A Nun’s Fight with Cancer and a Doctor’s Encounter with Grace

As I begin my own journey towards becoming a social/pastoral communicator, one particular hospital experience stands out: the three-day admission of a devoted religious sister who had been diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Being a Nuclear Medicine physician, mother, and wife, my days are often filled with a profound balancing act that involves dedication, compassion, patience, and resilience. However, this experience is special for me and worth sharing.

The holistic approach to patient care has always emphasized the physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being of the individual. However, through my studies in Social Communications, I have come to realize that true healing also involves the spiritual dimension, seeing communication not merely as an exchange of information, but as a means to share the Gospel and bear witness to one’s faith.

When Sister M first came to our university hospital for radioactive iodine therapy, her demeanor was calm and serene. Despite the gravity of her condition, she greeted me with a warm smile that radiated her steadfast faith. We discussed her treatment plan, and I explained how the radioactive iodine would target the cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues.

Over those three days, as I oversaw her medical care, I also witnessed the profound interplay between medicine and spirituality. Each day, I would visit her room, where she would often be found in prayer, her rosary beads in hand. Our conversations would shift from her treatment to reflections on life, health, and spirituality. She spoke of her belief that suffering could lead to spiritual growth, a perspective that deepened my understanding of her resilience.

By the third day, as she prepared for discharge, Sister M expressed her immense gratitude, not just for the medical care she received but for our shared moments of connection and faith.

As I reflect on this experience, I can’t help but wonder how Sister M’s three-day admission to the hospital for radioactive iodine therapy mirrored the journey of Christ’s suffering, passion, and eventual resurrection. Just as Christ endured profound suffering, facing betrayal and pain, Sister M confronted her own trials with unwavering faith in the face of illness.

Each day in the hospital represented a step in her crucible, first, the initial shock and fear upon diagnosis, akin to Christ’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane; then, the challenging days of treatment, resembling the physical torment Christ endured from the Roman soldiers, yet filled with moments of prayer and communion that provided her solace.

As she navigated this dark period, Sister M embodied the resilience of faith, drawing strength from her spiritual convictions, much like Christ’s unwavering trust in God’s plan. Eventually, on the day of her discharge, the moment symbolized not just the end of her hospital stay but a resurrection of spirit, a renewal of hope and purpose.

This experience underscored the profound truth that through suffering can come transformation and rebirth, echoing the promise of resurrection and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity. We then said our goodbyes, and I thanked her for allowing me to be part of her journey. I silently prayed for her, that she may continue to find strength and healing through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As she left the hospital, I was reminded that my role as a physician is not solely to provide expert medical knowledge and skills to treat ailments, but more so to support the human experience, an experience enriched by faith, hope, and love.

The healing process is deeply strengthened by the connections we form with our patients and their families. The love shared between the patient, the primary care provider, and the entire healthcare team creates a nurturing atmosphere that empowers individuals to face their challenges with renewed courage. Even in moments of vulnerability, one can find strength and purpose in God’s grace in our everyday lives.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

This verse indicates that human vulnerability is not an obstacle but rather a pathway for God's strength to be displayed. It enables believers to discover purpose and resilience by depending on His grace and power. Moreover, this ordinary experience illustrated that healing is a holistic journey encompassing body, mind, and spirit, that the intersection of medicine and spirituality can lead to deeper understanding and compassion, both for our patients and for ourselves.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Catholic Church teaches that “Christ is our sole source of hope by offering salvation, healing, and eternal life through His sacrifice and Resurrection.” I am reminded of the importance of hope in both medicine and faith, how our roles as healers extend beyond the physical, and that we must also nurture the spirit.

Let us open our hearts to Jesus’s love, trust in God’s plan amidst everything that is happening in our lives and in the world today, and may we live as “pilgrims of hope” by extending love, hope, mercy, and justice to others.

(Dr. Millicent Grace M. De Guzman, MD, is a Nuclear Medicine physician currently pursuing graduate studies in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, specializing in Social Pastoral Communication.)