AN OPEN LETTER FROM V. REV. DRAGAN FILIPOVIC
ST. GEORGE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, CANTON, OH
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