A Second Chance: It Is Always Possible to Start Over

By Neusa Uberti

One vacation that was planned for months, with the objective of visiting friends and family. Everything seemed smooth, full of unforgettable moments, until the unexpected occurred. In a matter of seconds, a tragedy occurs, and the author's life takes a turn for the unexpected. A new life begins from that moment, a life of many trials and learning. However, the author never loses hope and fights diligently for a second chance.

This book is a factual story of the author's life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890438218

Book preview

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A Second Chance

It Is Always Possible to Start Over

Neusa Uberti

ISBN 979-8-89043-820-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89043-821-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Neusa Uberti

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction: At Peace with Life

At Peace with Life

Chapter 1

Enjoying Every Minute

Chapter 2

The Way to the Airport

Chapter 3

The Beginning of a New Story

Chapter 4

The Beginning of Everything

Chapter 5

A Comma but Never a Period

Chapter 6

The Way to the Hospital

Chapter 7

Facing the Truth

Chapter 8

Fear of the Future

Chapter 9

The Hospital

Chapter 10

A New Challenge

Chapter 11

The Surgery

Chapter 12

Lump in the Throat

Chapter 13

Drastic Change

Chapter 14

Connected

Chapter 15

With Him My Life Got Better

Chapter 16

Life Goes On

Chapter 17

Values

Chapter 18

My New Body

Chapter 19

Back Home

Chapter 20

Time to Take Off

Chapter 21

In the Air

Chapter 22

On American Ground

Chapter 23

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Chapter 24

Patience

Chapter 25

Treasures

Chapter 26

Gratitude

Chapter 27

Farmington Woods

Chapter 28

Visitors

Chapter 29

Starting to Interact

Chapter 30

My Friend Joy

Chapter 31

Unconditional love

Chapter 32

Today

Chapter 33

One Word

Chapter 34

One Day at a Time

Conclusion

Extra Testimonial

About the Author

I dedicate this book to God for giving me the opportunity to be alive today and being able to share my story with people who need to hear a word of hope and resilience.

I also want to dedicate my journey to everyone who, in one way or another, is present in my life, in this new stage: family, friends, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and all the people who have been helping me make my days easier and more joyful.

I want to devote to all of you a word of hope and my testimony that God has power, and he has plans for our lives. He is in control.

Join me in this story full of challenges that has marked the beginning of my new life, a second chance.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof and be glad.

—Psalm 34:2

Preface

November 18, 2018

It was 5:30 p.m., and I was working on a nursing project for the university when I received a call from my mom. I know that when she calls me it is because she wants me to see her.

I don't feel well. I need help, she begged.

These are phrases that tell me that she needs several things that the technicians and nurses at the clinic aren't able to do, at least not as well as I could in just a few minutes of being there. I don't say this just because they are not capable to help my mom, but because they have fifteen other patients to care for at the same time.

We spent a few hours together, but it wasn't until her other visitor left at around 8:00 p.m. when I realized she needed to get something important off her chest. Her face was expressionless, while she looked directly at the television, certainly to hide the emotions from Chip and me as we stood next to her. I walked up to her and gave her a hug; it was my third hug since I had arrived at the clinic. She whispered something, but I still didn't understand what she needed. I held her in my arms, and she then said she was going to cry—and then she cried and cried. After which, she said,

"This is not easy.

I want to go home.

I want my life back."

I knew those words; I had heard them before.

She cried, What's going to happen to my life now?

What do you mean, Mother? I asked.

I'll never be able to do the things I used to. I liked to clean and organize, and as she said this, tears ran down her face. How I wish I could take better care of you as a mother, she exclaimed.

I told her that she had already given me everything I could have expected from a mother: a friend, a role model, inspiration, and motivation. I ended our hug and sat across from her hoping she would feel better.

I have no more hope, she said.

Those words were heartbreaking because they came from the person that I love the most in this world.

Around 9:00 p.m., I brushed her teeth; and as I did so, I desperately felt like crying, which up until then I was able to hold back from doing. Leaving there, I got into my car and cried. I felt a wave of loneliness come over me, wishing someone was by my side. I thought about calling my sister Carol or one of Mom's friends, but I thought how selfish it would be to pass the pain I felt on to someone else. I drove home with heavy eyes. I parked the car, still in tears, and stayed there for a few minutes, still in tears. And it was only Wednesday…

(From Maria Joana Rubert's diary [reproduced in full])

Introduction: At Peace with Life

At Peace with Life

If I had to describe myself in a few words, I would say that I am full of life. An active woman, full of plans, ideas, and overflowing with joy—a person with a good life. I have always loved my life.

Dancing was my favorite physical activity. (Not that I needed it to stay in shape. Modesty aside, I was always thin, to the point of feeling self-conscious.)

At a very young age, I started going to dances with my older sisters. Technically, I was going to keep them company, so they wouldn't be alone with their boyfriends. Because of this, I learned how to dance early on and have never stopped since.

In the countryside, the balls were one of the few forms of entertainment we had, and we took every opportunity to go. I used to spend the entire night moving around. Today I know that it was an incomparable type of therapy. I was born with a love for music.

As a young adult, I would get together almost weekly with a group of childhood friends and have the most diverse adventures. We would accompany our boyfriends to soccer games, go on motorcycle rides, and have picnics. We also had an Italian dance group and got together periodically to rehearse. We didn't have to do drugs or get drunk to have fun; the joy we experienced was natural. It came from true friendships and healthy living.

As time went by, each one of us followed his or her own path in life; but the memories of a youth, full of unforgettable moments, never ceased to exist. We always stayed in touch even though we lived far