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Stories of Healing The
Stories of Healing are submitted by people who have attended our St. Peregrine
Healing Masses. They shared how God has helped them deal with their illnesses
and sufferings. We hope these stories provide you with comfort, courage and
strength. If you have a story you would like to share, email your narrative
to scalialm@yahoo.com. |
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Michaelynn L. An October 2019 Update on my story… If you can picture the ball going back and forth in a tennis
match, my prostate cancer could be represented by the tennis ball. I am
hitting it with hope that the cancer doesn't come back to me. However, I have
found that cancer is a tough opponent. Even when you think you are winning;
it will surprise you with a quick return. With my cancer in remission for
over a year, the oncologist treating me said that based on the results of
bloodwork, the cancer was making a counter-attack. I needed to resume medical
treatment but, I also knew that once again, I would need St. Peregrine in my
court. A January 2019 Update on my story…
On October 1, 2018, while the prostate cancer was active, I attended a service at Our Lady of Czestochowa in North Tonawanda. As always, Father David Bellittiere’s message from his homily was inspiring and gave all of us who are fighting cancer a sense of optimism. When it came to share my concern and requesting St. Peregrine’s intercession, I received Fr. Bellittiere’s blessing along with his customary smile. As I was returning to my pew, I saw for a brief mini-second a flash of bright light as if someone took my picture with a flash camera, but that was not the case. Arriving at my pew, I felt something moving below my abdomen and lasting for about 6 or 7 seconds. At first, I thought it was my stomach rumbling (telling me I needed to eat and that it was hunger pains), but it came much lower within my pelvic area. I had never felt this sensation before. I mentioned to my wife who was with me, something was going on within me and I was feeling a sense of calm. I was scheduled for lab work a few weeks later, followed by a visit to my oncologist. At that time, my doctor told me my prostate cancer was “undetectable” based on my blood work. I have no doubt that St. Peregrine’s intercession on my behalf had been answered. I have heard when a person’s cancer has been “cured”, God has taken over things and it’s in His hands. Other times, I believe He uses doctors with treatments as tools to get the job done. My doctor has told me she can’t take the credit for any of this, it’s from a much higher source. I will continue
attending St. Peregrine Healing Masses; however, I will now
be giving thanks. Through the intercession of St. Peregrine, my prayers to the Lord were answered again. Fourteen years ago (2002) after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, I experienced the normal anxiety associated with that dreaded word. I was scheduled to have a radiation treatment at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in early January 2003. As that day was approaching, I attended my first healing mass. I remember upon receiving the healing anointing, I was overcome with a warm, comforting feeling. I sensed there was nothing to worry about. Later, I went to Roswell without any apprehension, needless to say everything went well and subsequently the cancer went into remission. Well thirteen years later, the cancer returned in a more aggressive manner. This time, I could not receive additional radiation and had to start a different type of treatment. Fortunately for me, the day before I was to meet with my doctor to obtain the results, I attended another healing mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Pendleton. Once again, I was asking St. Peregrine for his intercession. As I was returning to my pew after receiving the anointing from Father David, I felt a soothing, relaxing sensation. It was as if a voice was telling me everything would be fine. Sure enough, the next day my doctor informed me that the cancer is regressing. My prayer for intercession was being answered again. My medical care will be with Christ’s best interest for me. Joe Pasek |
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I am 65 years old and a member of St. Pius X Catholic
Church. In 1997, I had a spinal surgery and have rods and screws in my
spine. When I was able to walk, my
body was shaped like the number 7. I
went to the healing mass at Blessed Sacrament Church on Claremont and soon
after I found myself standing up right. I have had arthritis since I was a child and have been on
many medications over the years – nothing helped. I went to the healing mass at St. Gregory
the Great and I wanted healing of my arthritis. I was anointed and prayed
over. When I left the mass, I was still in pain, but the next day the pain
was gone. I have not had any pain
since that night. The Lord has done great things for me. I love Him and I give myself to Him. Mona K. Amherst, NY July 2016 |
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In January 2009, I went for routine blood work. I received a call the next day from my
doctor who said it looked like I had hepatitis and I needed to get the blood
work redone. When he got those
results back, he said something was wrong and I needed to get a
sonogram. It indicated I had tumors on
my liver. I was shocked as I had no
symptoms and felt good. I then went to Roswell for a MRI
and CT scan. They showed tumors on my
pancreas and liver. They said it started in my pancreas. There is a duct between the pancreas and
the liver and that is how the cancer spread.
I was told I had Stage 4 cancer and was given 6 months to live. My first thought was "You aren't going
to tell me when I will die....it's in God's
hands." For 18 months I was given intravenous chemotherapy. It made me extremely sick. I was fatigued, had neuropathy in my hands
and feet, sores in my mouth, rashes, insomnia, nauseous all the time and lost
my hair. It was horrendous. I was existing not living. Roswell refused to operate on me because
I had tumors in two organs. When I was diagnosed, I did some research on the
computer. I joined PANCAN, the
Pancreatic Cancer Association. In the
spring of 2010, I received an email from them inviting me to a symposium of
liver and pancreas surgeons at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center. Unfortunately, I was so sick
I was in Roswell so my sister-in-law and brother-in-law went on my
behalf. They spoke to the doctors at
UPMC and explained my situation.
After sending them all my records from Roswell, they were confident
they could help me. On June 2nd, 2010,
we went to Pittsburgh and met with the doctors. They said, "We don't know why you are
here....you should be dead. Since you aren't, we're going to help by removing
the tumors from your pancreas and liver." They started with several rounds of
targeted therapy called TACE. They
went through my groin and deposited miniscule chemo beads in my liver to kill
the tumors inside my liver. I was
usually extremely sick after these treatments. On May 3rd, 2011, they operated on me and
indicated the surgery was a complete success and I was cancer free. Recovery was long and hard. Eventually the cancer came back in my liver
and also spread to my right adrenal gland.
More surgery was required on January 22nd, 2012. CT scans done in April 2013 showed more
tumors on the liver. I had three
more TACE procedures. In June, I
collapsed at home. Doctors indicated I
was very close to dying....my body was shutting down. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and stayed
in the hospital for 9 days so that I could build my strength back up. My oncologist then
started me on two new chemo pills which I took for a year. Except for nausea and fatigue, I was
leading a normal life. I then had to
stop taking them because they caused leukemia in some patients after a
year. Over the years, I had been to several healing masses in
Western New York. During this whole
journey, I prayed to God, Jesus and numerous saints. I had been to a St. Peregrine healing mass
and asked our priest if we could have one at our church. He agreed.
On October 2nd, 2014, I attended the mass. When it was my time to be blessed by Father
David Bellittiere, I asked for healing of the tumors on my liver. On October 16th, I went to UPMC for my 3 month checkup and CT scan. My liver doctor came into the room telling
us I was a miracle...all the tumors in my liver were gone! At my visit last
month, my oncologist says he can't explain why the pills worked for me. He has given these drugs to hundreds of
patients and I'm one out of three people who had success with the pills. I know I am blessed. God orchestrated this whole journey. He guided me through every twist and turn.
He gave me the strength to push forward and never give up. And I know Saint Peregrine was working in
the background with God on my behalf. Linda M. |
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I address you so tenderly because God used you to draw me
to your St. Peregrine healing masses in 2014 when I had been diagnosed with
Diffuse Large B-cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I had a
peace that Jesus would heal me... and He did! I am so grateful for all of
you! It's been over 250 days since my bone marrow transplant
and I am 100% cancer free. I thank our God for you! It's now August 7, 2015
and I have had the most wonderful summer. What a difference from last year
when I was so weak and nauseous from chemo that I couldn't even tolerate a
car ride, let alone have the energy to just walk outside the house. How
delighted I am to take walks today! I can't praise God enough for his gift of healing and I'm
so grateful He led me to your ministry!
His mercy is new every morning! Thanks be to God! Pam E. |
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I have suffered with chronic debilitating migraines and
TMJ headaches for at least 20 years and have had 2-3 migraines a week, if not
more. I had a migraine that lasted up to 7 days and had to be put
on an IV. I have been to numerous doctors/specialists. This
all changed when I attended the St. Peregrine healing mass in the Fall of
2013. I went up for the Anointing of the Sick and it felt so
peaceful. Father David Bellittiere prayed over me and blessed me with
the holy oil. When I went up for the blessing
I never said what I needed healing from, but God knew!! It was an
amazing mass and truly a blessing to be there. Weeks later I
realized I had not had a migraine, then months went by, and now years.
My quality of life has changed for the better. My faith has always been
strong, but this was truly a blessing in my life. What a pleasure
to be able to tell my story of healing. I believe in the power of pray
and will continue, thank you for your ministry. God Bless!!!! Kathie C. |
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I am unsure how to write my short story as it spans 18 years.
Nevertheless, I choose to accept the helpful advice of a current
member of The Friends of St. Peregrine: “Just listen to your heart and the words
will come.” (And did they ever!): My cancer journey began in May 1995 at the age of 47. My yearly mammogram resulted with a diagnosis of breast cancer. My choice was never to question the stage of cancer because I wanted to treat and fight it as though it were early on. This way I felt I could give it all I had mentally, physically and spiritually. After all, I wanted to experience my grandchildren growing up as I grew old with the man of my dreams as well as many other milestones yet to be enjoyed. With the support of my YhusbandY, family/friends, medical team and my faith, I became a survivor determined on being pro-active in my healthcare by diligently following up with all screenings, appointments and whatever else came my way regarding my health. Very importantly, I experienced a newfound strength of my faith in God. In August 1999, after a routine chest x-ray and
additional screenings, a biopsy revealed lung cancer. I was terrified! This was a 2nd cancer diagnosis
within five years! Was this “it” for
me? If I recall correctly, it was
during my recovery from this lung surgery that a healing mass was scheduled
at Holy Trinity in October 2003, brought yet another cancer diagnosis
on my right lung. At this point I am
certain the healing mass I attended just before my surgery was a St.
Peregrine Healing Mass at Holy Trinity Parish. Father David Bellittiere was our Pastor at
the time. I recall again praying
fervently for strength and guidance. I was dreadfully frightened of what may lie
ahead. After this surgery, my surgeon
told me he was confident that all the cancer was removed. Again I went home to heal and move on. Someone
was surely hearing my prayers. My
husband and I tried to attend St. Peregrine Healing Masses whenever they came
to July 2007 was a year of adversity for me and my family. My borderline developmentally disabled son, who was 33, had a massive heart attack. A decision had to be made for surgery of which he had a 50/50 chance of survival. Our heads were spinning—our hearts were pounding! He has a wife, son and daughter. I also had a routine checkup scheduled with my Oncologist. I recall telling my husband that my test results have to be fine because “God only gives you as much as you can handle.” I couldn’t imagine us handling any more right now. The results were not fine. Another lung surgery was scheduled quickly. I was thoroughly bewildered! Something told me to call Father David as I was walking down a hospital hallway which I was not familiar with. Father answered. After telling him of my predicament he asked me to find a quiet place to pray with him. I looked to my right and lo & behold for reasons unknown, I was right in front of the Chapel door! My husband and I went inside, knelt down and prayed with Father. David on the speaker of my cell phone. Father David suggested I meet with him at Holy Trinity. We did so after gathering five of my six grandchildren. Father David and my family prayed with me. It was then that I recognized that through Father David and St. Peregrine, God had given me all I ever prayed for and needed to carry out these battles. My faith and strength was truly reinforced. I felt blessed with hope and prepared for what was to come. (I believe my miracle was set in motion at this point.) I underwent the lung surgery while my son remained in the other hospital. My dear husband was doing a great job of being there for the both of us. Cancer does have its way of making us love deeper than we ever thought possible. This, in turn, again made us stronger than we ever thought possible. In hindsight, I realize that this is the strength I had been praying for all along! Yes indeed, Someone was listening. My son was released and visited me after surgery. I remember my surgeon waking me up with my biopsy results. He was mystified and a bit apologetic. The mass was benign! I was elated and never once regretted having had to go through that surgery. I believe everything happened just the way God intended. My miracle spanned many years. I was given guidance and strength which was reinforced every time I needed it. ïThis year I am 10 years cancer free!ð Miracles don’t always happen right then and there. It can take years and then we also need to be perceptive enough to recognize them. Father David is such an immense part of my
story. I am so grateful that he was sent
to us as a Pastor. It was at the exact
time I needed to have someone like him in my life. He is the guidance part of my miracle.
He humbly told me he is “simply
a vessel of St. Peregrine and God.”
Maybe so, but I feel he is much more than that. There is just something about him that I admire and revere. I still try to attend St. Peregrine Healing
Masses whenever they come along. I
intend to continue thanking God, St. Peregrine and Father. David for Thank
you Friends of St. Peregrine for bringing your healing masses to us! May God and Mary Jane July 2013 |
Yes it's true - God granted permission, Candles were lit and masses to attend, Primary Central Nervous
System Lymphoma Mike
Durkin |
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