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Margarete Cassalina

Nationally Recognized Speaker & Author of Beyond Breathing <meta name="description" content="" />

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Social Media

If you’ve connected deeply with Margarete’s books, find her public speaking events empowering and believe that #loveneverends become a part of her community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Connect with others and celebrate the commitment to fully living LIFE and fully giving LOVE every day.

Feeling social? Become a part of Margarete’s See You At Sunset social media campaign! Tag your photos, reviews, and comments with #SeeYouAtSunset and #LoveNeverEnds to voice your support for bringing awareness to children and families battling CF.

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Margarete Cassalina

…on Instagram

margarete.cassalina

790 8,633

📚Author
👩‍💼Speaker
📣Advocate for @CF_Foundation
⬇️ My latest book release ⬇️

Margarete Cassalina 💜 Author

margarete.cassalina

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Mar 14

Open
Happy 30th in Heaven, Jena ❤️
Jena Cassalina
3/13/93

Happy 30th in Heaven, Jena ❤️
Jena Cassalina
3/13/93
...

335 46

margarete.cassalina

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Jan 30

Open
Today’s PSA: Ruptured Appendix

So, a funny thing happened to me on Wednesday; my appendix ruptured.

Q: How did I know?
Q: Was I in crazy pain?
Q: Was I nauseous or sick?

A: Not really, no.

Q: Doesn’t that happen to kids?
A: Hey, at 54, I’m a kid at heart.

That’s why I’m writing this PSA today. 

Please seek a medical professional if you have a gut feeling something’s off. (Pun intended)

Here’s my recap:

Tuesday night, I was completely fine.

I woke up in pain in my lower right abdomen. 
By 10 am, it still was there.

There was snow in the forecast, so I went before the roads got bad. 
I was not in that much pain. On a scale of 1-10, I was at a 4.

I drove to Urgent Care to ‘rule things out’ and found a penny when I signed in.

Here is a quick test you can check at home if you suspect a problem:

1) Put left thumb on the belly button and pinky on the pelvic bone (Asis-Anterior Superior Iliac Spine). If there is pain where your middle finger lands, that could be appendicitis.

2) Bend/Lift, right leg at 90 degrees and it causes increase pain in lower right abdomen.

3) Applying light pressure and release (rebound test) on the abdomen causes increased pain. 

I had all three, and within 5 minutes, I was told to go to the hospital ASAP for a CT Scan (with contrast dye). 

Drove myself to the hospital, Marc met me there, and hours and tests later, I was in the Operating Room.

Official Diagnosis: acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis and gangrene without abscess. 

Peritonitis: caused by bacterial infection after the rupture of an abdominal organ.

Gangrene: (Internal bacterial) progresses very fast. It’s fatal within 48 hours if you don’t receive treatment.

I spent a couple of days in the hospital with IV antibiotics and was sent home with antibiotics to recover for 1-2 weeks. No lifting anything heavier than 20 lbs for six weeks. 

So thankful I made it to the hospital when I did, and Thank God for modernized medicine.

👉 So, kids, the lesson is: It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

👉 Go and get checked out if you feel something isn’t right with your health.

🚨 Your life, literally, could depend on that.

Today’s PSA: Ruptured Appendix

So, a funny thing happened to me on Wednesday; my appendix ruptured.

Q: How did I know?
Q: Was I in crazy pain?
Q: Was I nauseous or sick?

A: Not really, no.

Q: Doesn’t that happen to kids?
A: Hey, at 54, I’m a kid at heart.

That’s why I’m writing this PSA today.

Please seek a medical professional if you have a gut feeling something’s off. (Pun intended)

Here’s my recap:

Tuesday night, I was completely fine.

I woke up in pain in my lower right abdomen.
By 10 am, it still was there.

There was snow in the forecast, so I went before the roads got bad.
I was not in that much pain. On a scale of 1-10, I was at a 4.

I drove to Urgent Care to ‘rule things out’ and found a penny when I signed in.

Here is a quick test you can check at home if you suspect a problem:

1) Put left thumb on the belly button and pinky on the pelvic bone (Asis-Anterior Superior Iliac Spine). If there is pain where your middle finger lands, that could be appendicitis.

2) Bend/Lift, right leg at 90 degrees and it causes increase pain in lower right abdomen.

3) Applying light pressure and release (rebound test) on the abdomen causes increased pain.

I had all three, and within 5 minutes, I was told to go to the hospital ASAP for a CT Scan (with contrast dye).

Drove myself to the hospital, Marc met me there, and hours and tests later, I was in the Operating Room.

Official Diagnosis: acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis and gangrene without abscess.

Peritonitis: caused by bacterial infection after the rupture of an abdominal organ.

Gangrene: (Internal bacterial) progresses very fast. It’s fatal within 48 hours if you don’t receive treatment.

I spent a couple of days in the hospital with IV antibiotics and was sent home with antibiotics to recover for 1-2 weeks. No lifting anything heavier than 20 lbs for six weeks.

So thankful I made it to the hospital when I did, and Thank God for modernized medicine.

👉 So, kids, the lesson is: It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

👉 Go and get checked out if you feel something isn’t right with your health.

🚨 Your life, literally, could depend on that.
...

264 99

margarete.cassalina

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Jan 12

Open
"Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together.
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it."
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong.

You're still the one I run to.
The one that I belong to.
You're still the one I want for life.

You're still the one that I love.
The only one I dream of.

You're still the one I kiss good night.

You're still the one."

I love you, handsome❤️
Here’s to 32 years as man and wife 🥂

#HappyAnniversary 
#StillTheOne 
#32years

"Ain`t nothin` better
We beat the odds together.
I`m glad we didn`t listen
Look at what we would be missin`

They said, "I bet they`ll never make it."
But just look at us holding on
We`re still together still going strong.

You`re still the one I run to.
The one that I belong to.
You`re still the one I want for life.

You`re still the one that I love.
The only one I dream of.

You`re still the one I kiss good night.

You`re still the one."

I love you, handsome❤️
Here’s to 32 years as man and wife 🥂

#HappyAnniversary
#StillTheOne
#32years
...

256 24

margarete.cassalina

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Dec 25

Open
From our house to yours.
From our hearts to yours.
May there be peace on earth and goodwill toward all. 
Merry Christmas one and all! 🎄
#SevenFishDinner
#ChristmasEve
#Tradition

From our house to yours.
From our hearts to yours.
May there be peace on earth and goodwill toward all.
Merry Christmas one and all! 🎄
#SevenFishDinner
#ChristmasEve
#Tradition
...

218 2

margarete.cassalina

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Dec 22

Open
Before there was Instagram, Shutterfly, or even iPhones there was the JC Penny Christmas Family photo 📸

Ah, the good ol’ times 🥰

Circa 1995

Merry Christmas to all! 🎄

#ChooseTheBackdrop
#SayCheese
#SuitsAndSmiles

Before there was Instagram, Shutterfly, or even iPhones there was the JC Penny Christmas Family photo 📸

Ah, the good ol’ times 🥰

Circa 1995

Merry Christmas to all! 🎄

#ChooseTheBackdrop
#SayCheese
#SuitsAndSmiles
...

277 4

margarete.cassalina

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Dec 11

Open
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas 🎄 ...

260 5

margarete.cassalina

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Oct 29

Open
The VIP after-party is booked! 

With a cool Bonnie and Clyde vibe, we will be sipping on cocktails inside a 1904 Bank Vault at Trinity Place Bar and Restaurant in NYC. It’s reserved for all the attendees of The Breath of Life Gala on November 17, 2022 who would like the night to continue...

It’s going to be an amazing night! 🥂

Breath of Life Gala

Thursday, November 17, 2022
Cipriani 25 Broadway
25 Broadway, 
New York, NY 10004

Start time: 6:00PM

https://events.cff.org/NYCBreathofLifeGala

The VIP after-party is booked!

With a cool Bonnie and Clyde vibe, we will be sipping on cocktails inside a 1904 Bank Vault at Trinity Place Bar and Restaurant in NYC. It’s reserved for all the attendees of The Breath of Life Gala on November 17, 2022 who would like the night to continue...

It’s going to be an amazing night! 🥂

Breath of Life Gala

Thursday, November 17, 2022
Cipriani 25 Broadway
25 Broadway,
New York, NY 10004

Start time: 6:00PM

https://events.cff.org/NYCBreathofLifeGala
...

38 1

margarete.cassalina

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Oct 24

Open
The wow factor.

They were here in America for their annual Strategic planning session and I was hosting them for a weekend to do a #WomenLeadership Weekend Workshop. 

These women from Kenya, work at African Mission Health are, and are all Vice Presidents of their departments.

The weekend was a #Masterclass...for me.

My #goal for them was to enjoy the Hudson Valley (NY) and correlate each experience with life. 

We began with a getting-to-know-you lunch.
(Willingness in trying something new)

A strenuous #hike.
(How hard are you willing to climb over challenging steps in life to reach your goal)

Ice Cream 
(Always take a moment to reward yourself. Enjoy the good stuff)

Relaxing dinner
(Make the time for fellowship and friendship)

Wine workshop evening
(Be vulnerable. Sharing is growth, enjoyable, and sometimes emotional)

Morning Coffee (and Tea) discussions
(Good sleep, good health, and a fresh outlook on things are vital components)

Walk across the Walkway 
(Ready to not just talk but Walk the Walk)

#Wine tasting on a Family-owned farm, with live music
(Reflection, celebration, bonds created, tribes are made, villages are built) 

Countless #hugs, strong embraces, and promises we know we’ll keep.

These endearing ladies taught me so much more this past weekend than I could have ever imagined. 

I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know anything about them except they were leaders in their field of expertise. 

I went into the weekend excited, slightly nervous, and ready for the cool adventure I was about to experience.

I got the wow factor.
A weekend I’ll forever cherish 
A #friendship that will last a lifetime.

The wow factor.

They were here in America for their annual Strategic planning session and I was hosting them for a weekend to do a #WomenLeadership Weekend Workshop.

These women from Kenya, work at African Mission Health are, and are all Vice Presidents of their departments.

The weekend was a #Masterclass...for me.

My #goal for them was to enjoy the Hudson Valley (NY) and correlate each experience with life.

We began with a getting-to-know-you lunch.
(Willingness in trying something new)

A strenuous #hike.
(How hard are you willing to climb over challenging steps in life to reach your goal)

Ice Cream
(Always take a moment to reward yourself. Enjoy the good stuff)

Relaxing dinner
(Make the time for fellowship and friendship)

Wine workshop evening
(Be vulnerable. Sharing is growth, enjoyable, and sometimes emotional)

Morning Coffee (and Tea) discussions
(Good sleep, good health, and a fresh outlook on things are vital components)

Walk across the Walkway
(Ready to not just talk but Walk the Walk)

#Wine tasting on a Family-owned farm, with live music
(Reflection, celebration, bonds created, tribes are made, villages are built)

Countless #hugs, strong embraces, and promises we know we’ll keep.

These endearing ladies taught me so much more this past weekend than I could have ever imagined.

I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know anything about them except they were leaders in their field of expertise.

I went into the weekend excited, slightly nervous, and ready for the cool adventure I was about to experience.

I got the wow factor.
A weekend I’ll forever cherish
A #friendship that will last a lifetime.
...

24 2

margarete.cassalina

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Oct 19

Open
🎬That’s a wrap! 🎥

I can’t share what it was about but you know it had to be something special to have a film crew come to your house to record it!

ADDITIONAL EDIT:
During the filming, the room was quiet as Marc was talking. And then out of nowhere our Soundsystem turned on and music 🎶 was playing throughout the entire house. 
Why do I think Jena was doing her best to be a part of this? #LoveNeverEnds 😇 


🎬That’s a wrap! 🎥

I can’t share what it was about but you know it had to be something special to have a film crew come to your house to record it!

ADDITIONAL EDIT:
During the filming, the room was quiet as Marc was talking. And then out of nowhere our Soundsystem turned on and music 🎶 was playing throughout the entire house.
Why do I think Jena was doing her best to be a part of this? #LoveNeverEnds 😇

...

139 18
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Margarete Cassalina is a motivational speaker, award-winning author, and national advocate for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Read More…

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