Sandra Tadros Guirguis

Transcript

Time of death, 10:16 AM. These life-changing, soul-shattering words were spoken, and then came the loudest silence I had ever heard. A few minutes before, I had been surrounded by medical workers bursting into the room, machines beeping frantically, and the eerie sound of an alarm going off over and over again. In an instant, my husband and best friend truly disappeared. A terrible scream escaped my throat. A piercing, painful sound. Later I realized that it was at this very moment that my heart broke.

At the same moment that I also died. Although I was still alive and breathing, the years following this devastating loss passed in such a blur. I tried very hard, but without success, to be busy enough to stay ahead of my grief. I have become a very efficient robot. How does anyone manage to survive such a loss? For me, it was my beautiful two-year-old and four-year-old children. They were a bright light in these truly dark days. But even though I was surrounded by incredible family and friends, I still often felt painfully lonely.

Have you ever been surrounded by people, perhaps in a room like this, but still felt so alone? I didn't even talk to God anymore. With the God whom I have served faithfully and lovingly every day of my life. I felt like he had just turned away from us, abandoned us, and not heard our plaintive cries. Want to know what the turning point was for me? Okay, I'll tell you. I had a mailbox full of unopened prayers for faith. And one day the word "pain" caught my attention.

I started reading, and I was so moved by the verse from the Gospel of John 10:10, which says: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it to the full.” I liked this idea. My friends, I invite you to please remember this word abundantly and repeat it with me in a moment. OK? Good. So, I rethink it and eventually come to the conclusion that I don't want to just go through life so hard anymore. I want to live again.

How do I want to live in abundance? Great job. So, yes, I'm ready for active movement. But the question was how? For years, I have been telling my patients about the health benefits of wellness and faith-based strategies. And it seemed like the time had come to put it into practice. I started with small steps. I started training again. I didn't start with burpees, although nothing says I'm really trying like voluntarily falling to the floor, only to then get back up. One day after a group fitness class, I realized something.

I began to feel calm. My usually hectic thoughts subsided. My heart was breaking with gratitude. Grateful that the workout is over and that I survived it, and grateful for the breath in my lungs. I was becoming part of the community by working hard. I felt so full. In fact, after this workout I was very hungry, but emotionally full. So, in addition to faith, fitness, community, and gratitude, I began adding other elements of wellness to my healing journey. things like eating gut-healthy foods, deep diaphragmatic breathing, and meditation.

I didn't think I would ever feel whole again. And it was a long and difficult journey before I became Sandra 2. 0, humbly standing before you this evening. Thank you. Thank you. Although I am a different person than I was before the tragedy, one important thing has remained the same. My deep love for trite jokes about boredom. For example, I will snort and slap my knees. So if you have the same sense of humor, you like dad jokes, mom jokes, corny jokes, jokes about boring science, come back later.

I have at least five that I can share with you. Today, I am blessed to share my life with a wonderful man who supports me and encourages me to share my story and care for others every day. He and my stepson have been such a gift to our family, enriching our lives in ways we could never have imagined. With God's grace, I was able to overcome grief and loss by turning to self-care and well-being, embracing community, and staying connected to my faith.

These healing elements helped me feel whole again. Now, this new chapter does not overshadow the love and lessons of my past, but honors them, weaving the strength and spirit of my late husband into the fabric of our lives, together we build a legacy of love, resilience, and hope. My friends, I have come to realize that when we find a way to transform our pain into meaning, we discover that on the other side, a very joyful and fulfilling life awaits each of us.

Thank you very much, thank you.

Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.