God and science: Healing partners

Christ with the Eucharist (PD)

When Peter Srsich's stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma went into remission, he didn't feel that he had to choose between crediting God or science.

As he told Susan Donaldson James of Good Morning America:  "I credit all the years of medical research and the training of all the doctors going to school – all that definitely cured me.  But God was behind it, helping me go through the treatment."

On the medical front, Srsich underwent "seven rounds of grueling chemotherapy and 21 days of radiation…"  When the pain became excruciating, he was given the drug Dilaudid.

After becoming clinically depressed (who wouldn't?), he was blessed with a visit from a Eucharist-bearing friend.  Srsich told Julie Filby of the Denver Catholic Register that when the host was lifted and his friend said "Body of Christ," everything began to change for the better.

He could then feel the actual presence of Jesus in the room.  Not only did Srsich's hope and faith instantly return, but his body immediately began to heal.  Painful sores that had "covered his mouth and digestive system cleared up" within 24 hours, which allowed him to be discharged from the hospital.

Another spiritual turning point occurred when the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted Srsich his request to meet Pope Benedict XVI.  When this great opportunity arrived, the Pope placed his hand on Srsich's chest, "right where the tumor had been…"

Srsich concluded:  Knowing the pope was in my future… in a small, non-miraculous way, helped cure my cancer. 

    

Resources

http://gma.yahoo.com/god-mostly-science-helps-cure-colorado-teen-cancer-101457132--abc-news

http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/9323

Copyright September 6, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved