Having given my Rosary to the young singer at the Conference, I was once
again without a Rosary. But I still had a few left from my trip to Medjugorje, and chose a black and
silver one. I used it constantly and, yes, it, too, turned gold eventually. I was deeply grateful
to God and my spirituality grew.
The next couple of years were very prayerful. I was "on top of the
mountain," so to speak. I did a lot of spiritual reading from 1990 through early 1996. I read several
books on the saints, the complete works of "Poem of the Man-God"(excellent), the Holy Bible and many
publications, such as Wayne Weible's Medjugorje Newsletter. I made friends of many priest and Religious
Sisters. I developed a friendship with someone who has great knowledge of the lives of saints.
My son met and married a very beautiful lady and gave me a grandson four years later.
My stay on the mountain top, however, was to come to an end. In early
June 1996 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor said I needed to have the breast
removed and I opted for reconstruction. Before my surgery, my sister was diagnosed with a brain
tumor at the base of her brain. She had begun to lose memory of things and falter. I went to visit her at
the hospital. I took my black and silver Rosary that had turned gold. Silently I prayed for her. My
sister had married into a Greek Orthodox family, so she was more understanding of my conversion to
Catholicism. In the few moments that I could speak to her, I explained my Rosary and then gave it to her,
letting her know that the Blessed Mother would watch over her.
Thanks be to God my sister's tumor was a very rare type of cellular
distortion, but it was NOT cancerous.
Three days later, I had my surgery. I should tell you that I have
another affliction called Fibromyalgia Syndrome, which affects the muscle tissue. In post surgery, I
suffered very much from the reconstruction, as muscle was involved.
I had read how the saints offered all of their sufferings to God. I did
so, but God wanted even more suffering so that more souls would be saved.
In August of 1996, my surgeon advised me to start chemotherapy. I was
devastated. During the time of my recuperation, I had a great deal of time to pray. I had picked
out a large crystal Rosary I had brought from Medjugorje. Yes, and very soon, it, also, turned gold. How I
thanked Our Lord! This was my little piece of Heaven and I needed it now more than ever. Yet my
suffering was not to end.
One Friday evening, I received a call. My Dad had had a stroke. Dad was
very special to me. The thought of losing him was very hard.
But that's yet another story for next time when I will continue. Until then, God bless you, dear reader.