A Miracle
by Ma. Cristina Contreras
(Shared in the 9th Novena Mass on the Feast of the Miraculous Medal
Nov. 26, 2008 at the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul)
According to Psalm 9:2-4
I will praise you Lord, with all my heart
I will declare all your wondrous deeds
I will delight and rejoice in you
I will sing hymns to your name, most high for my enemies turn back
They stumble and perish before you.
God has a wonderful plan for all his people. But he doesn’t have to tell us much about it if, he chooses not to. All he asks is that we take his hands and walk along in faith. He will show us soon enough what shall be done.
Last holy week this year, I attended a retreat at St. Vincent Seminary about “The Divine Will”.
Divine will which is the will of God for our sufferings and pains that we should willingly and wholeheartedly accept it.
Last wed. September 3 at 6:00 pm, we were scheduled to attend hold teaching night “Living in the Divine Will” but a very tragic incident happened inside my clinic at 5:30 pm. We were held up by 2 persons pretended to be patients. All of a sudden I was gunshot at a closed range pointing at my chest. But I raised my hands to cover my face and say the word “Lord Help!” I was hit at the right shoulder and passed through my left back while the robber rushed away with my wallet.
My mother went out and called for help. Fortunately 2 Vincentian seminarians passing by and she asked them to please rush me to the nearest hospital which was at the Lung Center.
On the way to the hospital, I had profuse bleeding which resulted to severe blood loss. Right there my mom texted our priest friends, my elder sister and my brother and her sisters in Christ. “Hold up kami binaril si Teen pls. pray!” The priests, my sister and brother responded immediately to the hospital. The 3 priests anointed me.
According to James 5:14-15
If anyone is sick let him call on the elders of the church. They shall pray for him. Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer said in faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.
While I was at the emergency room, I had no vital signs, no heartbeat, no pulse rate, inadequate breath and I felt like I’m almost dying.
At that time, I was suffering from severe pain, which I accepted it willingly and wholeheartedly as “the Divine will”. Afterwards the Vincentian seminarians and theologians came to donate blood.
According to Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
But after 12 hours of sufferings and pains, 6 bags of blood transfusion were done. At this time God showed another miracle. Vital signs turned normal and x-ray showed that bullet passes through 2 mms away from my lungs and spinal cord, which may lead to paralysis and comatose. The doctors were waiting for possible critical symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and numbness of lower extremities.
But God showed another miracle none of these symptoms arises.
According to Mark 11:24
Therefore, I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe and that you have received it and it shall be done for you.
After 3 days stayed at surgical intensive care unit or SICU. I was brought to my private room. As my mom changed my hospital gown she saw an image of Jesus embedded on my chest, which was left from my scapular when it was cut at the emergency room. Jesus showed another miracle, Jesus never abandoned her.
According to Psalms 9-10
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a place of safety in time of trouble. Those who know the Lord, will trust you. You do not abandon anyone who comes to you.
Series of test made by doctors like:
CT scan and x-ray reveals fractured and collapsed lungs due to blood clot. So I was scheduled for VATS operation procedure. (Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery). The night before the operation no food and water intake. The next day at 7am I was fetched for operation. At 8am I was anesthetized by General Anesthesia and was about to start the incision. God showed another miracle. My lungs expanded. The doctors decided that operation was not needed.
According to Gal. 3.5
Did God gave you the spirit and work miracles among you, because of your observance of the law or because you believed in his messages?
So I just slept at the operating and recovery room. When I woke up I was brought back to my room. My doctor told me “God is Great” no need for operation. Ang galing ng anghel mo! The doctors ordered I may go home the following day.
For 7 days stayed in the hospital proved my speedy recovery. God showed another miracle. As my mom settle my hospital bills, the director from Filipino-Chinese Charity Clinic where I work as a volunteer dentist for 14 years my weekly charity mission through out the country handed my mom a check for all the hospital expenses.
According to Ephesians 6:10
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power! Praise and thank God from all his inexpressible gifts!
My family & I would like to thank the ff:
1. The Vincentian & Opus Dei Priests who offered prayers and masses.
2. The seminarians and theologians who donated blood and prayed the 2000 Hail Mary’s.
3. Bro. Nestor Canlas, our friends and relatives.
4. And the Filipino-Chinese Charity Clinic for all the financial support.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS US ALL!
