They Met on CatholicMatch but Doctors Found a Brain Tumor

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What does your faith mean to you? 

That's the question that Luca and Sheri answered while sending their first few messages to each other on CatholicMatch. Opposites attract was true in their case, as Sheri and Luca are very different people. Sheri sees the glass as half-empty, while Luca always focuses on the positive.

But despite their differences, they quickly knew they had the beginnings for a solid relationship after discussing their faith. In fact, a day after their first meeting in person, Luca proposed. 

Sheri was not expecting it, but she had a certainty with Luca that she had never experienced before. Sheri explained that Luca is "the most real, genuine person" that she's ever met. And that "he wants to make you a better person." 

They've now been married for going on nine years, and have been through a lot together. They have been blessed with two kids, Giocomo and Aria. Giocomo had several medical scares at birth, but has been doing great so far, and just turned three years old.

Luca has worked hard to start his own business, Luca's Italian Leather Botique. The business has grown so much that he was able to open up a storefront in downtown Sioux Falls. Right now his business just pays the bills, so he has a second part-time job to help support his family. 

But all that changed recently. 

Luca started having seizures, and doctors discovered that he has a brain tumor. The first thing he thought, when he heard the news, was, "If I die today, where am I going to go? Hell or Paradise?" 

"I've got two kids, a wife, a business. I love life, but I'm like 'I might die.' Literally." 

But then his thoughts quickly shifted to a more pressing question, "How am I going to live this moment?" His seizures mean he can't work at his second job that pays for childcare for his two kids. And medical bills will pile up in no time.

He and Sheri decided to ask for help. It was a hard decision to make, as Sheri says, "I'm not sure what makes us any more deserving than the homeless guy across the street." But she wants to learn and grow from the experience with Luca and her kids. 

Luca has realized throughout this process and through prayer that "No matter the circumstances, it is a privilege to be there when You [Jesus] are present [in everyday life]. I discover that every day is the opportunity to become closer to Jesus in this relationship. Not to become better or more coherent, but to become closer to Him."

His surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday, October 7th—the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. 

CatholicMatch is giving $1,000 to the Papini family—Luca and Sheri and the kids. If you can, please donate to their GoFundMe page, to help with medical bills and childcare.

And please consider praying the rosary for them on his surgery day. Ask Mary to guide the hands of his surgeons for a successful operation. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!