Well I was diagnosed with bone cancer last summer. I was very fit and healthy with no apparent problems, I even went to the gym 3 x a week and did weight training with a personal trainer, as I was approaching 50 and wanted to be in really good shape going into menopause.
I developed back pain at the top of my pelvis and no other symptoms, within 6 weeks I was bed ridden and could barely walk. My spine was extremely unstable and there was danger of permanent disfigurement or disability even if I recovered. My husband changed the mattress to one I could adjust with a remote control as I could not sit up in bed without extreme pain. I had to use bedpans to use the toilet, I was in a really bad way. I was bedridden like this from early June through August, so the whole summer.
I had excellent medical care and in June started chemo which lasted until the end of October. When I was at the hospital I had to be in a wheelchair.
I am Catholic and my faith is very important to me. Straight away all my friends and family had people in their communities all over the world praying for me. Because we believe the Mass is the most important and powerful prayer, where God is actually physically present, many people had a Mass offered for me (this is when the whole Mass is offered for a particular prayer intention, in this case my complete healing). A Meal Train was organized by the parents of my son’s Catholic school and other friends, meals were made by different families and delivered to my family for four months. People sent cards and letters to me. Friends visited often, if I was strong enough to receive visitors. Two priests from parishes I am involved with came at different times and gave me the Annointing of the Sick which is a Sacrament, a special blessing with Holy Oils blessed at the Easter Vigil for healing, strength and forgiveness.
While having chemo and all my other treatments (lots initially as part of my diagnosis) such as a spinal tap and a spinal patch when I developed a spinal headache, everything went extremely smoothly and every procedure went well.
I am now in complete remission, able to walk and do almost everything normally again. I haven’t had any permanent issues or disability. I am currently receiving physical therapy twice a week. Yesterday I had my portacath removed (that was implanted in a brief operation last summer so I could receive chemo) because the doctors believe I am so well I no longer will need chemo treatment. I am still experiencing pain in my back, but that is now due to the damage done to my spine as a result of the tumors and not the cancer itself. The pain is improving all the time and taking pain killers means I am able to live a life almost back to normal. As my bones heal my pain is lessening. I am expected to be back to my previous state of good health in a few months as the bones heal. Hopefully I will be back at the gym soon!
So I believe mine and all my family’s and community’s prayers were answered, as my last PET scan showed no sign of cancer.(The first scan in June showed cancer throughout the bones of my body: my pelvis, back, arms and legs. I do of course believe that modern medicine was used to perform the major part of my physical healing and as Catholics we believe in all truth and reason. So the intelligence, knowledge and training of the medical staff was used to heal me, together with modern drugs.
However, a huge part of my experience which continues as I write this, is during the entire time of this very serious and frankly, frightening, experience I was at peace, calm, serene and actually happy! Once or twice I felt anxious or depressed, but quite honestly it was extremely rare. So the main way that I believe prayers were answered was that I wasn’t frightened, depressed or unable to cope with the situation. I am blessed with a very loving husband, but we also have 3 teenagers and we all retained a family bond and happiness the entire time. Their grades at school actually went up during this time! All of them were doing really well at school which was a huge blessing and answer to prayer as I really didn’t want them to be affected during this time. If my kids had been negatively affected I know that would’ve been very hard for me to deal with.
So in combination, my physical healing, combined with the peace “that only God can give” my prayers were answered and also as my health has improved my prayer life has deepened and I feel closer to God. I believe God gave me special grace to be at peace and trust in him