The following is an excerpt of an email from Mary Daigle (Bible Quiz coach from Grace A/G, Syracuse, NY) to Pastor Bernie Elliot (National Bible Quiz Coordinator) …
Hi Bernie, I have had some inquiries about how my surgery went so I thought I would give you an update.
I had my surgery on June 3rd, and even though it was postponed for three hours the surgery went much better than ever expected. We were told it would take three hours but it only took them and hour and a half with absolutely no complications. In fact both of the surgeons told John that it was one of the easiest procedures they had done. Recovery was tough at first but I was out in four days. Everyone who took care of me in the hospital knew of our faith and they would encourage us in the Lord. They were very supportive of our steady stream of visitors who would come with gifts, flowers and candy – and they didn’t mind at all the singing and/or praying that would come from my room. On Friday, June 6th the doctor came and said the pathology report was negative and that the whole office was talking about me. I was not sure what this meant until this week when John and I went in for a consultation. As I was being led to a conference room I asked if John could come, too, and the nurse said, “Sure, after all he is part of the prayer chain, too.” Again, we were a little confused about what she meant. The doctor came in was telling us about what he had done when a nurse practitioner (the one who found the cancer in the first place) walked in and the first thing she said was, “Well here she is – here the Miracle Woman!” Our faces must have shown our bewilderment and she asked, “Don’t you know what has happened to you?” We said we were trying to figure it out so they both began to explain. During the first surgery they found cancer in at least three different places – they had removed the right ovary but took tissue out of other areas and cancer was found in at least three of these. In the second, more exhaustive and complete surgery they took out more organs, linings and lymph nodes but nothing was found anywhere. They said that they sent the results to two pathology labs and one pathologist (the one who worked on my findings from the first surgery) said he went over them three times. He said that what has happened to me NEVER happens – that when they go back in they ALWAYS find some cancer cells somewhere, but not in this case – that is why he did it three times. The doctor said that in medicine when something happens that has never happened before, it is just about always a bad thing but in my case it was a good thing. That is why everyone is talking about me, he said, because it is so unusual. The nurse practitioner said she wants what I have to rub off on her to which I promptly replied that it was not me – and when I see her on Monday I will explain again to her about the Lord. At our first consultation following the initial surgery we shared the Word and our belief in the power of prayer with our her and the doctor – to which they both said that many studies in the field of medicine support that power.
When I got home that day from the doctor’s office, Tika called to say that the owner of the karate school where she works was approached by someone who works at the medical center where I had just been and asked if she believed in miracles. She said, ‘yes, why?’ And she was told that “Mary Daigle is a miracle!” Also, this past week Tika led one of the instructors to the Lord and when he saw me he said that the miracle of what had happened to me contributed greatly to his conversion. This is in fulfillment of Acts 4:29 & 30 that says, ” And now Lord take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all boldness, by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant, Jesus.” So, as Tika was proclaiming the Word the Lord helped by healing and working miracles!
Our prayer had been for me to be cancer free and the doctor says that is what happened. All of the people who used the word ‘miracle’ were medical people and we are able to give all of the glory to the Lord.
Ever since May 15th, when we were given the news, I have been surrounded by many warriors doing battle for me. When I was in the hospital I felt the power of all those prayers like a protective shield around me – I could not worry or fret (something that usually comes very natural for me) and I was so aware that what I was experiencing had very little to do with me but had everything to do with the Lord, His Word and the body of Christ. It is very humbling. I want to say thank you for all of the cards, letters, notes, e-mail, scriptures, gifts and most of all the PRAYERS I have received from the body and in particular the Bible Quiz community. In a few weeks another church will be crowned the National Champions of Bible Quiz – and that is great and exciting thing. Memorizing the book, scoring points, winning matches, tournaments and championships is what makes this ministry so enjoyable but those of us who work in quiz know the real reason – John 6:63 – “Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.'” For years I have used this scripture emphasizing the ‘spirit’ part in explaining Bible Quiz. The quizzers may participate for various reasons but we know that the spirit is doing His work regardless. During this trial the Lord showed me that at this time the ‘life’ part would become real to me and that life was found in His Word. So once again I am so thankful for this ministry that is based on the Word of the Lord.
Thanks again Bernie and God bless, Mary