Arm Mended after Cancer
A MENDED ARM
Reprinted with kind permission from GARABANDAL JOURNAL January-February 2005
Excerpted from LOS MILAGROS O FAVORES DE NUESTRA MADRE DE GARABANDAL and translated from Spanish by Dr. Edward Serrano
My name is Casilda Alvarez Lomrana. I’m 59 years old and I live in Potes (Spain). I was operated on for breast cancer in 1952. Seven years ago they removed lymphatic nodes that were already cancerous. The diagnosis was very grave. They gave me 12 chemotherapy treatments and 30 days on radiotherapy. My axilla (armpit) was now like raw meat.
The doctors gave me a very grave prognosis and told my son Eutiquiano Recio, a medical doctor, that I wouldn’t live long. Dr. Constantino Rives Rubira operated on me in the Madrazo Sanitarium of Santander; I was also attended by Dr. Leopoldo Perez Lastra.
For the next seven years after the surgery, I had intense pains in the area forcing me to take pain killers which I disliked. At home I could hardly function since I couldn’t move my arm. I was not able to flex or extend it and couldn’t sleep on that side as it caused me great pain. I couldn’t even walk arm in arm with my husband.
On April 13, 1995, I went up to San Sebastian de Garabandal with my husband. There were rumors that something important was going to happen. We arrived in the village at 6:30 P.M., and went to the Pines where Our Lady appeared so many times.
Whenever I pray, I always speak to my father because he was such a good man that I’m sure he is with Our Lady in heaven. I said to him, “Father, I believe you are in heaven. Intercede for me with Our Lady that she heal my arm so I can continue to work and take care of my family.” I don’t remember the exact moment, but when I arrived back home the pain was gone.
When I went for my regular checkup, Dr. Lastra examined me and said, “What have you done with this arm? The swelling is gone.” (Since the surgery the arm was very swollen because the lymphatic drainage had been destroyed.)
Fifteen days after this visit to the doctor, I fell in my tub without feeling the slightest pain. Doctors had told me I could not have an injection in that arm, or have the skin cut or a manicure because it would become me I could not have an injection in that arm, or have the skin cut or a manicure because it would become infected. After all that has happened I consider it a miracle since I have regained full use of my arm without any problems.
Also, I burned that arm with a hot pan while cooking which could have caused serious consequences. But thanks to the Virgin, it healed uneventfully. There is nothing wrong with my arm now and it has the same strength as the other one.
Signed: Casilda Alvarez
Reprinted with kind permission from GARABANDAL JOURNAL January-February 2005
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