July 3, 2025 • 44 mins
"For I know my Redeemer Lives."
The Book of Job, Chapter 19, Verse 25
Hear Part 2 of Jaylen Meyer's incredible Journey to Heaven, a young mother's story of overcoming addiction and finding Jesus through the Word of God.
How did she and her family face the cross of cancer?
The conclusion to her story, through the words of her dear friend, Catholic author, homeschooling Mom of 7, Charisse Tierney.
Stay tuned for this upcoming episode.
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To contribute towards the publication of Jaylen Meyer's story, please connect with Charisse on her website:
https://charissetierney.com
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Highlights:
4:13 Jaylen hanging on in the hospital
4:34 God's purpose
4:42 Visitors inspired by Jaylen
4:58 All for the love of God
5:03 She was in love with Jesus
5:11 Refusing pain meds
5:20 Journey of Suffering & Redemption
7:43 Conversion
8:42 The Diagnosis
9:14 "You're so young, it can't really be cancer."
9:50 More tests
10:05 The doctor's call
11:09 Impact upon her family
11:30 Chemo
13:02 Christmas
13:32 Another surgery
13:54 Stage 4
14:45 Family vacation
14:53 Pilgrimage
15:25 "You're going to be able to do this"
16:11 Praying for spiritual healing
16:14 Interior preparation for final days
16:24 Rollercoaster
16:54 Coming to terms with the end
17:56 Coming to terms with God
18:39 Finding Peace
19:09 Final hours
21:05 Father Jarrod's Homily
22:17 Flowers on her casket
23:01 Did she heal from childhood trauma?
23:55 St. Therese
24:23 First class relic
24:58 Resurrection
27:24 Forgiveness
28:18 What can we learn from Jaylen's example?
29:41 Trust in God
30:57 Father Jarrod's visit
30:44 Bride of Christ in Heaven
31:40 Living faith out loud
32:54 Father Jarrod's Blessing
33:27 How to detach from the world
34:01 How is Jaylen's family?
35:34 Message for mothers who are struggling
37:57 You are not alone
38:80 Writing the book
41:36 Final prayer: Divine Mercy
42:50 Conclusion: Bible Reading - Book of Job
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sheila Nonato (00:00):
How did Jaylen carry the cross of her terminal
illness?
Can you please tell us?
Charisse Tierney (00:05):
Right, I've been thinking about this a lot
too.
How does one suffer so well?
And I had talked to Nick aboutthat, Because the comment he
made was she surrenderedeverything.
And, yes, all of that she haddone before the diagnosis
certainly prepared her for that.
It strengthened her.
(00:26):
And Nick just said once shegave everything to God and
surrendered everything.
Everything fell into place andit just worked out so well.
And I was like, wait, a lot ofpeople would not see this that
way.
You know how do you call hergetting a terminal illness and
dying and leaving four youngchildren working out well?
(00:49):
You know, how do we justifythat to a world that would
certainly, for the most part,not see that in that way?
And Jaylen was very inspired bythe spirituality of St.
Therese, St.
Faustina.
I think she especially lovedthe childlike way of St.
Therese, and I know this isfamiliar, this idea she had from
(01:13):
the words of St Therese.
But he said she would say thatyou know, 'This world is just a
boat and we're just passingthrough and it's just made,
we're just here for whatever ittakes to get us to Heaven and to
God.
' And he said, "So if we're notmade for this world,' then he
(01:34):
said ,'it had to happen that wayfor her.
She had to go through that.
That was her boat, that she wason, that was her way of being
purified and getting to God andto heaven.
'"
Co-Host (01:48):
"Perfect love, castiel Alvier.
When evening came, his discipleswent down to the sea, got into
a boat and started across thesea to Capernaum.
It was now dark and Jesus hadnot yet come to them.
The sea rose because a strongwind was blowing.
When they had rowed about threeor four miles, they saw Jesus
(02:09):
walking on the sea and drawingnear to the boat.
They were frightened, but hesaid to them," '\i\ is, I do not
be afraid.
Then they were glad to take himinto the boat and immediately
the boat was at the land towhich they were going.
The Gospel according to SaintJohn, chapter 6, verses 16 to 21
(02:30):
.
Sheila Nonato (02:33):
The strength of a woman and a mother knows no
bounds.
We see the example from OurLady.
We emulate her feminine genius,which she exemplifies in her
humility, maternity, femininityand love for God, accepting His
will with profound trust inGod's plan.
(02:55):
From Mother Mary's example asshe looked up at her son Jesus
on the cross, we see how thepath to holiness is not easy.
Our Lord, our Lady and theSaints have shown us that the
path to sanctity is the path ofthe cross.
As we celebrate the 30thanniversary of St.
(03:20):
John Paul the Great's "Letterto Women, which honored women's
feminine genius, we return tothe incredible testimony of
Jalyn Meyer, a young mother offour, who showed us the depth of
her spiritual maturity andremarkable trust in God in her
journey to heaven during herfinal days with her family and
(03:43):
loved ones.
Let's say a Hail Mary.
In the name of the.
Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit.
Amen.
Do you want to start?
Co-Host (03:58):
Hail Mary, full of grace, full of mercy who stands
in the sight of the Lord, In thename of Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayfor us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen, In the name of the Fatherand the Son and the Holy Spirit
.
Amen,
Sheila Nonato (04:11):
Thank you and God bless.
Charisse Tierney (04:15):
When she was entering her final weeks she was
on hospice and it got to bewhere she was hanging on for two
and three weeks longer thanthey really thought she would.
And the hospice nurse said Idon't know why she's still
hanging on.
I haven't really seen thisbefore.
And she's like, "I think Godhas some purpose for this.
(04:38):
I just don't know what it is.
But in that time people werevisiting her and seeing her and
being inspired by her and shewould always say I don't
understand why people are soinspired by me.
And Nick said she just keptsaying that.
And he said I realized she wasnot actually doing this for
anybody, she wasn't trying tolook a certain way, it was all
(05:00):
for love of God, it was allbecause she was in love with
Jesus and we just got to bewitnesses to that.
And by the end, um, she wasrefusing a lot of pain meds.
Um, he was told to give her,like I believe it was a half
milliliter of of the pain medsaround the clock every two hours
(05:23):
.
Of the pain meds around theclock every two hours.
She would take only like 0.25milliliters at night sometimes
to help her sleep and that wasit.
She wanted to be very presentto anyone that came to see her
and to her family and herchildren.
Um, by the end I, I, I think hesaid by the last couple of days
, she days she wasn't taking anyand I kept pondering that too,
(05:55):
and I saw her three days beforeshe passed and she was obviously
very close and she was sleepinga lot of the time, but other
times she knew we were there.
She would do her best to try tosay a few words to us.
Um, but I was listening tosomething about redemptive
suffering and they were sayingthat when Jesus was on the cross
(06:19):
he refused the wine and part ofthe reason for the, the wine
offering, was to kind of numbthe pain or help maybe help them
get through that ordeal.
But they said he refused it.
He wanted to enter fully intothat suffering for everyone and
I can't help but wonder if thatwas just part of her purpose as
(06:43):
well, some redemptive sufferingthat was happening there.
I know she had so many familymembers and loved ones in her
life that she prayed for and shewanted them to have a different
kind of life and to love God asmuch as she did and turn their
lives around, and it gave her anopportunity to offer a lot of
(07:07):
suffering up for that.
And we see the fruits.
I'm still seeing fruits.
There were some family memberswho asked about joining the
church after she passed.
She has some cousins who will bejoining the church this Easter
and Nick said they were cousinswho they didn't see very often
(07:28):
or a lot, but they were at herfuneral and they were just so
moved by what they heard and sawof her and her at the end that
they said we want to be better,we want to live different and we
want to try to live the wayJalen did, and that prompted
them to go to RCIA and they'llbe coming into the church.
And I have yet to still hear alot more stories from people and
(07:57):
prayers that have been answeredand things like that.
So, yeah, and I think it's thatthe idea of suffering well and
suffering like she did, I thinkit's something that, um, all of
us continue to work on.
It's not easy, um, but when youthink of a story like hers and
(08:21):
think of her, it can give yousome inspiration to keep trying.
Sheila Nonato (08:29):
That's beautiful.
When was her diagnosis?
What was, what was thediagnosis, and um, and how long
did she have to sort of carrythis cross of the illness?
(08:55):
of the illness.
Charisse Tierney (08:55):
Right, she was diagnosed in August of 2023.
And I had, you know, beenaround her a lot just before
that and everything I taught herkids piano lessons.
I would see her there too.
So we saw each other and talkedfrequently and she had said she
didn't feel right, somethingdidn't seem right with her
stomach, something she just shethought I mean, you know, she
thought it was something she waseating at first, or, and so did
the doctors that she saw.
(09:15):
They were like you're too young, it can't possibly be cancer.
She was a very intuitive person.
She just asked a doctor thatCould it be cancer?
She was a very intuitive person.
She just asked a doctor thatcould it be cancer?
She also knew she had agrandfather who had died of the
same cancer and that it was agenetic gene in their family.
(09:43):
So she had that instinct thatit was possible, that that could
be likely for her.
But the doctor at first justsaid, "no, I just I don't see
how that could be possible,you're so young.
And so she encouraged them totest, do more testing and look
into it more.
And then the diagnosis did comethat they had indeed found
cancer.
(10:03):
Um, and yeah, nick said thatthat evening they got the call.
They were both up all nightjust kind of in shock at first,
um, and he said at first hethought, "kay, well, I've never
heard of stomach cancer, I don'tknow much about that.
(10:24):
It must be treatable.
Surely this isn't that bad.
She's young and healthy, youknow.
He said he didn't even get tooworried about it at first, but
then they were both talking andthinking about it more and he
said they started to get allthese appointments lined up.
(10:45):
It was getting more real as theevening wore on, even like
immediately the doctors, youknow, we need to get you lined
up for this, this and this.
And he said by later thatevening he realized they needed
because she'd been homeschoolingwe need to figure out the kids
like she's going to be goingthrough treatments and won't
have the stamina to keephomeschooling four kids and
(11:07):
called his mom and he saidthat's when it hit him and he
realized the significance ofthis and that they were really
entering into something togetherhere and he said we're going to
need help with the kids andthey very quickly decided to put
their kids into the localCatholic school, which ended up
being a wonderful supportivecommunity for them through all
(11:30):
of it and she started on somechemo treatments right away.
She would go to Houston to aspecialist there every couple of
months or so to get checked upon and receive treatments and
things, and this went on for afew months.
(11:53):
She had gotten diagnosed inAugust and by like Christmas
time she was feeling pretty good.
She was between chemotreatments and for a while I
would go to their house to teachher children piano lessons, um
to help them out, and I couldtell um she was just so at peace
with everything, um.
(12:15):
It was only one time I saw herlose it with fear and anxiety
about.
It was before the diagnosis,when she was worried something
was seriously wrong and we weretalking at a book study and she
said I just don't know what Nickand the kids will do if
something happens to me and I'mjust so worried that this really
(12:36):
is something serious.
And she was right that it wassomething serious.
But ever, ever since then, shewas always smiling.
She seemed very peaceful, justtrying to make the most of every
day that they had together.
I always felt like I waswalking into sacred ground when
(12:56):
I went over to their house andso, yeah, then it got to be
Christmas she was feeling prettygood.
I had seen her mother-in-lawand she said we had a wonderful
Christmas.
Um and Jalen's reallyoptimistic that they're going to
beat this, you know, and umseemed like um.
The chemo was working for awhile but then, um, it got to be
(13:22):
moving into spring and thenthey found it had spread a
little bit.
I can't remember the specifics.
She did have to go in and haveher ovaries removed.
They found a tumor there.
So there were some setbacksthat were starting to happen.
(13:43):
And then by summertime, aroundJuly, she had been to Houston to
have another scan and it wasaround that time they said it's
stage four.
It has spread.
We can't really do much more.
They had tried a lot of chemo.
(14:03):
They had tried and they saidthey could tried a lot of chemo.
They had tried and they saidthey could try a very aggressive
chemo but it would make her soweak and not able to function
very well and and they weren'teven sure it would work.
And she knew what had happenedwith her grandfather that they
had kind of gone to excessive orextraordinary measures to keep
(14:26):
him going and ultimately it justresulted in him basically being
a vegetable in a hospital bedfor several months and then,
before he died, finally, anyway.
And she said I don't want toput my family through that, you
know, um.
And so I saw her in july.
(14:47):
They decided her husband saidwe have to take a vacation as a
family, um, and just dosomething fun, and while you're
still able to function, you know.
And so we.
I saw her just before she lefton that trip and she had lost
some weight, you know, of courseshe'd been through something,
(15:09):
but she looked pretty good.
She was pretty happy, perky andsmiling, as always.
And the thing she said to mewas Nick got the kids all packed
and ready for this trip andeven packed our food all by
himself.
And she said I told him, see,you're going to be able to do
this.
And I thought, oh yeah, that'swhere this is going.
(15:32):
Then you're really preparinghim for when you'll be gone.
But they went on that trip andhad a wonderful time.
They visited a shrine to RhodaWise, who is I don't remember
what phase she's at, but she'sup for sainthood Um, and they
(15:53):
visited that and, um, even thekids, when I talked to them,
talked about that, and what acool experience.
That was how they really lovedthat Um and she, um later told
Nick.
She said, well, I didn't, I'mnot praying to be healed
physically anymore, I'm justpraying that my soul will be
(16:14):
healed.
Like she was just reallystarting those deep.
She had been anyway, but shewas increasing her, her deep,
internal preparations, um, butthey also the kids talked about
it, they rode roller coasters,they, they got to um, just do a
lot of fun things together as afamily and have wonderful
(16:35):
memories now from that vacation,um, because it was after that.
Then, um, she started to reallygo downhill pretty quickly and
Nick had said, when they hadbeen to Houston and they
realized he said I think it wason that trip back she and fully
(16:58):
realized she was going to die,and he said she just got really
quiet and he, he just he said doyou?
And they were well, they hadbeen with the doctor and they
had not gotten a prognosis whenshe was first diagnosed Cause,
he said we just didn't want toknow how long they thought she
(17:19):
might have.
We just wanted to live and doour best, said we just didn't
want to know how long theythought she might have, we just
wanted to live and do our best,but this had been 11 months
since the diagnosis and he said,well, how long do you usually
say people have with thisparticular cancer?
And they said, well, we say 12months, and at this point she's
at 11 months and um and so andhe had asked Jaylen, "is it okay
(17:39):
, should we hear this prognosis?
And she just said I don't care.
And she just kind of got quietand he said the whole trip back
she was really quiet and but thethought I had was that she was
very recollected, she was just,and Nick said she was just
checking her mind, she wastaking it in, she was spending
(18:00):
time with God, she was prayingabout it and he said then she
said, well, if this is what Godwants, it's for the best.
And what's next?
Where do we go from here?
How do we prepare for this?
And that was it.
She accepted it and movedforward from there with what
time she had left and moveforward from there.
(18:24):
With what time she had left.
Sheila Nonato (18:30):
Wow, and I hate to ask.
But when did she pass?
Charisse Tierney (18:33):
So that was last October 21st, okay yeah,
and, like I said, I'd seen herthree days before that and so we
were all waiting to hear.
Um, and I was teaching lessonsthat night in my studio and it
(18:55):
it was odd because we live inKansas, we've been in a drought
it like never rains here, andwe've been in a drought it like
never rains here and we had beenin a really long stretch of no
rain and maybe it had been inthe weather predictions, but we
weren't really expecting it.
But it just was pouring that dayand raining and then we heard
that she had passed that eveningand someone said they heard
(19:20):
that when it's raining, whensomeone dies, it means they go
straight to heaven or somethingyou know, kind of one of those
little sayings.
And but you really did, I did,I know others did to feel her
presence.
And Nick said that their familywas there, she was at home.
(19:40):
They had Father Bernie come into pray with the family around
the time she passed and after Ithink he was five at the time,
(20:05):
five years old.
He said he, I mean, he's a kid,he's a very mischievous kid that
you can't help but love.
He's so cute.
And he said he just had neverreally showed much emotion.
I mean he was five, it was justhis mom.
All along I would see him inand out of her room when we'd be
visiting her and talking to her, just like usual, you know.
(20:25):
And he said it was that nightthat he he came in and he said
you know, mom's gone.
And he snuggled up next to herand he said he finally cried for
like 30 minutes and then hedried his eyes.
Then he went out and he kind ofwent about his business and put
(20:46):
the tv on and a little whilelater they came in.
They said, well, they're gonnatake mom now, trayton, do you,
do you want to come back in forjust a few minutes?
And and he just said, no, she'salready right here with me.
And that was that and um, and.
But she had taught them thesethings before she went.
(21:07):
She had father said in hishomily at her funeral, um, and
told me to how impressed he waswith how well she prepared them
for it.
And one of the things he saidin his homily to Nick and the
kids was he was like you arelucky kids and you are a lucky
husband to to have had a mom anda wife like that, um.
(21:32):
And so I think it's it's.
It's sad and tragic on thesurface and it is sad that a
mother was taken from herchildren when they were so young
.
But to get a glimpse of thatchildlike acceptance and faith
when something like that happensis such a gift, being a
(21:58):
catechist with cgs and havingimmersed herself so much in
saint therese's spirituality,and and at her funeral, Trayton
would go over to her casket andjust kind of lean over and look
at her and then he'd smile andum, the girls were enjoying
(22:21):
getting to drop flowers on hercasket.
As I went down and Nick said hethought I wondered what people
were thinking about my kids andhow they were acting.
I said I thought it was amazing.
They were so joyful in knowingwhere she was.
And of course they've had sadmoments, of course they miss her
(22:43):
and they've they've had to gothrough a lot of dark days since
then.
But that underlying joy isthere.
That's a lesson for all of us alesson for all of us.
Sheila Nonato (23:09):
That's such a beautiful legacy that she has
left of faith and joy and hopein the Lord.
You had mentioned earlier thatshe was saying she was hoping to
have healing for her soul.
Did she mean healing from theabuse during childhood?
Did she get that healing anddid she also repair her
relationship with her biologicalfather?
Charisse Tierney (23:31):
Mm-hmm, right, so I love the story of her
biological father, yeah, and Ibelieve she must have received
the healing as far as the traumashe experienced in her youth,
because when I saw her at onevisit three weeks before she
(23:54):
passed, she talked about StTherese and St Therese she'd had
a vision of St Therese leadingher into God, the father's lap,
and so I believe all of that wassomehow repaired and healed for
her personally by God to beable to accept God as her father
(24:17):
Um, and she said then she um umthat at that visit, when I was
with her, um, a member of ourdiocese brought in a first-class
relic of Saint Therese, andJalyn was able to place that
around her neck and she said I'mso happy she's here with me to
take me to heaven.
And at one point she said I feellike a little child.
(24:39):
And she smiled and I thought Idon't think she would be healed
from the trauma in her childhoodand be able to say that at the
same time.
So there was obviouslysomething that happened there
for her to be able to be happyand joyful and feeling like a
little child, child, um and withher father.
(25:06):
Um, yes, she had reached out tohim to see if he could come to
a benefit dinner that, um, herschool was having for her, her
children's school, and I thinkhe was going to come.
But then he he's was makingexcuses for why he couldn't and,
um, she was upset.
She was like don't do thisagain.
You know I've been through thisand now I'm dying and this is
like one of my last wishes isthat you're here to support me.
(25:27):
And so finally he said well,I'm going to come right now, I'm
going to come see you.
And at that point she was goinginto the hospital to have her
lungs drained because that waspart of one of the symptoms and
the side effects, and theproblem she was having as she
was going was her lungs werefilling with fluid.
So she went to have themdrained periodically, but then
(25:49):
she stopped doing that too aftera while.
But he said I'm going to comesee you right now.
And she said why I don't wantyou here right now.
I'm going to have a verydifficult procedure done.
I'm not going to be in a goodposition to talk with you.
But he insisted that that wasthe time he was going to come
see her, and so he did.
(26:11):
He showed up at the hospital andNick was there.
Her husband was there with her.
And he came in and Nick wastrying to figure out how to
navigate all of this, likeshould I, you know, interfere
and try to get him to leave orwhat?
And he went out, stepped out tocall his mom and talk to her
about it a little bit, getadvice on what to do.
(26:33):
And she said well, you shouldhonour Jaylen's wishes and you
should ask him to leave.
He could talk to her anothertime, but in the meantime her,
her dad had gone into the roomand Nick said I walked back in
and I was going to tell him toleave.
But he said he was sitting therenext to her bed and Jaylen was
just lying there and they werejust quiet.
And he said I felt like Ishouldn't interfere at that
(26:54):
point.
And he said then I looked andshe just laid her arm down on
the bed and she unfurled herhand towards him and he took it
and they were just quiet and hesaid I didn't want to interrupt
that moment, I knew somethingwas happening.
And he just let them be andthey left the hospital and were
driving home and he said she waskind of resting in the seat and
(27:17):
he said that was really sweethow you just held your hand out
to your dad, even though I knowyou didn't really want him there
.
And she said well, I justforgave him and I gave him to
Jesus.
And she had said before thatwhen she was reaching out to him
she said I don't want anygrudges on my heart.
I don't want, I just don't.
(27:39):
I don't want any of thatInteriorly going on within me.
She wanted to give it all toGod and she did.
And so I think in that momentfor her that with God's help and
God's grace and God's mercy,she was healed of those wounds
(28:03):
that he had caused in her youth.
So a beautiful moment.
Sheila Nonato (28:11):
Indeed, and I guess, as we're looking now
towards Easter, what can welearn?
I mean, there's so much tolearn, but if there's sort of
one or two things that we cantake away from Jalyn's story as
we're preparing ourselves forthe cross, for Calvary and for
Easter, for looking forward tothe resurrection, what can we
(28:33):
learn from her as we are sort ofdoing this preparation
interiorly towards, yeah, such abeautiful, the beautiful Easter
season?
Charisse Tierney (28:49):
Yeah, I was struck at her funeral.
I'm a cradle Catholic and beento a lot of Catholic funerals
and her funeral was the firsttime I ever heard a priest say
we can be confident in where sheis and I thought, are they
allowed to say that?
But of course we all agreed andI talked to him later about
(29:12):
that and he said well yeah, shereceived all the sacraments.
She lived by church teaching.
This is what the church teachesus that if you live in this way
, you will go to heaven.
That's the promise.
We should have faith and trustin that.
And he said, and she clearlysurrendered everything to God.
That was very clear that shewas living for God.
(29:33):
And so I think for us having, Iknow, for me trusting in that,
staying close to the sacraments,having this renewed inspiration
to be receiving the sacramentof reconciliation regularly, to
(29:56):
be going to mass regularly, ofcourse, to look into other
devotions the church has so manydifferent devotions to offer
I've been trying to.
She was, she loved the DivineMercy, chaplet, the Divine Mercy
devotion, you know, justchoosing one to start with and
(30:17):
trying to pick up an extradevotion, praying the rosary, um
, all these beautiful things thechurch has to offer, um.
But then there was also, um, Ithink, keeping the just trying
to always keep that end goal inmind in everything that we do
(30:38):
Not easy, but trying to do that,because that's where her
attention really went to.
It was all focused on lovingJesus and how she said she
couldn't wait to be his bride.
How am I going to get to be hisbride in heaven one day.
And there was a moment whenFather Jarrod visited her in the
(31:01):
hospital it was again atanother time she'd had her lungs
drained and he was talking withNick and she'd been gone longer
than usual from the room tohave the procedure done and the
man that had taken her in thewheelchair to get the procedure
done rolled her back in finally,and Nick said his demeanor was
(31:22):
clearly very different than whenhe left with her, and even
Father Jarrod noticed it.
And Jaylen said oh sorry, wetook so long.
We had to stop and praytogether for a while.
And Nick's like that's all Iknow about that.
But something happened with himthat really changed him and I
she was never afraid of thateither, of praying with people,
(31:45):
of she didn't care what peoplethought if she lived her faith
out loud.
You know how can we just liveour faith and not be worried
about what other people think?
Um, can we not be afraid to saylet me pray with you right now?
You know living in that way.
And so then, after that moment,Father Jarrod was talking with
her and he said well, and shewas clearly physically exhausted
(32:10):
from the procedure, she climbedback into bed and father said
so how are you doing?
And she said, "oh, I'm prettygood.
You know, thinking physicallyI'm hanging in there.
And then Father Jared said well, no, but how's your soul?
And Nick said he could tellthis is why he was there.
You know how's your soul?
(32:35):
And Nick said it was just thebest moment.
He said she just gave him thatbig, beautiful, beaming smile
for the first time and and itfelt like weeks that he'd seen
that big smile from her, and shejust said, "t's fine, I'm good
and right there, father, like Ithink my work is done here.
(32:56):
And he gave her the apostolicblessing and then he proceeded
to ask her to bless him andFather told me later he said
that was a holy moment, um, tosee someone who had gotten their
soul to that point, and, um,and so, yeah, I, I think it's
(33:17):
living our lives in those littleways that she did.
You know how can I change thesetup of my home to be more
conducive to entering into God'spresence?
How can I detach myself fromthe world more?
Maybe it's not getting a flipphone like she did, but we limit
our time more, or somethinglike that.
You know, I keep trying to formyself, think of all.
(33:38):
What are some little things Ican do on a daily basis, but
it's while keeping that bigpicture in mind.
What, always?
What's this ultimate goal?
Um, and it's all, all throughthis lens of loving Jesus and
allowing him to purify our soulsin whatever way he deems
necessary to get us to be withhim one day.
Sheila Nonato (34:03):
How, how is her husband, how are her kids now?
Charisse Tierney (34:06):
They're good.
Um, yeah, I'm I'm kind ofamazed at how well they are
doing and fortunately they'vehad a lot of community support.
So they've had a lot ofcommunity support, so they've
had a lot of meals brought inand things like that, which is
wonderful.
Um, I know Nick has said, youknow, he's still trying to
figure out the grocery shoppingand some of these day-to-day
(34:27):
things that she would alwaystake care of.
Um and they've, I think they'vefound some local um grief
support groups, types of thingsthat have been helping them um
along the way also, which isgood.
So it's been hard They've, butthey've been seeking out the
(34:51):
help that they need.
It sounds like out the helpthat they need.
It sounds like and um, ofcourse, he thinks about her and
he's and and her inspiration andher faith, and um is always
striving to live in the way shedid and um very motivated to get
(35:13):
to heaven one day to bereunited.
So I think the gift of faiththat she left them is really
helping them, probably more thananything, to keep moving
forward day to day.
Sheila Nonato (35:30):
And finally, I'm hoping to get this episode for
Mother's Day, to time it forMother's Day.
Do you have a message formothers who might be, you know,
having their own crosses to dealwith, perhaps not as heavy as
the one Jalyn carried with herstomach cancer and all the other
(35:52):
challenges she faced inchildhood and in her teen years,
but for the mothers who arestruggling, what can we learn
from her story?
Charisse Tierney (36:01):
Yeah, I know.
One thing she said to me at oneof our last visits was we were
kind of laughing about all thethings she went through in her
life a little bit and whereshe's come to, and she just
said, "our kids will be fine,don't worry about them.
God can take care of anything.
And so I think, even in thecrosses of our daily lives, I'm
(36:28):
trying to remember that it's notall on me to make sure that my
kids never have hardships, thatthey learn how to do their
chores correctly, that they gettheir schoolwork done, that they
, you know it's not all on myshoulders.
He's carrying so much of thatweight for us too.
(36:48):
And I often think of how we'rejust called to be faithful to
our daily tasks, just likeJaylynn was.
She was just faithful to befaithful to our daily tasks,
just like Jaylen was.
She was just faithful to whatshe knew she could do and she
gave everything else to God.
And one of her statements thatrings in my ears always is just
(37:10):
let go and trust in Him.
Just let it go.
And it's easier said than done.
Some days I'm better at it thanother days, but it is comforting
to to when you're frustratedand you're thinking everything's
falling apart, my house is amess, I just let it go Like I've
done what I can.
He'll fix it somehow, he'll orhe'll help me get through it, or
(37:33):
I'll learn from this.
Or maybe it's meant to be partof my boat that I'm on to get to
heaven, to just accept this asa cross and as a trial, but try
to find a little glimmer of joyin that that it could be helping
me get to heaven to be with Godone day.
(37:54):
But I think also knowing thatyou're not alone.
And I watched her as a momstruggling with things with her
kids and trying to get theirwork done and running from her
in the park when all she wastrying to do was round them up
and get them in the van to goget lunch.
(38:14):
She was just like any other mom, you know, in that regard.
And yet when she allowed God towork in their lives and even
through such great trial andhardship think of her kid that I
talked to, who said now he'snot afraid of death and he's
happy knowing where she is andhe gets excited to go to church
(38:38):
you know, anything is possiblewith God's grace and mercy and
you're not alone.
We've all been through it, evenJaylen.
Sheila Nonato (38:49):
Well, thank you for writing this book.
You're still on the researchstage, but do you have sort of a
timeline of when you think youmight be completed?
Charisse Tierney (39:02):
I don't have an exact date, I'm hoping.
Um, yes, I'm still in theresearch phase.
I'm hoping within a year or two.
I am getting very close togetting it released.
Um, but, um, yeah, in themeantime, I I'm very grateful to
you for allowing me to shareher story, because I know that
(39:22):
that was part of her purpose too, that she just she really wants
this shared and her husband isvery excited to have it shared.
Um, so I'm grateful to you forthat.
And um, yes, I'm very excitedabout the day when that book
will be released and everyonecan read it.
Sheila Nonato (39:39):
And where can listeners find you?
Are you on I'm?
I don't know if you're onsocial media.
I know you have a website.
Can you give us the website andany other?
Yeah?
Charisse Tierney (39:50):
Right, that is Charisse Tierney dot com.
Yeah, I think that's right, andthat's actually a place where I
have links to information aboutthe music work that I do, the
book work, the writing work thatI do.
It's kind of the hub ofeverything, so that's probably
the best place to go.
(40:10):
I have a Charisse's MusicStudio Facebook page as well and
a Charisse Tierney authorFacebook page, so you can also
find information and updates inthose two places of kind of a
(40:39):
GoFundMe or something for yourbook.
Sheila Nonato (40:40):
If listeners were interested in helping out in
that way, to sort of help thisbook come to fruition, for the
story to be shared, was theresomewhere they could go that?
Your website or?
Charisse Tierney (40:48):
On my website there is a link.
You'll see a button where youcan share stories about Jalyn.
That would be a good way to getin touch with me.
Send me an email, that would bewonderful.
Yeah, we're still in theprocess of figuring out how to
pull all those funds togetherfor editing and publishing and
(41:10):
all of all of the details thatgo into a book, so that would be
great, um, awesome.
Sheila Nonato (41:18):
and did you want to conclude with a prayer?
Charisse Tierney (41:22):
um sure, yeah, I'm trying to think of a good
one.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, um, you'llprobably just conclude with
something from the divine mercychaplet, the name of the father
and of the son and of the holyspirit, amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, HolyImmortal One.
(41:43):
Have mercy on us and on thewhole world.
Sheila Nonato (41:46):
Amen, In the name of the Father and of the Son,
the Holy Spirit, Amen.
um, thank you for your time andI'm sorry we went over time,
but there's a lot to say abouther, so I appreciate your time.
And, um, I'm just curious, doyou have sort of a cd of your
music as well, or um, no, Idon't really have like an album
(42:07):
or anything on.
Charisse Tierney (42:08):
I have a Youtube channel where there's a
couple of recordings of somethings I've I recently.
It's kind of scattered here andthere, so nothing formal put
together.
Maybe someday Okay Okay.
Sheila Nonato (42:23):
Yeah, okay, well, yeah, thank you again for your
time.
Charisse Tierney (42:27):
I appreciate it.
Yeah, thank you so much.
Really, it's a, it's a gift toget to speak about her and share
this.
Sheila Nonato (42:34):
Thank you and I look forward to reading the book
when, when it's a gift to getto speak about her and share
this.
Thank you, and I look forwardto reading the book when, when
it's completed.
Charisse Tierney (42:40):
Yes, yes, I'm working on it
Sheila Nonato (42:41):
Okay, yeah, so thank you again.
Have a blessed, um holy week atEaster, you too.
Yeah, thank you so much.
And thank you to your husband.
Charisse Tierney (42:48):
Okay, I will thank him,
Sheila Nonato (42:49):
God bless.
Co-Host (42:49):
Thank you for listening to the Veil and Armour podcast.
I invite you to share this withanother Catholic mom today.
(43:10):
Please subscribe to our podcastand YouTube channel and please
spread the word.
Let's Be Brave, let's Be Brave,let's Be Bold and Be Blessed
together.
How did Jaylen carry the cross of her terminal
illness?
Can you please tell us?
Charisse Tierney (00:05):
Right, I've been thinking about this a lot
too.
How does one suffer so well?
And I had talked to Nick aboutthat, Because the comment he
made was she surrenderedeverything.
And, yes, all of that she haddone before the diagnosis
certainly prepared her for that.
It strengthened her.
(00:26):
And Nick just said once shegave everything to God and
surrendered everything.
Everything fell into place andit just worked out so well.
And I was like, wait, a lot ofpeople would not see this that
way.
You know how do you call hergetting a terminal illness and
dying and leaving four youngchildren working out well?
(00:49):
You know, how do we justifythat to a world that would
certainly, for the most part,not see that in that way?
And Jaylen was very inspired bythe spirituality of St.
Therese, St.
Faustina.
I think she especially lovedthe childlike way of St.
Therese, and I know this isfamiliar, this idea she had from
(01:13):
the words of St Therese.
But he said she would say thatyou know, 'This world is just a
boat and we're just passingthrough and it's just made,
we're just here for whatever ittakes to get us to Heaven and to
God.
' And he said, "So if we're notmade for this world,' then he
(01:34):
said ,'it had to happen that wayfor her.
She had to go through that.
That was her boat, that she wason, that was her way of being
purified and getting to God andto heaven.
'"
Co-Host (01:48):
"Perfect love, castiel Alvier.
When evening came, his discipleswent down to the sea, got into
a boat and started across thesea to Capernaum.
It was now dark and Jesus hadnot yet come to them.
The sea rose because a strongwind was blowing.
When they had rowed about threeor four miles, they saw Jesus
(02:09):
walking on the sea and drawingnear to the boat.
They were frightened, but hesaid to them," '\i\ is, I do not
be afraid.
Then they were glad to take himinto the boat and immediately
the boat was at the land towhich they were going.
The Gospel according to SaintJohn, chapter 6, verses 16 to 21
(02:30):
.
Sheila Nonato (02:33):
The strength of a woman and a mother knows no
bounds.
We see the example from OurLady.
We emulate her feminine genius,which she exemplifies in her
humility, maternity, femininityand love for God, accepting His
will with profound trust inGod's plan.
(02:55):
From Mother Mary's example asshe looked up at her son Jesus
on the cross, we see how thepath to holiness is not easy.
Our Lord, our Lady and theSaints have shown us that the
path to sanctity is the path ofthe cross.
As we celebrate the 30thanniversary of St.
(03:20):
John Paul the Great's "Letterto Women, which honored women's
feminine genius, we return tothe incredible testimony of
Jalyn Meyer, a young mother offour, who showed us the depth of
her spiritual maturity andremarkable trust in God in her
journey to heaven during herfinal days with her family and
(03:43):
loved ones.
Let's say a Hail Mary.
In the name of the.
Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit.
Amen.
Do you want to start?
Co-Host (03:58):
Hail Mary, full of grace, full of mercy who stands
in the sight of the Lord, In thename of Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayfor us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death.
Amen, In the name of the Fatherand the Son and the Holy Spirit
.
Amen,
Sheila Nonato (04:11):
Thank you and God bless.
Charisse Tierney (04:15):
When she was entering her final weeks she was
on hospice and it got to bewhere she was hanging on for two
and three weeks longer thanthey really thought she would.
And the hospice nurse said Idon't know why she's still
hanging on.
I haven't really seen thisbefore.
And she's like, "I think Godhas some purpose for this.
(04:38):
I just don't know what it is.
But in that time people werevisiting her and seeing her and
being inspired by her and shewould always say I don't
understand why people are soinspired by me.
And Nick said she just keptsaying that.
And he said I realized she wasnot actually doing this for
anybody, she wasn't trying tolook a certain way, it was all
(05:00):
for love of God, it was allbecause she was in love with
Jesus and we just got to bewitnesses to that.
And by the end, um, she wasrefusing a lot of pain meds.
Um, he was told to give her,like I believe it was a half
milliliter of of the pain medsaround the clock every two hours
(05:23):
.
Of the pain meds around theclock every two hours.
She would take only like 0.25milliliters at night sometimes
to help her sleep and that wasit.
She wanted to be very presentto anyone that came to see her
and to her family and herchildren.
Um, by the end I, I, I think hesaid by the last couple of days
, she days she wasn't taking anyand I kept pondering that too,
(05:55):
and I saw her three days beforeshe passed and she was obviously
very close and she was sleepinga lot of the time, but other
times she knew we were there.
She would do her best to try tosay a few words to us.
Um, but I was listening tosomething about redemptive
suffering and they were sayingthat when Jesus was on the cross
(06:19):
he refused the wine and part ofthe reason for the, the wine
offering, was to kind of numbthe pain or help maybe help them
get through that ordeal.
But they said he refused it.
He wanted to enter fully intothat suffering for everyone and
I can't help but wonder if thatwas just part of her purpose as
(06:43):
well, some redemptive sufferingthat was happening there.
I know she had so many familymembers and loved ones in her
life that she prayed for and shewanted them to have a different
kind of life and to love God asmuch as she did and turn their
lives around, and it gave her anopportunity to offer a lot of
(07:07):
suffering up for that.
And we see the fruits.
I'm still seeing fruits.
There were some family memberswho asked about joining the
church after she passed.
She has some cousins who will bejoining the church this Easter
and Nick said they were cousinswho they didn't see very often
(07:28):
or a lot, but they were at herfuneral and they were just so
moved by what they heard and sawof her and her at the end that
they said we want to be better,we want to live different and we
want to try to live the wayJalen did, and that prompted
them to go to RCIA and they'llbe coming into the church.
And I have yet to still hear alot more stories from people and
(07:57):
prayers that have been answeredand things like that.
So, yeah, and I think it's thatthe idea of suffering well and
suffering like she did, I thinkit's something that, um, all of
us continue to work on.
It's not easy, um, but when youthink of a story like hers and
(08:21):
think of her, it can give yousome inspiration to keep trying.
Sheila Nonato (08:29):
That's beautiful.
When was her diagnosis?
What was, what was thediagnosis, and um, and how long
did she have to sort of carrythis cross of the illness?
(08:55):
of the illness.
Charisse Tierney (08:55):
Right, she was diagnosed in August of 2023.
And I had, you know, beenaround her a lot just before
that and everything I taught herkids piano lessons.
I would see her there too.
So we saw each other and talkedfrequently and she had said she
didn't feel right, somethingdidn't seem right with her
stomach, something she just shethought I mean, you know, she
thought it was something she waseating at first, or, and so did
the doctors that she saw.
(09:15):
They were like you're too young, it can't possibly be cancer.
She was a very intuitive person.
She just asked a doctor thatCould it be cancer?
She was a very intuitive person.
She just asked a doctor thatcould it be cancer?
She also knew she had agrandfather who had died of the
same cancer and that it was agenetic gene in their family.
(09:43):
So she had that instinct thatit was possible, that that could
be likely for her.
But the doctor at first justsaid, "no, I just I don't see
how that could be possible,you're so young.
And so she encouraged them totest, do more testing and look
into it more.
And then the diagnosis did comethat they had indeed found
cancer.
(10:03):
Um, and yeah, nick said thatthat evening they got the call.
They were both up all nightjust kind of in shock at first,
um, and he said at first hethought, "kay, well, I've never
heard of stomach cancer, I don'tknow much about that.
(10:24):
It must be treatable.
Surely this isn't that bad.
She's young and healthy, youknow.
He said he didn't even get tooworried about it at first, but
then they were both talking andthinking about it more and he
said they started to get allthese appointments lined up.
(10:45):
It was getting more real as theevening wore on, even like
immediately the doctors, youknow, we need to get you lined
up for this, this and this.
And he said by later thatevening he realized they needed
because she'd been homeschoolingwe need to figure out the kids
like she's going to be goingthrough treatments and won't
have the stamina to keephomeschooling four kids and
(11:07):
called his mom and he saidthat's when it hit him and he
realized the significance ofthis and that they were really
entering into something togetherhere and he said we're going to
need help with the kids andthey very quickly decided to put
their kids into the localCatholic school, which ended up
being a wonderful supportivecommunity for them through all
(11:30):
of it and she started on somechemo treatments right away.
She would go to Houston to aspecialist there every couple of
months or so to get checked upon and receive treatments and
things, and this went on for afew months.
(11:53):
She had gotten diagnosed inAugust and by like Christmas
time she was feeling pretty good.
She was between chemotreatments and for a while I
would go to their house to teachher children piano lessons, um
to help them out, and I couldtell um she was just so at peace
with everything, um.
(12:15):
It was only one time I saw herlose it with fear and anxiety
about.
It was before the diagnosis,when she was worried something
was seriously wrong and we weretalking at a book study and she
said I just don't know what Nickand the kids will do if
something happens to me and I'mjust so worried that this really
(12:36):
is something serious.
And she was right that it wassomething serious.
But ever, ever since then, shewas always smiling.
She seemed very peaceful, justtrying to make the most of every
day that they had together.
I always felt like I waswalking into sacred ground when
(12:56):
I went over to their house andso, yeah, then it got to be
Christmas she was feeling prettygood.
I had seen her mother-in-lawand she said we had a wonderful
Christmas.
Um and Jalen's reallyoptimistic that they're going to
beat this, you know, and umseemed like um.
The chemo was working for awhile but then, um, it got to be
(13:22):
moving into spring and thenthey found it had spread a
little bit.
I can't remember the specifics.
She did have to go in and haveher ovaries removed.
They found a tumor there.
So there were some setbacksthat were starting to happen.
(13:43):
And then by summertime, aroundJuly, she had been to Houston to
have another scan and it wasaround that time they said it's
stage four.
It has spread.
We can't really do much more.
They had tried a lot of chemo.
(14:03):
They had tried and they saidthey could tried a lot of chemo.
They had tried and they saidthey could try a very aggressive
chemo but it would make her soweak and not able to function
very well and and they weren'teven sure it would work.
And she knew what had happenedwith her grandfather that they
had kind of gone to excessive orextraordinary measures to keep
(14:26):
him going and ultimately it justresulted in him basically being
a vegetable in a hospital bedfor several months and then,
before he died, finally, anyway.
And she said I don't want toput my family through that, you
know, um.
And so I saw her in july.
(14:47):
They decided her husband saidwe have to take a vacation as a
family, um, and just dosomething fun, and while you're
still able to function, you know.
And so we.
I saw her just before she lefton that trip and she had lost
some weight, you know, of courseshe'd been through something,
(15:09):
but she looked pretty good.
She was pretty happy, perky andsmiling, as always.
And the thing she said to mewas Nick got the kids all packed
and ready for this trip andeven packed our food all by
himself.
And she said I told him, see,you're going to be able to do
this.
And I thought, oh yeah, that'swhere this is going.
(15:32):
Then you're really preparinghim for when you'll be gone.
But they went on that trip andhad a wonderful time.
They visited a shrine to RhodaWise, who is I don't remember
what phase she's at, but she'sup for sainthood Um, and they
(15:53):
visited that and, um, even thekids, when I talked to them,
talked about that, and what acool experience.
That was how they really lovedthat Um and she, um later told
Nick.
She said, well, I didn't, I'mnot praying to be healed
physically anymore, I'm justpraying that my soul will be
(16:14):
healed.
Like she was just reallystarting those deep.
She had been anyway, but shewas increasing her, her deep,
internal preparations, um, butthey also the kids talked about
it, they rode roller coasters,they, they got to um, just do a
lot of fun things together as afamily and have wonderful
(16:35):
memories now from that vacation,um, because it was after that.
Then, um, she started to reallygo downhill pretty quickly and
Nick had said, when they hadbeen to Houston and they
realized he said I think it wason that trip back she and fully
(16:58):
realized she was going to die,and he said she just got really
quiet and he, he just he said doyou?
And they were well, they hadbeen with the doctor and they
had not gotten a prognosis whenshe was first diagnosed Cause,
he said we just didn't want toknow how long they thought she
(17:19):
might have.
We just wanted to live and doour best, said we just didn't
want to know how long theythought she might have, we just
wanted to live and do our best,but this had been 11 months
since the diagnosis and he said,well, how long do you usually
say people have with thisparticular cancer?
And they said, well, we say 12months, and at this point she's
at 11 months and um and so andhe had asked Jaylen, "is it okay
(17:39):
, should we hear this prognosis?
And she just said I don't care.
And she just kind of got quietand he said the whole trip back
she was really quiet and but thethought I had was that she was
very recollected, she was just,and Nick said she was just
checking her mind, she wastaking it in, she was spending
(18:00):
time with God, she was prayingabout it and he said then she
said, well, if this is what Godwants, it's for the best.
And what's next?
Where do we go from here?
How do we prepare for this?
And that was it.
She accepted it and movedforward from there with what
time she had left and moveforward from there.
(18:24):
With what time she had left.
Sheila Nonato (18:30):
Wow, and I hate to ask.
But when did she pass?
Charisse Tierney (18:33):
So that was last October 21st, okay yeah,
and, like I said, I'd seen herthree days before that and so we
were all waiting to hear.
Um, and I was teaching lessonsthat night in my studio and it
(18:55):
it was odd because we live inKansas, we've been in a drought
it like never rains here, andwe've been in a drought it like
never rains here and we had beenin a really long stretch of no
rain and maybe it had been inthe weather predictions, but we
weren't really expecting it.
But it just was pouring that dayand raining and then we heard
that she had passed that eveningand someone said they heard
(19:20):
that when it's raining, whensomeone dies, it means they go
straight to heaven or somethingyou know, kind of one of those
little sayings.
And but you really did, I did,I know others did to feel her
presence.
And Nick said that their familywas there, she was at home.
(19:40):
They had Father Bernie come into pray with the family around
the time she passed and after Ithink he was five at the time,
(20:05):
five years old.
He said he, I mean, he's a kid,he's a very mischievous kid that
you can't help but love.
He's so cute.
And he said he just had neverreally showed much emotion.
I mean he was five, it was justhis mom.
All along I would see him inand out of her room when we'd be
visiting her and talking to her, just like usual, you know.
(20:25):
And he said it was that nightthat he he came in and he said
you know, mom's gone.
And he snuggled up next to herand he said he finally cried for
like 30 minutes and then hedried his eyes.
Then he went out and he kind ofwent about his business and put
(20:46):
the tv on and a little whilelater they came in.
They said, well, they're gonnatake mom now, trayton, do you,
do you want to come back in forjust a few minutes?
And and he just said, no, she'salready right here with me.
And that was that and um, and.
But she had taught them thesethings before she went.
(21:07):
She had father said in hishomily at her funeral, um, and
told me to how impressed he waswith how well she prepared them
for it.
And one of the things he saidin his homily to Nick and the
kids was he was like you arelucky kids and you are a lucky
husband to to have had a mom anda wife like that, um.
(21:32):
And so I think it's it's.
It's sad and tragic on thesurface and it is sad that a
mother was taken from herchildren when they were so young
.
But to get a glimpse of thatchildlike acceptance and faith
when something like that happensis such a gift, being a
(21:58):
catechist with cgs and havingimmersed herself so much in
saint therese's spirituality,and and at her funeral, Trayton
would go over to her casket andjust kind of lean over and look
at her and then he'd smile andum, the girls were enjoying
(22:21):
getting to drop flowers on hercasket.
As I went down and Nick said hethought I wondered what people
were thinking about my kids andhow they were acting.
I said I thought it was amazing.
They were so joyful in knowingwhere she was.
And of course they've had sadmoments, of course they miss her
(22:43):
and they've they've had to gothrough a lot of dark days since
then.
But that underlying joy isthere.
That's a lesson for all of us alesson for all of us.
Sheila Nonato (23:09):
That's such a beautiful legacy that she has
left of faith and joy and hopein the Lord.
You had mentioned earlier thatshe was saying she was hoping to
have healing for her soul.
Did she mean healing from theabuse during childhood?
Did she get that healing anddid she also repair her
relationship with her biologicalfather?
Charisse Tierney (23:31):
Mm-hmm, right, so I love the story of her
biological father, yeah, and Ibelieve she must have received
the healing as far as the traumashe experienced in her youth,
because when I saw her at onevisit three weeks before she
(23:54):
passed, she talked about StTherese and St Therese she'd had
a vision of St Therese leadingher into God, the father's lap,
and so I believe all of that wassomehow repaired and healed for
her personally by God to beable to accept God as her father
(24:17):
Um, and she said then she um umthat at that visit, when I was
with her, um, a member of ourdiocese brought in a first-class
relic of Saint Therese, andJalyn was able to place that
around her neck and she said I'mso happy she's here with me to
take me to heaven.
And at one point she said I feellike a little child.
(24:39):
And she smiled and I thought Idon't think she would be healed
from the trauma in her childhoodand be able to say that at the
same time.
So there was obviouslysomething that happened there
for her to be able to be happyand joyful and feeling like a
little child, child, um and withher father.
(25:06):
Um, yes, she had reached out tohim to see if he could come to
a benefit dinner that, um, herschool was having for her, her
children's school, and I thinkhe was going to come.
But then he he's was makingexcuses for why he couldn't and,
um, she was upset.
She was like don't do thisagain.
You know I've been through thisand now I'm dying and this is
like one of my last wishes isthat you're here to support me.
(25:27):
And so finally he said well,I'm going to come right now, I'm
going to come see you.
And at that point she was goinginto the hospital to have her
lungs drained because that waspart of one of the symptoms and
the side effects, and theproblem she was having as she
was going was her lungs werefilling with fluid.
So she went to have themdrained periodically, but then
(25:49):
she stopped doing that too aftera while.
But he said I'm going to comesee you right now.
And she said why I don't wantyou here right now.
I'm going to have a verydifficult procedure done.
I'm not going to be in a goodposition to talk with you.
But he insisted that that wasthe time he was going to come
see her, and so he did.
(26:11):
He showed up at the hospital andNick was there.
Her husband was there with her.
And he came in and Nick wastrying to figure out how to
navigate all of this, likeshould I, you know, interfere
and try to get him to leave orwhat?
And he went out, stepped out tocall his mom and talk to her
about it a little bit, getadvice on what to do.
(26:33):
And she said well, you shouldhonour Jaylen's wishes and you
should ask him to leave.
He could talk to her anothertime, but in the meantime her,
her dad had gone into the roomand Nick said I walked back in
and I was going to tell him toleave.
But he said he was sitting therenext to her bed and Jaylen was
just lying there and they werejust quiet.
And he said I felt like Ishouldn't interfere at that
(26:54):
point.
And he said then I looked andshe just laid her arm down on
the bed and she unfurled herhand towards him and he took it
and they were just quiet and hesaid I didn't want to interrupt
that moment, I knew somethingwas happening.
And he just let them be andthey left the hospital and were
driving home and he said she waskind of resting in the seat and
(27:17):
he said that was really sweethow you just held your hand out
to your dad, even though I knowyou didn't really want him there
.
And she said well, I justforgave him and I gave him to
Jesus.
And she had said before thatwhen she was reaching out to him
she said I don't want anygrudges on my heart.
I don't want, I just don't.
(27:39):
I don't want any of thatInteriorly going on within me.
She wanted to give it all toGod and she did.
And so I think in that momentfor her that with God's help and
God's grace and God's mercy,she was healed of those wounds
(28:03):
that he had caused in her youth.
So a beautiful moment.
Sheila Nonato (28:11):
Indeed, and I guess, as we're looking now
towards Easter, what can welearn?
I mean, there's so much tolearn, but if there's sort of
one or two things that we cantake away from Jalyn's story as
we're preparing ourselves forthe cross, for Calvary and for
Easter, for looking forward tothe resurrection, what can we
(28:33):
learn from her as we are sort ofdoing this preparation
interiorly towards, yeah, such abeautiful, the beautiful Easter
season?
Charisse Tierney (28:49):
Yeah, I was struck at her funeral.
I'm a cradle Catholic and beento a lot of Catholic funerals
and her funeral was the firsttime I ever heard a priest say
we can be confident in where sheis and I thought, are they
allowed to say that?
But of course we all agreed andI talked to him later about
(29:12):
that and he said well yeah, shereceived all the sacraments.
She lived by church teaching.
This is what the church teachesus that if you live in this way
, you will go to heaven.
That's the promise.
We should have faith and trustin that.
And he said, and she clearlysurrendered everything to God.
That was very clear that shewas living for God.
(29:33):
And so I think for us having, Iknow, for me trusting in that,
staying close to the sacraments,having this renewed inspiration
to be receiving the sacramentof reconciliation regularly, to
(29:56):
be going to mass regularly, ofcourse, to look into other
devotions the church has so manydifferent devotions to offer
I've been trying to.
She was, she loved the DivineMercy, chaplet, the Divine Mercy
devotion, you know, justchoosing one to start with and
(30:17):
trying to pick up an extradevotion, praying the rosary, um
, all these beautiful things thechurch has to offer, um.
But then there was also, um, Ithink, keeping the just trying
to always keep that end goal inmind in everything that we do
(30:38):
Not easy, but trying to do that,because that's where her
attention really went to.
It was all focused on lovingJesus and how she said she
couldn't wait to be his bride.
How am I going to get to be hisbride in heaven one day.
And there was a moment whenFather Jarrod visited her in the
(31:01):
hospital it was again atanother time she'd had her lungs
drained and he was talking withNick and she'd been gone longer
than usual from the room tohave the procedure done and the
man that had taken her in thewheelchair to get the procedure
done rolled her back in finally,and Nick said his demeanor was
(31:22):
clearly very different than whenhe left with her, and even
Father Jarrod noticed it.
And Jaylen said oh sorry, wetook so long.
We had to stop and praytogether for a while.
And Nick's like that's all Iknow about that.
But something happened with himthat really changed him and I
she was never afraid of thateither, of praying with people,
(31:45):
of she didn't care what peoplethought if she lived her faith
out loud.
You know how can we just liveour faith and not be worried
about what other people think?
Um, can we not be afraid to saylet me pray with you right now?
You know living in that way.
And so then, after that moment,Father Jarrod was talking with
her and he said well, and shewas clearly physically exhausted
(32:10):
from the procedure, she climbedback into bed and father said
so how are you doing?
And she said, "oh, I'm prettygood.
You know, thinking physicallyI'm hanging in there.
And then Father Jared said well, no, but how's your soul?
And Nick said he could tellthis is why he was there.
You know how's your soul?
(32:35):
And Nick said it was just thebest moment.
He said she just gave him thatbig, beautiful, beaming smile
for the first time and and itfelt like weeks that he'd seen
that big smile from her, and shejust said, "t's fine, I'm good
and right there, father, like Ithink my work is done here.
(32:56):
And he gave her the apostolicblessing and then he proceeded
to ask her to bless him andFather told me later he said
that was a holy moment, um, tosee someone who had gotten their
soul to that point, and, um,and so, yeah, I, I think it's
(33:17):
living our lives in those littleways that she did.
You know how can I change thesetup of my home to be more
conducive to entering into God'spresence?
How can I detach myself fromthe world more?
Maybe it's not getting a flipphone like she did, but we limit
our time more, or somethinglike that.
You know, I keep trying to formyself, think of all.
(33:38):
What are some little things Ican do on a daily basis, but
it's while keeping that bigpicture in mind.
What, always?
What's this ultimate goal?
Um, and it's all, all throughthis lens of loving Jesus and
allowing him to purify our soulsin whatever way he deems
necessary to get us to be withhim one day.
Sheila Nonato (34:03):
How, how is her husband, how are her kids now?
Charisse Tierney (34:06):
They're good.
Um, yeah, I'm I'm kind ofamazed at how well they are
doing and fortunately they'vehad a lot of community support.
So they've had a lot ofcommunity support, so they've
had a lot of meals brought inand things like that, which is
wonderful.
Um, I know Nick has said, youknow, he's still trying to
figure out the grocery shoppingand some of these day-to-day
(34:27):
things that she would alwaystake care of.
Um and they've, I think they'vefound some local um grief
support groups, types of thingsthat have been helping them um
along the way also, which isgood.
So it's been hard They've, butthey've been seeking out the
(34:51):
help that they need.
It sounds like out the helpthat they need.
It sounds like and um, ofcourse, he thinks about her and
he's and and her inspiration andher faith, and um is always
striving to live in the way shedid and um very motivated to get
(35:13):
to heaven one day to bereunited.
So I think the gift of faiththat she left them is really
helping them, probably more thananything, to keep moving
forward day to day.
Sheila Nonato (35:30):
And finally, I'm hoping to get this episode for
Mother's Day, to time it forMother's Day.
Do you have a message formothers who might be, you know,
having their own crosses to dealwith, perhaps not as heavy as
the one Jalyn carried with herstomach cancer and all the other
(35:52):
challenges she faced inchildhood and in her teen years,
but for the mothers who arestruggling, what can we learn
from her story?
Charisse Tierney (36:01):
Yeah, I know.
One thing she said to me at oneof our last visits was we were
kind of laughing about all thethings she went through in her
life a little bit and whereshe's come to, and she just
said, "our kids will be fine,don't worry about them.
God can take care of anything.
And so I think, even in thecrosses of our daily lives, I'm
(36:28):
trying to remember that it's notall on me to make sure that my
kids never have hardships, thatthey learn how to do their
chores correctly, that they gettheir schoolwork done, that they
, you know it's not all on myshoulders.
He's carrying so much of thatweight for us too.
(36:48):
And I often think of how we'rejust called to be faithful to
our daily tasks, just likeJaylynn was.
She was just faithful to befaithful to our daily tasks,
just like Jaylen was.
She was just faithful to whatshe knew she could do and she
gave everything else to God.
And one of her statements thatrings in my ears always is just
(37:10):
let go and trust in Him.
Just let it go.
And it's easier said than done.
Some days I'm better at it thanother days, but it is comforting
to to when you're frustratedand you're thinking everything's
falling apart, my house is amess, I just let it go Like I've
done what I can.
He'll fix it somehow, he'll orhe'll help me get through it, or
(37:33):
I'll learn from this.
Or maybe it's meant to be partof my boat that I'm on to get to
heaven, to just accept this asa cross and as a trial, but try
to find a little glimmer of joyin that that it could be helping
me get to heaven to be with Godone day.
(37:54):
But I think also knowing thatyou're not alone.
And I watched her as a momstruggling with things with her
kids and trying to get theirwork done and running from her
in the park when all she wastrying to do was round them up
and get them in the van to goget lunch.
(38:14):
She was just like any other mom, you know, in that regard.
And yet when she allowed God towork in their lives and even
through such great trial andhardship think of her kid that I
talked to, who said now he'snot afraid of death and he's
happy knowing where she is andhe gets excited to go to church
(38:38):
you know, anything is possiblewith God's grace and mercy and
you're not alone.
We've all been through it, evenJaylen.
Sheila Nonato (38:49):
Well, thank you for writing this book.
You're still on the researchstage, but do you have sort of a
timeline of when you think youmight be completed?
Charisse Tierney (39:02):
I don't have an exact date, I'm hoping.
Um, yes, I'm still in theresearch phase.
I'm hoping within a year or two.
I am getting very close togetting it released.
Um, but, um, yeah, in themeantime, I I'm very grateful to
you for allowing me to shareher story, because I know that
(39:22):
that was part of her purpose too, that she just she really wants
this shared and her husband isvery excited to have it shared.
Um, so I'm grateful to you forthat.
And um, yes, I'm very excitedabout the day when that book
will be released and everyonecan read it.
Sheila Nonato (39:39):
And where can listeners find you?
Are you on I'm?
I don't know if you're onsocial media.
I know you have a website.
Can you give us the website andany other?
Yeah?
Charisse Tierney (39:50):
Right, that is Charisse Tierney dot com.
Yeah, I think that's right, andthat's actually a place where I
have links to information aboutthe music work that I do, the
book work, the writing work thatI do.
It's kind of the hub ofeverything, so that's probably
the best place to go.
(40:10):
I have a Charisse's MusicStudio Facebook page as well and
a Charisse Tierney authorFacebook page, so you can also
find information and updates inthose two places of kind of a
(40:39):
GoFundMe or something for yourbook.
Sheila Nonato (40:40):
If listeners were interested in helping out in
that way, to sort of help thisbook come to fruition, for the
story to be shared, was theresomewhere they could go that?
Your website or?
Charisse Tierney (40:48):
On my website there is a link.
You'll see a button where youcan share stories about Jalyn.
That would be a good way to getin touch with me.
Send me an email, that would bewonderful.
Yeah, we're still in theprocess of figuring out how to
pull all those funds togetherfor editing and publishing and
(41:10):
all of all of the details thatgo into a book, so that would be
great, um, awesome.
Sheila Nonato (41:18):
and did you want to conclude with a prayer?
Charisse Tierney (41:22):
um sure, yeah, I'm trying to think of a good
one.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, um, you'llprobably just conclude with
something from the divine mercychaplet, the name of the father
and of the son and of the holyspirit, amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, HolyImmortal One.
(41:43):
Have mercy on us and on thewhole world.
Sheila Nonato (41:46):
Amen, In the name of the Father and of the Son,
the Holy Spirit, Amen.
um, thank you for your time andI'm sorry we went over time,
but there's a lot to say abouther, so I appreciate your time.
And, um, I'm just curious, doyou have sort of a cd of your
music as well, or um, no, Idon't really have like an album
(42:07):
or anything on.
Charisse Tierney (42:08):
I have a Youtube channel where there's a
couple of recordings of somethings I've I recently.
It's kind of scattered here andthere, so nothing formal put
together.
Maybe someday Okay Okay.
Sheila Nonato (42:23):
Yeah, okay, well, yeah, thank you again for your
time.
Charisse Tierney (42:27):
I appreciate it.
Yeah, thank you so much.
Really, it's a, it's a gift toget to speak about her and share
this.
Sheila Nonato (42:34):
Thank you and I look forward to reading the book
when, when it's a gift to getto speak about her and share
this.
Thank you, and I look forwardto reading the book when, when
it's completed.
Charisse Tierney (42:40):
Yes, yes, I'm working on it
Sheila Nonato (42:41):
Okay, yeah, so thank you again.
Have a blessed, um holy week atEaster, you too.
Yeah, thank you so much.
And thank you to your husband.
Charisse Tierney (42:48):
Okay, I will thank him,
Sheila Nonato (42:49):
God bless.
Co-Host (42:49):
Thank you for listening to the Veil and Armour podcast.
I invite you to share this withanother Catholic mom today.
(43:10):
Please subscribe to our podcastand YouTube channel and please
spread the word.
Let's Be Brave, let's Be Brave,let's Be Bold and Be Blessed
together.
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