Hello,
On Wednesday, June 11th, 2014, at approximately 4:25 am, we lost a wonderful woman in Audrey Maggio, aka "Nansy." She battled for years with stage IV cancer and when she passed, it was like a little piece of me went with her as well.
To begin, I met Audrey Maggio on August 18th, 2013 at the Double-T Diner in Catonsville. She was being rolled up in a wheelchair, I gave her a smile, and I was kindly introduced to her by Joanna's family. I looked at this woman who had a battle going on inside her yet outside, she had the warmth of a koala bear, the smile of Athena, and this aura about her that was amazing. Joanna said I had her cackling a lot. My entertaining had her smiling, and it spoke volumes.
Joanna's family said I was one of the luckiest guys that Joanna's ever dated because I came full circle with all the large holiday events like Thanksgiving, Nansy's birthday breakfast, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, and I will be at the beach (which will complete the cycle despite the fact she won't be there).
Nansy was a person of great intelligence. Heck, we even did brackets together for the NCAA Tournament. I was surprised when she and I picked the same teams (WICHITA STATE).
I lost a new friend of courage, heart, strength, and pure love. Nansy taught me the meaning of family and how important it is and how Jesus plays that active role in family as well. She taught me well.
One thing she did love was my Air Jordan Carmelos. She loved the red basketball shoes I wore to her house. I always loved the compliments she gave me.
After Easter Dinner, Jo and I were preparing to leave. I gave her a pat on the shoulder on Easter saying: "Nans, you're my fighter." And she smiled as I acted like I was doing the "Gun show" for her. She laughed heartily and said: "Josh, you are one in a million." I said, "there's a million of me... geez, I got to find the rest of me!" She laughed again and I said to myself: What else can I do.
We kept going over every Sunday for breakfast until Nansy's health took a rapid decline and the first words out of my mouth were: "God don't take her away now... Please don't take her away now."
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There's some things I wish she could've seen before she went... and I just wish she could've heard me sing in the choir at least once. I had so many things I wanted to tell her. But, now that she's gone... I can't do that anymore.
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Dearest Jesus,
I gotta tell ya man, you got a wonderful woman up there who's probably with her husband enjoying the fruits of heaven. Her cancer's gone, she's got no pain anymore, she's living a wonderful life up there with you. I need you to take care of this woman as she was like the mother and grandmother to everyone in the town of Catonsville. You couldn't ask for a better person who was true of heart, had a soul of gold, and a witty sense of humor. I hope you allow her to sit in the front seat of that Cadillac you own. :). Please take care of her.
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Nans,
It's been fun, you taught me so much in such a short period of time. The last two weeks when I found out you asked about my job and how my family was doing... It just said to me that you were going to watch over me as well. I just want you to know... that I promise... in every way, shape, form, from top to bottom... I will take care of Joanna 110%. I will make her the happiest girl in the world because the sweetest thing in the world is a happy girl. I will not let you down... I will not fail you...
Thank you for being my friend, Nans... Humanitarian, healer, person of strength and character, and a woman of charm and infectious personality.
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Godspeed Nans... You won't be forgotten.
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