|
Family of cancer-free teen is giving thanks to Blessed Seelos |
|
|
|
By Julie Pfitzinger - For The Catholic Spirit
|
|
Monday, 19 October 2009 |
Just a few short weeks ago, 14-year-old Joey Schwartz had never heard of Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos.
Joey Schwartz, 14, of Savage, left, with his mother, Melinda, twin brother, Derek, and father, Paul. Joey learned early last month that he is now cancer free. - Photo by Jim Bovin / For The Catholic Spirit.
He could not have imagined making a pilgrimage with his family from Savage to the New Orleans shrine of the Redemptorist priest, especially since he was extremely ill with a rare form of cancer that had returned after a short remission.
Even less expected was the life-changing outcome of that visit to the
Seelos Shrine — a testimony to the power of prayer and the possible
intercession of Blessed Father Seelos. According to his doctor,
Schwartz is now cancer-free and his family is eager to share the story
of the apparent miracle in its midst.
Deadly diagnosis
In March 2008, Joey was diagnosed with midline carcinoma after having a walnut-sized tumor removed from his chest.
“This kind of cancer is so rare that, by all accounts, Joey’s was the
14th case worldwide,” said his father, Paul Schwartz. “It has been
classified as highly lethal and aggressive. Most cases don’t respond
well to treatment. With the exception of one young man living in
Sweden, everyone who has been diagnosed with this cancer has died.”
Joey began an intensive course of treatment and would have multiple
rounds of chemotherapy by February 2009, in addition to six weeks of
radiation.
“At the end of April, he was finished with his treatment and the CAT
scan showed his tumor was gone,” Paul said. “We really thought all our
prayers had been answered and that Joey had cheated death.”
However, in early July, the family, members of St. John the Baptist in
Savage, received devastating news. Joey’s cancer had not only returned,
but he now had a quarter-inch tumor on his chest wall and more than a
dozen small tumors in his lungs.
“In some ways, it was even harder to hear that than it was to receive the original cancer diagnosis,” said his mother, Melinda.
Joey’s oncologist at Children’s Hospital-Minneapolis, Dr. Jawhar Rawwas, met with the family the next day.
“He told us, ‘I can’t sit here and offer you guys hope,’” Paul
recalled. “He said we should start thinking about quality of life
issues, but also gave us some other options for chemo. Joey is a
fighter and we realized that without a fight, there is no hope, so we
decided to keep at it.”
It was not long after that day at the hospital when they first learned
about Blessed Father Seelos from a family friend who had recently read
about two cancer patients, one in the late-1960s and one in 2004, who
had been cured of their disease after praying novenas to the priest.
Born in 1819, Francis Seelos, considered responsible for several
episodes of healing during his priesthood, served in both Pittsburgh
and New Orleans, where he died in 1867 from yellow fever. He was
beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
The Schwartz family was intrigued by the story, so Paul decided to
order some material from the national shrine as well as a first-class
relic from the Redemptorist priest — a medallion with a small bone
fragment that Joey wears daily.
“After watching a DVD about Father Seelos, we all felt spiritually
called to travel to New Orleans to visit the shrine,” Paul said.
‘Spiritually overwhelmed’
Soon after getting the go-ahead from Joey’s doctor, the family — which
includes Joey’s twin brother, Derek — drove to New Orleans. Melinda had
called ahead and spoken to Joyce Bourgeois, the Seelos Center
administrator, a woman both Melinda and Paul say is “definitely doing
the Lord’s work” with her devotion to prayer.
During Mass at the shrine, it was Bourgeois who laid her hands on
Joey’s shoulders in prayer. Each member of the family felt “spiritually
overwhelmed” by the experience, according to Paul. “I don’t know how to
explain it, but I did feel different,” Joey added.
In late August, Joey was able to start his freshman year at the Academy
of Holy Angels in Richfield and on Sept. 3, had his first CAT scan
since July.
“Realistically, we were hoping the chemo was working and that nothing
had gotten worse,” Paul said. “Dr. Rawwas looked at the scan when we
were there and said it looked like there had been some shrinkage of the
tumors, so we decided to stay the course. That was the best news we
could have gotten.”
Until they received a cell phone call from the doctor later that day.
Rawwas told them the radiologist had taken a detailed look at all of
Joey’s scans. He was unable to find any detectable cancer in Joey’s
lungs and said the larger tumor spotted in July was likely scar tissue.
“Melinda and I were in the car and I pulled over when he called. We
immediately made the sign of the cross upon hearing this unbelievable
news,” Paul said. Melinda quickly called Bourgeois at the Seelos
Shrine, who was “ecstatic,” she said.
It was in the bleachers at Holy Angels, right after Derek’s football
practice, where Joey’s parents told him about the call from his doctor.
“I was thinking about 20 billion things all at the same time,” he said
with a smile.
For now, Joey is continuing with his course of chemo. “Nothing is
telling us to stop that, and we’re going to go by what our doctor is
saying,” said Melinda.
At the same time, Paul and Melinda truly believe Joey is cured. “It’s time for us to start talking about it,” Melinda said.
Father Michael Tix, pastor at St. John the Baptist, believes Joey’s
story is “a pretty amazing one that I believe can give great hope to
others.”
Following Joey’s cancer recurrence in July, the parish held an
anointing Mass where the outpouring of prayers and support was
phenomenal, according to Father Tix.
“In the midst of sickness, we are called as people of faith to prayer,”
he said. “While it is only human to have hopes of certain outcomes, the
focus of our prayer is always to open ourselves to God’s will in the
midst of whatever challenges life may bring.
“In Joey’s case, the answer to the prayers of many appears by every
indication to be the best possible outcome in terms of physical
healing. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, we are left
only joyful and thankful.”
The Schwartzes don’t know when, but they plan a return visit to the
Seelos Shrine. “I just want to go to say thank you in person,” Melinda
said.
 |
|
Sign up for our eNewsletter and get
Show/hide comment form