Modern Miracles

I love miracle stories, and today I want to share my own miracle story: I’m celebrating the nineteenth anniversary of my stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis.

The doctors estimated that I had a five-year life expectancy —much too soon to leave my three-year-old grandson, Andrew, and six-month-old granddaughter, Micah. Why would anyone celebrate that? My family reminded the doctors that I had done everything they had recommended: surgery, radiation, and the dreaded chemotherapy. The doctors explained that cancer would probably recur because it had already metastasized to the lymph nodes. “It’s in the bloodstream,” one doctor stated plainly.

“We must warn you that only a miracle can help now.” True to their dire warnings, the cancer came back in 2006, but the same treatments have given me fourteen more cancer-free years. Today I am enjoying my grandbabies, who are all grown up. They also have miracle stories to share. High schooler Andrew suffered a debilitating football injury that caused him to say to me, “Nana, I wish the surgeon would just go ahead and amputate this leg. It would be so much better.” But with many prayers, intense therapy, and much faith, he is a survivor. He is now pursuing a college degree. Teenage Micah was involved in a head-on car crash. The towing attendant asked, “How did anyone survive this?” The other driver was killed instantly; Micah fully recovered after having knee surgery. Why have we survived and so many have not? I don’t know.

My mind and heart find it hard to comprehend, but we are grateful and know God has His reasons. I accept these miracles as gifts from God.

Jane Wiggins Moore