing his problems; it paralyzes his right side. So the steroids were increased by lots - from 4mg to 16mg. Even though we hate the side effects, they seems to have really helped with the swelling. Now we'll try and decrease the amount he takes."

On the fundraising side of things, this weekend Hanover Home and Garden is donating 10% of the sales of folks who bring in the coupon (see last posting, below).  They're also have a big bake sale - they've received lots of donations!  Stop by if you're in the area! 

And mark your calendars!  On November 6, Munda's employer Aero Oil Co. will have a benefit dance from 7 to 11 p.m. in New Oxford.  Details to come!