Young cancer patient improves as parents ask for more prayers to Mother Teresa

Washington D.C., Mar 15, 2011 / 03:36 am

Toddler cancer patient Joseph Wahlin is showing some positive signs following medical treatment and many prayers to Bl. Mother Teresa.

Joseph’s father Chad Wahlin in a March 12 message to CNA said that “JoeJoe’s” latest medical scan showed about a dozen small and large tumors.

“While this was not good news, it wasn't necessarily unexpected from the doctor's perspective,” Wahlin said.

The two-year-old is presently under treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was flown there from Naples, Italy where his parents are stationed at the U.S. Navy base.

Joseph’s father saw a “positive answer to prayer” in a visible reduction of tumor mass. The tumor above his right eye is now “nearly unnoticeable.” Probably more important, biopsy results are favorable and indicate Joseph has a type of cancer more vulnerable to treatment.

On March 11, Joseph began to walk again with “barely a limp,” something he had not done in almost two weeks. He also kicked a football with his uncle, which would have been impossible the day before.

“These are all wonderfully positive signs and we are eternally grateful for the prayers that are making this miracle happen,” Wahlin said.

He asked for prayers for Joseph so that he will be healthy enough to start his next regimen of tumor-killing chemotherapy.

The family has asked that people pray to Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta for her intercession because they believe Joseph may have seen a vision of her from his hospital bed. They would like a miraculous cure for Joseph to be the miracle which allows Mother Teresa to be canonized as a saint.

Sisters from the Missionaries of Charity have been visiting Joseph. They brought a relic of Bl. Mother Teresa to place on the boy while praying for him.

To read more about Joseph’s story, click here.