by Julia Bruzzese
September 24, 2015, is a day I’ll never forget.
It was one that brought so much love and hope at a time in my life when I desperately needed strength. I was 12 years old and struggling with a debilitating disease.
In the span of months, I had gone from a dancer, athlete, and successful student to needing a wheelchair. Insurance was denying medical treatment for my diagnosis of Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and my health was declining.
My family and I felt alone and helpless.
Then, I received a call from my former principal at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights. She told me she was trying to get me tickets to see Pope Francis at the JFK Airport tarmac the following day.
For the first time since I had fallen ill, I felt a flicker of hope. That night, we prayed for the amazing opportunity. The following morning, we received news that my whole family was allowed to attend. It felt fortuitous. We excitedly made our way to the airport.
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After waiting for hours on the tarmac in the beating sun, we were told we would most likely not be able to meet Pope Francis. I was fine with just seeing him from afar.
His plane finally landed, and he made his way down the steps. To my surprise, he came right over to me. Pope Francis was suddenly standing before me. The first thing I thought to do was ask him for a miracle.
He smiled at me and placed his hand on my head for a blessing.
In that short moment, I felt God’s love. Without any words and one blessing, he solidified my trust in God at a time when my faith was being tested. He gave a family hope when they felt surrounded by darkness.
The Pope eventually walked away, and I was instantly bombarded by news cameras. Many people saw me on the news that day. There was a beautiful outpouring of love and support from people all over the world. We went from being alone to having fundraisers thrown, having treatment covered by generous donors, and having countless patients with Lyme disease sharing their stories with us.
Since then, many people have asked me if I got the miracle I asked for. Although I did not start walking, I believe the pope brought me a miracle — one defined by hope in despair, love in abandonment, triumph in adversity, and purpose among the forgotten.
That day brought countless miracles.
I would not be where I am now and who I am today without the prayers, love, and faith Pope Francis brought me on that sunny afternoon in 2015.
Julia Bruzzese is a Lyme Disease/Disability Rights Advocate and a premedical student at Long Island University.