The Courage of a Mother, with Cindy Parseghian

Cindy Parseghian is actively shaping the future. In 1994, she and her husband Mike founded a foundation dedicated to finding a cure for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C), a genetic, cholesterol storage disorder that claimed the lives of three of their four children. The foundation joined forces with the University of Notre Dame in 2015, and together they fight daily to end this devastating disease. The Parseghian family was blessed with four children: Ara, Michael, Marcia, and Christa. Sadly, only the eldest, Ara, tested negative for the genetic disease. The diagnosis and subsequent loss of her three children brought Cindy indescribable pain, challenged her faith, and altered her life's trajectory. Just two months after receiving the diagnosis, Cindy established the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. Since then, millions of dollars have been raised each year, fueling significant progress towards eradicating a disease that can affect the brain, nerves, liver, spleen, bone marrow and sometimes the lungs. Symptoms can hit children in a variety of debilitating ways, including losing the ability to walk, vision, hearing and speech loss, and repeated infections. Far too many young lives have ended too soon.

But story is evolving. The foundation's work is now funding revolutionary research and providing hope to future parents who may face similar challenges. Recently, the FDA approved two therapies for NP-C patients which sometimes can take place over 5 -10 years as part of the drug trials. These children/patients are able to maintain their quality of life and appear to be living longer. In addition, more young adults are being diagnosed in their early 20s usually after experiencing some form of psychosis (they have a different genetic mutation that is associated with a late on-set form of NP-C.) All of these factors are adding up to a longer life span for NP-C patients and better news for families.

Cindy's response to her tragedy is profoundly inspiring. She found purpose and strength amid intense grief and launched a foundation with a dedicated mission to help others, while always keeping her children's memories close to her heart. As you will hear in this warm and enlightening podcast conversation with Bill, Cindy expresses immense gratitude for everyone who has contributed to the cause and become part of the team to end NP-C. We encourage you to learn more about the foundation, the benefits of the research, and consider making a tax-deductible contribution. Please go to https://parseghianfund.nd.edu

You can listen to the podcast here, on your favorite streaming service or watch on YouTube.

The topic of gratitude will always be embedded in the mission of this podcast so it is fitting that in this episode it’s true power is explored with the award-winning author and speaker, Patrick Garry. Patrick is a professor of law at the University of South Dakota and the Director of the Hagemann Center for Legal & Public Policy Research and earned his Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota. He has published 13 non-fiction books, 8 novels and has been published in 139 scholarly articles focusing primarily on law, politics and religion. In addition, Patrick has been invited on several occasions to testify before Congress on legal and constitutional matters and he is a frequent speaker at Federalist Society sponsored events. However, of all his books and writings, The Power of Gratitude, is his most personal work and perhaps his finest literary achievement. As Patrick reflected on his parent’s lives, he saw that gratitude was more than just an emotion or a way to say thank you, but foundational to how they loved, served, and persevered through challenges. In other words, gratitude became a way of life for them, amplified virtues, and brought a deeper joy to every day and every experience. The life lesson they taught is that gratitude leads to finding God’s purpose for our lives. Listen in to learn more about how you can cultivate gratitude in your life and see the positive impact on your own mental and emotional well-being. You can order a copy of the Power of Gratitude on Amazon for additional insights, stories, and ways to foster satisfaction in your life. Enjoy the podcast here or watch it on YouTube.

The Moran Family is excited to announce the launch of the With Gratitude Matt Foundation. This special episode is again hosted by Matt's brother Bill and he is joined by sister Moira to discuss the foundation's goals and background along with a few other updates and family stories. When Matt passed in August of 2023, the idea to honor and preserve Matt's legacy of helping others was an immediate goal of the family. The Moran family is excited to announce that With Gratitude Matt is now a charitable Foundation and has non-profit 501 (C) (3) status. The purpose of the foundation will be to support the ongoing production of this podcast and also assist young people who may not have the means to engage in activities that foster their growth and who have the courage to be grateful. In addition, creating awareness and helping fight the fear and burden of cancer will remain close to our hearts and part of who we are. The team is confident that Matt’s light, strength, and giving heart will live on in the benefactors of the With Gratitude Matt Foundation.

In addition, please check out our new website, withgratitudematt.com, where there are links to all of the previous episodes, the blog history, recent announcements about upcoming events, and a link to make a donation to the foundation.

Matt's family, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners, and the many listeners of this podcast are all excited to continue what Matt started by being a person for others. Activity will center around cultivating gratitude, fostering meaningful connections, and contributing to our own communities. A special thanks to Mary Moran for helping lead this idea and also to our founding sponsor, DayMark Wealth Partners. Bob Prangley, a managing partner at DayMark, explained, “As we listen intently to the inspiration of WGM, we reflect and align with living an active legacy and service to others.”

Learn more about the foundation, the background and here a few more Matt stories by listening to this episode here or viewing it here. Stay tuned for the many new and exciting guests coming in 2025.

For many, running just one marathon is a life goal and puts you in a category with only .01% of the global population who even attempt this feat each year. But imagine running 111 marathons? Now we are talking about a very select group that has ever pulled off this rare achievement. Michael Kloepfer is one of those special individuals who runs not only for the pure joy of it but for the purpose of raising money to support cancer research at Sloan Kettering. Since he started running marathons in 1996 at age 42 through his most recent New York City marathon finish at age 70, Mike and his team have raised over 1 million dollars to help beat cancer through Sloan Kettering. He has run races all over the world and is a winner of the Abbott medal for completing all 6 world major marathons (and leads all Abbott medal winners with 77 total finishes). He has now run 28 consecutive NYC marathons and is one of 108 people with active streaks over 25 for the Boston Marathon. Of course, any achievement like this doesn’t come without challenges which for Mike has included fighting his own cancer in 2024. He has received surgery, is in complete response (successful removal), and is ready to keep going in 2025! Every step is that much more meaningful for Mike now as he continues to make a difference by assisting other patients in need. If you’d like to contribute and help Mike reach his $200k goal (he has already personally raised $100k), go to fredsteam.org and either enter Mike Kloepfer or his team name, Mikey’s team.

Enjoy this inspirational podcast and listen to the many stories Mike shares about his adventures and people he has met along the way including Grete Waitz, Dr. Howard Scher, and Aubrey Barr (video link tells her story). A word of caution, Mike’s story has inspired many, so know by listening to this podcast you may find yourself thinking about joining the marathon craze and running the NYC streets with Mike raising money for Sloan Kettering! You can listen here or watch here.

Some life lessons we are forced to learn earlier than others. For Bryce Steele, he learned at age 17 that suffering is part of the journey and that bad things can happen to good people. In September of 2019, Bryce was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called thymoma, which after the initial treatment, would still return two more times. Cancer was not part of his plan of a being a future college linebacker. Initially, Bryce was recruited by over 30 schools around the country to play football including Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee, but cancer narrowed the list and ultimately, he was led to Boston College. When the cancer returned a 3rd time, surgery and treatment set him back physically but he has fought to defy all odds to return to the field. It was during one of his routine scans at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, that Bryce met Matt and Bill Moran in the waiting room. While they connected because of their cancer journeys and several mutual friendships, there was also an admiration and appreciation in how each was living and battling. Matt immediately saw the maturity, charisma, and faith of Bryce and the positivity he carried despite the battle. Prayers, support, this podcast, and some motivational words from Bill would just be part of the relationship that sprung from this chance meeting. In addition, the stories of both Matt and Bryce are being shared in an article appearing on the Jimmy Fund website. In conjunction with the article, a fundraising Giving Page was created to help fight cancer in honor of Matt and Bryce’s journey - http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/mattmoranandbrycesteele. Direct donations can be made there online, or by mail at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or by phone 800 525 4669.

Through the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, Bryce has been surrounded by love from his family, his girlfriend, the University, and from the staff at the Dana Farber Institute in Boston. We hope you will also join us in supporting, praying and perhaps donating. The 2024 football season is also just around the corner for Boston College so keep your eye out for number 2 for the Eagles, that's Bryce. He is courageously preparing and is optimistic about all that is ahead for his future.

The video version of this episode can be found here on Youtube.

Ellen Duncan strives to live a life of joy alongside grief. Every day she models strength, love, and faith for her daughters and all who know her. In July 2022, life took a shocking turn and she lost her husband Paul of 10 years while he was out on a morning run. A heart condition - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – which Paul was unaware he had, took his life and created a new path for the family. In this conversation with host Bill Moran, Ellen shares the love story between her and Paul and it’s beginnings during the autumn of 2009 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Paul, a graduate student and offensive tackle for the Fighting Irish, and Ellen, in her junior year, found a deep connection that evolved from friendship into a profound love. Two years later they married and began a family. After a short time in the NFL, Paul built a successful career as an industry leader in construction management with the Walsh Group in Atlanta, while in 2020, Ellen founded a strategic marketing company called Pineapple Partners. Their story and life together was filled with joy and efforts to live each day to the fullest. No one is ever prepared for the hardship that lands in their path, but Ellen felt touched by the Holy Spirit and has slowly been putting the pieces in place to honor Paul’s big-hearted life by helping others and finding daily strength despite the ever-present grief. On her Instagram page -@pineapplellen -Ellen inspires others who are dealing with loss by sharing her experiences of grief, hope, love and faith, demonstrating and again modeling a path forward. Paul was only 35 and was taken too soon, but he created a light with Ellen that she shines onto others through her work and her smile. Her grace filled story that she shares will lift anyone who has touched loss, can be heard here and watched here.

Before Matt passed in August of 2023, he followed Ellen on Instagram and had discussed having her on the WGM show. Some commonality in their stories but mostly Matt saw Ellen’s wisdom, her desire to be present, and wanted to shine his light on her story. May the Heavenly light of both Paul and Matt inspire and bless all of those listening today.

Dr. John Delony is a highly sought after best-selling author, mental health expert and show host covering relationships, mental health, anxiety, healthy leadership and emotional wellness. In other words, this episode is relatable to just about anyone aware of the opportunity to learn from adversity. John has been with Ramsey Solutions since 2020 and hosts the Dr. John Delony Show. Through his speaking and writing, he helps individuals work through past trauma and find a path forward. So often when dealing with a crisis, we feel stuck and alone. The wisdom John provided starts with a reminder that you are not alone in the room. His perspective and guidance comes from battling his own personal challenges, finances and discovering how to heal. John also spent 20 years working in crisis response and discovered how be a comforting yet strong voice of change. John’s most recent book, Building a Non-Anxious Life is the centerpiece of the discussion for this episode. His down-to-earth approach and advice has a tremendous appeal and inspires many across the world. For more about John’s background, his show, books, other podcasts and articles, check out his website. To purchase any of his line up of products, go to the Ramsey Solutions store. To enjoy Bill and John’s discussion, you can listen here or watch here.

Before Matt passed, he had become a fan of John's work and had made arrangements to have him on as a guest. It is wonderful to see this come to fruition and be another source of love and strength inspired by Matt.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ABOUT DR. JOHN DELONY:

· John has two PhDs and over two decades of experience in counseling, crisis response and higher education.

· He is the author of the bestselling books Own Your Past, Change Your Future, Redefining Anxiety and most recently, Building a Non-Anxious Life.

· John has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox News and Fox Business and been featured in Real Simple magazine, Fast Company, The Today Show, and HuffPost.

· He has been a guest on The School of Greatness Podcast, The Minimalist Podcast, The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, The Dhru Purohit Podcast and the Mind Pump Podcast.

· John’s goal is to help people navigate tough decisions, improve their relationships, and believe they’re worth being well. Follow John on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

Dr. Christopher Kerr is an end life researcher, a hospice physician, CEO and Chief Medical Officer for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, NY, and the acclaimed author of Death is But a Dream. He provided hospice care for Matt Moran and his family in August, 2023. His extraordinary care and guidance was impactful and comforting for the family in the moment and in the grieving process that followed. As Matt would certainly would have wished and how he so often did with this podcast, we are passing along the lessons and spreading the good word about Dr. Kerr.

Dr. Kerr’s work, his research, book, and films are based on his experience and research working with hospice patients and seeing the extraordinary way the mind connects reality to the thoughts, visions and dreams of the dying. His work validates these powerful moments and brings comfort to family and to the emotions that come at the end of life. Dr Kerr defines End of Life Experiences or ELEs as significant, subjective experiences within the dying process that occur while asleep or awake. They can happen hours, weeks or even months before a person passes and may increase in frequency as patients approach death. These experiences are indeed gifts and impact the bereaved because “how people leave us matters,” says Dr. Kerr. His website provides many resources for learning more about his work, including:

· View the award winning TED talk from 2015 titled ‘I See Dead People, Dreams and Visions of the Dying” to learn more about Dr. Kerr’s perspective on End of Life Experiences.

· Order the book, Death is But a Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning in the End of Life, by Dr. Christopher Kerr, available from numerous book outlets.

· His film, also titled Death is but a Dream, shares many patient stories. This is available for viewing on YouTube or you can watch a short preview here.

· End-of-Life Experience Research

In this podcast, Bill Moran and Dr. Kerr talk though many of these topics and how Dr. Kerr helps brings perspective, purpose and meaning to the final days of a life. You will also hear how Bill was able to piece together what he was feeling as his brother was saying goodbye, the love and connection that was present, and the awareness of the power and incredible gift that came from this time that will last forever for him and the family. While the emotions don’t necessarily become less painful, talking through what is happening and what it all means shines light on the process. With that perspective comes much more joy, much more impact, and less focus on the loss and declining health of the individual. Tune in here to listen to the podcast (or connect to your favorite streaming service listed) or view the podcast on youtube.