Michele M. Dellapenta

My name is Michele Dellapenta--that's Michele with one "L." My mother didn't want the word "hell" in my name, hence the spelling. I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania outside of Pittsburgh, Italian Irish family roots. Part of my father's family were immigrants. I enjoyed the multi-cultural city I grew up in because despite being part Italian, I am not a fan of red sauce--cue my grandmother spinning in her grave! Our city offered treats like Gobs, Bangers and Mash, Rhubarb Dumplings, Pierogies, and Haluski, available from the Pennsylvania Dutch, German, Croatian, Slovak, Polish and Irish. And our salads must be served with French Fries on top-- it's a Pittsburgh thing. If you're from Western PA, you must support the Steelers and their Terrible Towel. We also have the Pirates and Penguins as Baseball and Hockey, respectively. I am sure there are more teams in various sports, but I am just a Football fan! Black and Gold! I was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or OI for short. It is often referred to as Brittle Bone Disease. In the simplest terms, I am missing an enzyme that makes collagen, which strengthens bones. The disease is rare; however, five generations in my family have OI to varying degrees. Fractures in a lifetime can range from just a few to hundreds. My family runs the gambit from the single digits to over a hundred. I am at the high end in my family, just behind my oldest sister who had over one hundred broken bones. This disease did not stop me from having a normal life; on the contrary, I spent thirty-five years working primarily in administrative positions and as a nurse aide for Hospice. I had to take early retirement, however, due to complications from severe arthritis and numerous fractures. Leaving the workforce was something I fought hard not to do. I absolutely loved working. In 1982 I married Lou Dellapenta who is from Western New York. We met at a welcoming dance in my hometown. Each year the AAABA Baseball Tournaments are held and in years past, they kicked off the event with a mixer for the players and young people in the community. I went with my girlfriend and left with my future husband, a fine first baseman with long hair and a beard! After three days together we realized we were in love, and we married the following year. Yes, love at first sight does exist! Lou is a Veteran from the United States Air Force, and had careers in restaurants, and the automobile fields. He is happily semi-retired working part-time for a bank. He is also an avid bowler and a fan of Perry Mason. My hobbies include writing, reading, cooking and baking, and I have been known to dabble in sewing and scrapbooking. I also enjoy Classic TV, the theatre, opera, ballet, and art (thank you PBS). Additionally, I am a Bee Gees fanatic! I would sum up my life by stating that I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and I have been since the age of sixteen. You can read more about that in my book, Five Nights in Heaven. As a Christian I have a life verse from the Bible, James 1:27: 27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (WEB). I have dedicated my life to caring for the elderly, whether they were friends or family. The second part of that verse about keeping myself unstained by the world could only be possible for me because I am covered by the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I hope my book ignites your heart and gets you thinking about your own destiny and mortality. What legacy do you want to leave for the world when you die? And once you die, where will you spend eternity? Does God really exist? Did Jesus die for my sins? Is that empty space in my heart that I just cannot seem to fill up with anything material the place where God will be if I give Him my life? Life is but a whisper, a flicker of a flame. Enjoy it and be happy in the Lord—I guarantee you it will completely change your life…and afterlife.