ROJoson PEP Talk: MAR - Medical Miracle Experience

ROJoson PEP Talk: MAR - Medical Miracle Experience

1. September 21, 2024 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

2. September 21, 2024 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience Welcome all! MUTE yourself but always show your video picture. Sign in your name, FB account, or email address in the Chat Box! Include names of companions attending. Use the Chat Box to ask questions and make comments while the PEP TALK is on. There will be group pictures at start and end of PEP TALK – show your face in video.

3. Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

4. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

5. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

6. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START PEP TALK PROPER IN 2 MINUTES! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!

7. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson PEP Talk I have a Patient Empowerment Program in which I like to empower the lay people or patients to take control in the management of their health.

8. I started the PEP Talk on May 15, 2021 during the COVID19 Pandemic. There are 3 courses in the PEP Talk. I completed the Core Course on October 9, 2021.

9. From October 23, 2021 onwards, I have been tackling Health Disorder and Health Issue Courses. May 18, 2024 marks the start of YEAR 4 of ROJoson PEP Talk. How long the PEP Talk will last will depend on our enthusiasm , discipline and perseverance .

10. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience My PEP TALK today is entitled: Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

11. Contents What is a medical anecdotal report or MAR? Narration Insight / Reflection MAR Title: Medical Miracle Experience Reporter: Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson Date of Medical Observation: 2024 Disclaimer: ROJoson PEP Talk contains ROJoson’s Thoughts, Perceptions, Opinions and Recommendations (TPORs) culled from experiences of ROJoson and writings of other health professionals . Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

12. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience GIST of MAR A 73-year-old female Filipina (CAN) with 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, in which doctors could not control with surgery or other invasive means except with frequent blood transfusions. A novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary through prayers of Blessed Longo by yours truly initially and then by the patient herself apparently made the bleeding stopped (for 7 months now as of September 2024 – last bleed was on February 2024). Before the novena, she was bleeding and being transfused with blood at the frequency of one and a half month. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

13. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Some reflection and learning points and issues: What is a medical miracle? Can the case of CAN (MAR) be considered as a medical miracle? How often do we see medical miracles nowadays? Do medical doctors believe in medical miracles ? ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles)

14. What is a medical anecdotal report or MAR? MAR is operationally defined by ROJoson as a brief written report on an actual medical event that involves an actual patient. The medical observation must have an impact on the reporter in terms of insight gained and which the reporter thinks is worth sharing with other people, usually for learning purpose. The MAR will have 2 parts: Narration Insight or Reflection Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

15. NARRATION CAN is a 73-year-old female Filipino patient who is diagnosed to have a Lynch Syndrome. Lynch syndrome is a condition that increases the risk of many kinds of cancer (or has many kinds of cancer). Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

16. NARRATION Total of 6 cancers in different parts of the body 1998 – 47 yo – Cancer of the ureter – right – nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy 1999 – 48 yo – Cancer of the uterus – total hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo -oophorectomy + chemotherapy 2003 – 52 yo – Cancer of the sigmoid colon – sigmoidectomy 2004 – 53 yo – Cancer of the transverse colon – transverse colectomy 2012 – 61 yo – Cancer of the periampullary vater – Whipple’s operation 2024 – 73 yo – Cancer of the ascending colon /cecum – colectomy (June 20, 2024) Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

17. NARRATION A year after her Whipple’s operation in 2012, she started to have upper gastrointestinal bleeding (most of the time, melena – black stools). From 2013 to 2024 (Feb 20) – 11 years, there were so many attempts to localize the source of the bleeding with repeated endoscopies, CT scans, CT angiograms, RBC tagging, and other diagnostic procedures so that the bleeding could be controlled. All failed. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

18. NARRATION For 11 years, she survived the series of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with just frequent blood transfusions, with a recorded amount of 7 to 10 units of blood being transfused per hospitalization. In 2023, the recorded frequency of melena and blood transfusion was about one and half (1 ½) months. Feb 20, 2024 – was the last bleeding episode (melena) with blood transfusion. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

19. NARRATION In February 2024, relatives consulted me asking (actually for the nth time) on what to do as their funds were running low (because of the blood transfusions, hospital expenses, and professional fees). Is it ethical / moral to stop the blood transfusions and let nature take or run its course already? A question posed and difficult to answer. Note: at this time, she had no evidence of cancer recurrence, despite the many cancers she had. She was NOT a terminally-ill cancer patient. Her only problem was the “unstoppable” 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

20. NARRATION I told the relatives not to give up yet until I made another move or several moves (probably the last) to help. My last ditch effort to help – part of my everlasting compassionate humanitarian program for my patients. I had at least 2 strategies in mind at this time. Honestly, I didn’t know whether they would work or be successful. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

21. NARRATION One strategy was for me to PERSONALLY look for a local surgical endoscopist with superb expertise who could repeat the endoscopy for the last time to localize the site of the bleeding and then control it also endoscopically . I had an inkling the site of the bleeding was at the anastomotic area in the pancreaticojejunostomy in the Whipple’s operation, sort of a granuloma pyogenicum or lobular capillary hemangioma, the other technical term.   Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

22. NARRATION Through some networking, I was able to talk to and request a local surgical oncologist (RS) who I think would be the best person for the job. He agreed to do the endoscopy in a government hospital (RMC) pro bono (without pay). He did it in April 17, 2024. Note: I will give the results of the first strategy after I present and discuss my second strategy which I implemented simultaneously . Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

23. NARRATION My other or second strategy was to fervently pray for a MEDICAL MIRACLE which I had not done before. I honestly believe only a miracle can stop the 11 years of the continuous bleeding of CAN if the endoscopic attempt would not be successful. An operation was out of the question as it was too risky. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

24. NARRATION During this time – March or April, 2024, during one of my daily Gospel readings, I came across this passage from Mark and I prayed and hoped it would also happen to CAN. Mark 5 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction . Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

25. e NARRATION During this time also, it so happened that a friend of mine ( CR) gave me this book as a birthday gift. She did not ask me to do it for CAN . I decided to give it a try for CAN’s sake. I recited the prayer by Blessed Longo to Mama Mary for 27 days to stop the bleeding of the patient and 27 days of thanksgiving prayer (total of 54 days – from March 7, 2024 to April 29, 2024 ) – consisting of 3 decades of Holy Rosary and a long prayer thereafter – 3 pages . Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

26. NARRATION I didn’t tell the patient that I was praying for a miracle for her when I started praying. I only told her after the endoscopic procedure on April 18, 2024 that I was praying for a miracle for her. However, I kept on asking her (monitoring her) whether she had recurrence of melena or upper gastrointestinal bleeding after Feb 20, 2024, during the entire 54 days that I was praying Blessed Longo prayer. She said none. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

27. NARRATION The result of the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy on April 17, 2024 showed NO active bleeding (since Feb 20, 2024 – 2 months) Note that I started praying March 7, 2024 and ended in April 29. By April 17, I had completed the 27 days praying to stop the bleeding of the patient. On April 17, I was on my 15 th day of thanksgiving prayer. With this, I consider it as a miracle already – more so, no bleeding up to 7 months (as of September 2024). Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

28. NARRATION There was an unexpected twist though in the story of this patient. After the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, a colonoscopy was done on the same day. The twist was that a cancer in the ascending colon / cecum was found, which was not present in a colonoscopy done in July 2023. The cecal cancer is a new finding and unlikely to be the cause of the severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience ( ROJoson TPOR: It seems that cecum cancer was given in exchange for the unstoppable upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The cecum cancer could be "more easily" treated with an operation.)

29. NARRATION A CT-angiogram of the whole abdomen done after the endoscopy (April 22, 2024) did not definitely localize the source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It just mentioned "consider cavernous transformation of the portal vein - tortuous vessels in the perihepatic hilar, splenic hilum and perigastric regions." Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

30. u NARRATION After my prayer in April 29, 2024, I asked the patient to take over and pray for herself using the prayer of Blessed Longo. I purposely scheduled the operation to remove the new cancer on June 20, 2024 so that the patient could complete her 54 days of prayer. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience There was no recurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding up to the time of the operation (June 20, 2024) – a bleeding would make the operation of the colon more complicated and riskier.

31. u NARRATION On June 20, 2024, the patient underwent segmental colectomy to remove the cecal cancer. So, from Feb 20, 2024 (which was the last episode of almost monthly upper GI bleeding) up to June 20, 2024 (4 months), there was no recurrence of the bleeding that I was praying for. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

32. u NARRATION Feb 20, 2024 to September 17, 2024 It is now 7 months with NO recurrence of the upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Thus, no more almost monthly blood transfusions. Patient and I believe this is a MEDICAL MIRACLE! Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience Note: This is a MEDICAL MIRACLE for the 11-years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding which I and patient CAN prayed for stoppage, if not cure. We did NOT ask for miraculous disappearance of the new colon cecal cancer as this was a separate issue.

33. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience GIST of MAR A 73-year-old female Filipina (CAN) with 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, in which doctors could not control with surgery or other invasive means except with frequent blood transfusions. A novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary through prayers of Blessed Longo by yours truly initially and then by the patient herself apparently made the bleeding stopped (for 7 months now as of September 2024 – last bleed was on February 2024). Before the novena, she was bleeding and being transfused with blood at the frequency of one and a half month.

34. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Some reflection and learning points and issues: What is a medical miracle? Can the case of CAN (MAR) be considered as a medical miracle? How often do we see medical miracles nowadays? Do medical doctors believe in medical miracles ? ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles)

35. E pa Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: What is a medical miracle? A "medical miracle" generally refers to an unexpected recovery despite a dire prognosis . Medical miracles refer to events that are unanticipated and inexplicable, outside the range of medical precedents and the laws of nature as assessed by science. A medical miracle is any cure of a condition, illness, or affliction that defies all possible understanding .

36. e Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: Can the case of CAN (MAR) be considered as a medical miracle ? I BELIEVE SO if we go by the following definitions of medical miracle: unexpected recovery despite a dire prognosis unanticipated and inexplicable, outside the range of medical precedents and the laws of nature as assessed by science any cure of a condition, illness, or affliction that defies all possible understanding . 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with no interventions except a continuous prayer by yours truly and the patient.

37. a Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: Can the case of CAN (MAR) be considered as a medical miracle ? I BELIEVE SO if we go by the following definitions of medical miracle: Meier observes that a miracle has three basic components: (1) It must be an unusual event that can be perceived by others. (2) It has no natural explanation. (3) It appears to be the result of an act of God. Miracles: Signs of God's Presence | Franciscan Media https://www.franciscanmedia.org/st-anthony-messenger/miracles-signs-of-gods-presence/#:~:text=Meier%20observes%20that%20a%20miracle,of%20an%20act%20of%20God. 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding with no interventions except a continuous prayer by yours truly and the patient.

38. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: How often do we see medical miracles nowadays? Not as often as before or during the time of Jesus Christ. The Bible recorded 17 medical miracles. But medical miracles still occur nowadays but they are not always dramatic as before and are not always spoken of publicly because who experience them hold them sacred.

39. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: How often do we see medical miracles nowadays? Furthermore, the criteria for declaring an event as medical miracle are now more stringent, especially by the Catholic Church before it declares somebody as a saint. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France where millions of pilgrims go there every year seeking medical miracles scrutinizes cases of apparent medical miracles (only 70 cases in 160 years).

40. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Reflection and learning points and issues: Do medical doctors believe in medical miracles? YES, they do. Though NOT all. PERSONALLY, I DO. A national poll of 1,100 physicians from different religious faiths asked whether they believed in miracles; 74 percent believed miracles occurred in the past and 73 percent held the belief that miracles occur today (Poll: Doctors Believe in Miracles, 2004). Moreover, 72 percent of the physicians believed that religion is a “reliable and necessary guide to life .” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/201712/do-you-believe-in-miracles

41. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) Every human beings, when they get sick, always wish they get recovered soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

42. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They can observe without going to doctors hoping and at times, praying to their God they will spontaneously recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

43. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They may self-medicate and observe without going to doctors hoping and at times, praying to their God they will spontaneously recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

44. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They may consult a doctor or doctors and get treated, hoping and at times, praying to their God they will spontaneously recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

45. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They have serious diseases in which there are known ways of cure or control. They consult a doctor or doctors and get treated, hoping and at times, praying to their God they will spontaneously recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

46. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They have diseases, both serious and not serious, both life-threatening and not, in which there are no known ways of cure or control. They consult a doctor or doctors but did not get treated, because of no known ways of cure or control. They hope and pray to their God they will spontaneously get well and recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

47. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) They have diseases, both serious and not serious, both life-threatening and not, in which there are no known ways of cure or control. They consult a doctor or doctors but did not get treated, because of no known ways of cure or control. They hope but have no God to pray to that they will spontaneously get well and recover soon. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience If they recover, is this considered medical miracle? Or grace?

48. a MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) If you have illnesses or diseases that need medical treatment and in which track records show you have a better chance of recovery with medical treatment, go for the medical treatment and don’t just rely on hoping and praying for a medical miracle. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience When not to rely or wait for a medical miracle

49. MAR: Medical Miracle Experience ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles ) If you have illnesses or diseases that need medical treatment and in which track records show no effective medical treatment, hope at least and pray (at most) for a medical miracle but with a stance of “thy will be done.” Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience When to hope and pray for a medical miracle

50. Contents What is a medical anecdotal report or MAR? Narration Insight / Reflection MAR Title: Medical Miracle Experience Reporter: Dr. Reynaldo O. Joson Date of Medical Observation: 2024 Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience Summary Take Away

51. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience GIST of MAR A 73-year-old female Filipina (CAN) with 11 years of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, in which doctors could not control with surgery or other invasive means except with frequent blood transfusions. A novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary through prayers of Blessed Longo by yours truly initially and then by the patient herself apparently made the bleeding stopped (for 7 months now as of September 2024 – last bleed was on February 2024). Before the novena, she was bleeding and being transfused with blood at the frequency of one and a half month. Summary Take Away

52. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience MAR: Medical Miracle Experience Some reflection and learning points and issues: What is a medical miracle? Can the case of CAN (MAR) be considered as a medical miracle? How often do we see medical miracles nowadays? Do medical doctors believe in medical miracles ? ROJoson’s tips on management of medical miracles (when to implore for medical miracles) Summary Take Away

53. Take Away in relation to Patient Empowerment Be always in touch with reliable medical information on Medical Miracle. Knowledge is power; it gives power. Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment: Kaalaman , Kakayanan , Karapatan and Kapangyarihan to gain greater control over decisions / make better decisions on management of MEDICAL MIRACLE as part of your health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

54. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience This ends my PEP TALK today on: Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience

55. Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

56. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

57. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

58. Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on “Medical Miracle Experience” as part of their health management. Med Anecdotal Report - Medical Miracle Experience LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START Q&A AND INTERACTIONS! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!