by Melani Manel Perera

Noelin Rupa Fernando, was hit by a brain tumor. The woman asked Jesus for a "miracle" and "the love of Jesus healed me." The whole community prayed for her, supported and encouraged her. Her illness is "a good lesson for all" and now she asks God's blessing for loved ones.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - "My recovery [from the brain tumor] is the greatest miracle I have ever experienced in my entire life. He brought so many blessings to my family that I do not know how to repay God for the gift he has given me”, says Noelin Rupa Fernando, local leader of the Asian Integral Pastoral Approach (ASIPA), who spoke to AsiaNews about the painful experience of the brain tumor and her "miraculous" recovery ì thanks to the "prayers of so many people – childhood friends, family , neighbors, sisters and priests of the Holy Family - who helped me and supported me with visits, encouraging me and praying for me”.

Noelin Rupa Fernando is a Catholic woman of 48, mother of two children who attend the parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in Naninamadama, in the province of Kochchikade. Her daily routine was to visit sick people, the elderly of the parish and in organizing the prayers of the community. Ms. Rupa has always also been supported by her family and her husband, who encouraged her to carry on her work in the parish.

Up to June last year, when she was hospitalized after fainting. Tests revealed a serious cancer to the right hemisphere of the brain, the doctor advised her not to operate because of the seriousness of the situation. The woman said: "The specialist’s decision left me and my family totally shocked. We were shocked and very sad about what was happening to me. I felt an unbearable pain and I could not imagine how I would be able to face this situation. I asked God: 'Why do I suffer from a such a serious disease after all I've done for other people?'. "

The only solution was to rely on the love of Jesus for a "miracle": "I asked God to take upon my pain and to heal me. I kept my faith strong and I started to pray. Day after day, many people, especially my loved ones, prayed for me. And day after day, my faith grew”. "The most beautiful thing - continues Ms. Rupa - is that all members of my family started to pray together every night."

Meanwhile Noelin started radiotherapy treatment at the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama. The treatment led her to spending a lot of time in hospital, where she was constantly assisted by her daughter, and then going home every weekend. "Never before had I experienced Jesus’ love so much as in those who were around me. Although the disease was terrible, it has created something good. "

Last week the woman returned to the specialist, Dr. Sunil Perera, who compared her latest tests with the first ones that revealed her cancer. Ms. Rupa was unable to contain the tears when the doctor informed that the tumor was gone: "But they were tears of joy."

"I know one thing: that the disease was a good lesson for my family, for my friends and for my village. I am very happy to be healed and for all these things I feel I have experienced the love of God. I have to thank all those who helped me and ask God's blessing on them, "says the woman. Although it is a bit 'sad, "because I am not able to do the same things at home as I did before, however, I am overflowing with happiness and joy, because I was the object of the love of Jesus who healed me".

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