Thursday, February 23, 2012

The Big C and God’s Divine Mercy

Cancer – the very word strikes terror into our hearts. Some prefer to call it the Big C rather than give it sound, as though the very utterance is contagious.

More and more people these days, are diagnosed with this disease, often in the prime of their lives. It has to do with diet, the environment and to some extent, genetics. The disease runs in families that have defective genes that are prone to it.

Medical science has progressed with the development of new drugs to counter the disease. Sometimes the battle is won at heavy cost, not just financially but physically and emotionally. Drugs destroy the cancer cells together with the healthy cells. Chemotherapy is debilitating, to say the least. The patient suffers during treatment. The carers and the family members suffer along with the patient.

When my younger sister was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she was at the fourth or terminal stage. The doctor gave her at most six months or she could be gone within two. Her cancer had spread throughout her body, affecting her liver as well.

Fortunately her will to survive was strong. Her son was only twelve years old, in form one. Our family and friends rallied around her, giving her strength and praying constantly for God’s mercy. Praise to the Lord who answered our prayers. She went into remission and although the cancer re-surfaced later, God gave her an extra four years, during which she was able to see her eldest daughter get married.

Never underestimate the power of prayer. It is even more powerful when many pray together. God answers prayers. He is always there for us whether we realize it or not. All we have to do is to call on him, pray faithfully and miracles will happen. It happened in my family when God gave my sister four years while the doctor gave her at most six months. Praise be to God for his Love and Mercy.

Today her children are all doing well and have done her proud. It’s been ten years but she’s still very much alive in our hearts and minds.
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