Dec 23, 2005
Glory to Jesus Christ!
We want to let everyone know that a miracle has taken place
in our small parish of St. George in North Canton, Ohio. We have
a little 6 year old girl in our parish, Mia Bogunovich, who had
a very large and aggressive malignant tumor in her throat. This
type of cancer is called rhabdomyosarcoma. The treatment protocol
is complex, with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation
and eventually the possibility of surgery. It also has horrible
side effects. At one point the doctors had to stop treatments
because she was so ill. She had lost a lot of weight, could no
longer eat, was on an IV for feeding and was extremely weak.
Her parents, David and Kelly, were fearful to have Mia come into
contact with people because her system was severely compromised.
If she caught a simple cold it could have devastating effects.
With
the blessing of our Bishop Mitrophan, it was at this time,
relative to Mia’s treatment, the Wonderworking Icon of the
Sitka Mother of God came to our parish. On the evening of the
Akathist Service, November 9th, our small church was overflowing
with over 300 people present to greet and venerate the holy
icon. In spite of their concerns, Mia’s mother and father,
along with her little sister Kirsten brought her that evening
to venerate the Sitka Mother of God. Father Michael Oleksa,
the priest from Alaska that accompanied the holy icon, wore
a pectoral cross that holds the relics of three saints. Because
Mia was very weak Father Michael invited Mia and her family
to venerate the holy icon before the Akathist service. He
then, with prayers, placed the pectoral cross on Mia’s throat. Popadija
Kristina Tuba saw Mia moments after, as the family was leaving
the church, and said her face was glowing.
A couple
of weeks later Protinica Mira and I went to see her at her
home and
were amazed at how well she looked. Her eyes
were bright, there was color in her cheeks, her appetite had
returned, she was very active and seemed so strong. We had our
suspicions but said nothing. Two days after our visit Mia and
her parents met with the team of doctors to assess her condition
to see when they could continue with the treatment protocol.
The MRI taken that morning showed no tumor. The tumor is completely
gone! While the doctors were very restrained in their remarks
it was clear they were extremely pleased and declared she is
in “complete remission”!
To say that her whole family is overjoyed and thankful to God
and the Theotokos is an understatement! Our whole parish, who
has been praying for her, is thankful as well and credits the
Sitka Mother of God with this miracle!
In Christ,
Prota Dragan Filipovic
December 21, 2005
The Wonderworking Icon of the Sitka Mother
of God
