A Visit from Immaculee

Yesterday, Peggy had a very special visitor. Thanks to the hard work of some special Peg's Legs angels (Shelly Mecum, Andy Yim, and Valerie Santiago), Immaculee Ilibagiza, Rwandan author and motivational speaker, made a stop off on her whirlwind visit to the island to meet Peggy. Immaculee wrote the book, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, which is an autobiographical work detailing how she survived during the Rwandan Genocide. Visit her website at www.lefttotell.com to read more about her and her amazing story of survival and forgiveness.

Immaculee has the most stunning presence. Her gentle spirit and radiating beauty have a quieting effect on people when she enters a room. She spoke quietly with Peggy at her bedside. They spoke of courage and faith. Immaculee and Priest John gave Peggy a blessing before they left. Peggy made sure they left with lots of prints - Mother Marianne, Kalaupapa, Madonna and Child, Molokai, and Eye Heart You. It was a very emotional and magical visit.

My favorite thing that Immaculee told Peggy was this - she said, "Your message to others is that if God gives you a gift, you hold on to it no matter what." Isn't that so true. Peggy has this amazing gift to paint and create. This illness has tried to take that from her again and again, but Peggy holds on to it. She has never taken that gift for granted but instead honors it by continuing to create even against all odds.

There is so much to say about Immaculee, so be sure to ask Peggy all about it. Thank you to all of you who helped create yet another miracle in the Chun home. Peggy's true gift from God is that she is an ANGEL MAGNET!!! She pulls the planet's most amazing caregivers, friends, and visitors to her bedside everyday. What a gift.