Two years ago, I went for open-heart surgery, and Sister Daria gave me a medal with relics of Blessed Josaphata. It was pinned to my identification bracelet and I had it with me during surgery. Blessed Josaphata obviously looked after me, because my operation was a complete success.
In October, 2009 I underwent an operation to correct my spinal stenosis,Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. (Click to see more.) in which the surgeon had to drill into my vertebrae to free the nerve that controls the movement in my right arm. Before going to the operation room, I convinced the nurse that if she wrapped my Josaphata medal in gauze so that no metal would touch my skin, as they did when I had my heart surgery, I could have it pinned to my ID bracelet. The last thing I remember before the anaesthetic took effect was that I was praying: “I am in the hands of God, the doctor is in the hands of God, I accept what ever fate God has for me.”
The surgery was to take four hours, but it took only two. After the surgery, I was sent to the neuro-surgery recovery ward, where I was to spend a few days. I was told that I would have much pain and that I would be nauseous. In fact I was quite hungry. They brought me supper: cream of vegetable soup, lasagna, broccoli, and canned mango for dessert. I had no pain, so there was no reason to give me morphine. During the night the nurse checked to see if I needed morphine, but I had no pain. I said, “Isn’t it amazing!” And she exclaimed: “That’s not amazing, it’s a miracle!”
The following morning, my doctor visited me. When he saw that I had not used a drop of morphine and had eaten heartily, he sent me home. I truly believe that my faith in the strength of Blessed Josaphata’s ability to look after me has much to do with my “miraculous” recovery. She was with me during my open-heart surgery, two years ago, and she was with me again during my spinal operation this time.
(Note: The above may not qualify for a first class miracle, if the medical professionals could explain it away, e.g. that Peter just happens to be a man that does not feel pain like ordinary people, for instance. A first class miracle has to be a healing that cannot be explained medically. However, it is certainly a great grace received through the intervention of Blessed Josaphata. - Sr. Dominica Slawuta, Postulator for the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Josaphata.)The event written below - the grace - took place on November 16, 2008. My sister Anna Mashliuk lives with her son, Bohdan, and his wife Ivanna, and little grand-daughter Katherine, in the town of Mokre, near Sjanok in Poland. Accidentally, from our Sisters in Peremyshl, I heard that Bohdan, on November 15, had a serious accident in the forest, where he went with friends to prepare wood for the winter, for firewood. At the time of this work, a branch fell from a tree so unfortunately, that it wounded his head. Bohdan fell to the ground and lost consciousness. His helper, with all his strength, ran from the woods to the nearest telephone, to call an ambulance. From the woods it was quite far, the territory was hilly, and there was no way to drive there. At last, the ambulance came. It was quite far to carry the sick man to the vehicle. The ambulance took him to the hospital in Sjanok, to the intensive care unit.
Описана подія — ласка мала місце 16 листопада 2008 р. Моя сестра Анна Машлюх проживає разом зі своїм сином Богданом і невісткою Іванною і малесенькою внучкою Катериною у мсц. Мокре біля Сянока в Польщі. Випадково від наших сестер з Перемишля я довідалася, що Богдан 15 листопада мав поважний випадок в лісі, де поїхав із знайомим, щоб приготовити дров на зиму на паливо. В часі цеї праці з дерева впав конар (галузь) так нещасливо, що зранив йому голову. Богдан впав на землю, втратив свідомість, а його помічник щосили біг з лісу до найближчого телефону, щоб закликати швидку допомогу. З лісу було досить далеко, територія гориста, неможливо нічим доїхати. Врешті амбулянс приїхав. Хворого треба було досить далеко нести до авта. Швидка допомога сейчас примістила хворого в шпиталі в Сяноці на відділі інтенсивної опіки.
The state of the injured man was critical: he lost a lot of blood, his brain was injured. It was uncertain if other organs were not also wounded. He was unconscious and tossed in his bed. Though his hands were tied, he always wanted to get up, to run somewhere, "rush off to work". When for a moment he would regain his awareness, he sighed and complained of the great pain in his head. All night, every night, by him were: my sister, the sick man's wife, his brother with his wife and other members of the family. When they anxiously asked about the chances of the sick man's recovery, the doctors were hesitatingly silent, fearing to give them any hope. They said: we need to wait, wait ... it will show itself.
Стан хворого був тяжкий: втратив багато крови, мозок ушкоджений. Не було певності, чи інші органи не є зранені. Був непритомний і кидався на ліжку. Хоча мав прив’язані руки весь час хотів вставати, десь бігти, “спішив до праці”. Коли на хвилинку відзискував свідомість, стогнав і скаржився на сильний біль голови. Цілими ночами були при ньому: моя сестра, жінка хворого, його брат з жінкою і інші члени родини. Коли вони тривожно допитували про шанси для хворого на видужання, лікарі стримано мовчали, боячись робити якінебудь надії. Вони казали: треба чекати, чекати ... покажеться.
Learning of this the next day, I ran to our chapel, knelt down in the pew nearest the relics of Blessed Josaphata, cried and prayed fervently, that Christ, the Lord, would heal Bohdan, touching his head and all his wounds. I begged that he would not become crippled, but would be able to return to full health for the sake of his wife and young daughter, Katherine, who, at the time barely was 10 ½ months old. I also strongly asked our Blessed, to intercede to the Lord in these matters, and give me some sign of hope in this despair.
Довідавшись про все на другий день, я прибігла до нашої каплиці, клякнула в найближчу лавку біля мощей Блаженної Йосафати, плакала і молилась гаряче, щоб Христос Господь зцілив Богдана, доторкаючи його голови і всіх зранень. Благала я, щоб не став калікою, а міг повернути до повного здоров’я задля жінки, малесенької донечки Катерини, яка тоді мала ледве десять з половиною місяців. Я також дуже просила нашу Блаженну, щоб вставлялася до Господа в цій справі і щоб мені дала якийсь знак надії у цьому відчаї.
After long moments, something inexplicable happened. From the little reliquary of the Venerable One I heard, clearly and loudly, two words: “He’s saved.” The voice was clear, decisive and sure. In them could be felt, as if some kind of rebuke, maybe for my weak faith. I felt a sort of inner trembling, and then immediately, a calming and deep gratitude to Christ, for this great grace, and to Blessed Josaphata for this sign, this clear certainty. From the chapel I ran as if on wings with this inner certainty, that all would be well, and phoned my sister, to have everyone pray, and the Lord would save Bohdan. And so it happened.
По довшій хвилині сталося щось незбагненого. З маленької домовинки Преподобної я почула виразно, голосно два слова: “Він врятований”. Голос був чіткий, рішучий, певний. Відчувалося в ньому якби якийсь докір, може за мою слабу віру. Я відчула якесь внутрішне потрясення а заразом успокоєння і глибоку вдячність Христові, за цю превелику благодать і Блаженній Йосафаті за цей знак, ясне запевнення. З каплиці вибігла я немов на крилах з внутрішньою певністю, що все буде добре і подзвонила своїй сестрі, щоби всі молилися, а Господь врятує Богдана. Так і сталося.
Bohdan stayed at the hospital only two weeks. On the fourth day, he already regained consciousness, and his condition improved sufficiently for him to be transferred to a general ward. After many various tests established that his brain was regenerating beautifully, his memory returned and he slowly began to return to critical thinking. Bohdan began again to work at the computer, to drive a car, to live normally. At the moment, he is still under medical care, but all the doctors are saying: “You had a lot of luck. This is a true miracle. After such an accident, people are left crippled in wheelchairs, or die.”
Богдан перебував в шпиталі тільки 2 тижні. Четвертого дня вже відзикав свідомість і стан його на стільки поправився, що перенесено його на загальну залю хворих. По багатьох всяких перевірках усталено, що мозок гарно зрегенерувався, повернула пам’ять і поволи почало повертати критичне мислення. Богдан почав знов працювати на комп’ютері, їздити автом, нормально жити. В цій хвилині перебуває ще на лікарському звільненні а всі лікарі говорять: “Ти мав багато щастя. Це правдиве чудо. По таких випадках люди залишаються каліками на візках, або вмирають”.
From the depths of my heart I thank Blessed Josaphata for her intercession before the Most High and for the sign given to me. In no way did I earn such a great grace. May the Lord be glorified a hundred-fold in this!
З глибини серця дякую Блаженній Йосафаті за її заступництво перед Всевишнім і за знак даний мені. Я нічим не заслужила на таку велику благодать. Нехай Господь буде у цьому стократно прославлений!
Rome, Via Cassia 102-104, March 22, 2009
Sr. Romana Pashkovjak, SSMI
Рим, Via Cassia 102-104, дня 22 березня 2009 р.
с. Романа Пашков’як, СНДМ
More graces and miracles attributed to the intercession of Blessed Josaphata are included in her official biography, Prayer and Service.
Back to Causes page, and Blessed Josaphata's lifeTo submit your stories of graces received through the intercession of Blessed Josaphata or others of our Community Triumphant, or to contact the Sisters, click the emblem below.
