I was born into a large Catholic family, and my parents passed on the gift of faith for which I remain profoundly grateful. Together with my husband, Luke, I have seven children. In 2013, we moved house, and Luke – assisted by his family – renovated our rented flat. Unfortunately, once the work was finished, he began experiencing discomfort when moving. A doctor’s examination revealed a hydrocele on his testicle, and suspected an early-stage tumour.

AN UNEXPECTED DIAGNOSIS 

Luke accepted these developments with calm faith, convinced he would encounter God in a special way through this trial. After surgery to remove the hydrocele and one testicle, the histopathological results showed cancer. The anaesthesia had also been administered incorrectly, causing the loss of cerebrospinal fluid, and leaving Luke bedridden for several months.

Unable to stand upright for long without severe headaches and muscle stiffness, he could not work. At the time, we already had three children at home and minimal outside help. Despite possessing valid grounds, we chose not to sue for compensation. Remarkably, God sustained us with strength, joy, and even financial provision such as we had never experienced before. We also learned the profound truth that serving another person is ultimately a service to Christ.

A SECOND TUMOUR 

Six months later, when Luke was beginning to recover, we attended a retreat. On 18 October 2014 – coincidentally Luke’s name day – he felt an intense pain radiating down his back. A CT scan revealed a tumour measuring around four centimetres in the abdominal cavity, lodged between the aorta and vena cava. A urologist confirmed it was a typical metastasis of seminoma (a type of testicular cancer) and recommended chemotherapy, which would most likely destroy the tumour but prevent us having more children.

Struggling to cope with ongoing pain, Luke relied on powerful painkillers. At my mother’s insistence, we attended Mass, praying for God’s will and for Luke’s healing through the intercession of Saint Charbel Makhlouf (1828–1898). From that point on, we experienced immense peace and a sense of God’s presence. Our friends, family, and the broader community likewise offered their prayers, and Luke’s pain subsided.

QUESTIONS OVER SURGERY 

On medical advice, we consulted an oncologist, though the process was complicated by conflicting diagnoses and divergent opinions about how best to remove or treat the tumour. We had recently opened ourselves to the possibility of a fourth child, fearful it might be our last chance. God blessed us with Lucia, our little princess.

Finally, after two months of waiting for a biopsy, the surgeon decided not to remove any tissue due to the tumour’s precarious location. We were instead referred to a renowned cancer specialist. At his private clinic, he recommended surgery and even offered to carry it out himself. Yet something within me prompted me to question the need for this operation. The specialist then directed us to a colleague who strongly disagreed, insisting that in this case, only chemotherapy would work.

By April 2015, armed with this second specialist’s advice, we returned to our local hospital. The head physician scheduled chemotherapy for July, advising one last ultrasound beforehand.

AN UNEXPECTED MIRACLE 

The subsequent ultrasound baffled everyone: the four-centimetre tumour had vanished, leaving behind only a slightly enlarged lymph gland. Elated, we posted the set of medical images to a highly respected radiologist, who confirmed the complete disappearance of the tumour. We received this staggering news on Luke’s 28th birthday. Convinced of Saint Charbel’s intercession, we thanked God for granting us a miracle we had never anticipated.

In September, we welcomed our daughter Lucia, followed by Dorothy two years later, then Timothy, and finally Teresa. Our testimony is intended for those who, as we once did, struggle to believe that God intervenes miraculously. He is ceaselessly at work, though many of His wonders go unnoticed – especially the greatest miracle of all, the Eucharist.

CONCLUSION
The miracle we witnessed is a powerful reminder of God’s immeasurable love. Our weaknesses and sins cannot stop this love from reaching us. We cannot earn His grace. Indeed, even in seemingly hopeless circumstances, God offers peace, joy, and His abiding presence to all who turn to Him. In that grace, we discover ourselves as beloved children of God, always invited into the divine embrace.

Testimony by Marianna

Sources used: Love one another