The miracle described below occurred in the Remail Region of Beirut with Celine Sami Rbaiz. Celine was born on May 10, 1983. In October 1984, she found herself unable to eat or drink. As a result, she was hospitalized. Over the next six months, she experienced acute bleeding in her swollen stomach. She lost weight and became weaker and weaker. Tests, eventually, showed that her left kidney was damaged.
In September 1985, her kidney was removed. The pathology report indicated the presence of advanced cancer. Despite chemotherapy, the cancer spread to her liver. Rapidly, Celine’s health deteriorated further. When her eyes and nose hemorrhaged, doctors concluded that she had no more than 24 hours to live.
Celine’s grandmother, Mrs. Yvette Daoo, had read a magazine article about Blessed Rafqa. She was very moved by Rafqa’s story. Learning of Celine’s critical condition, she asked if she could have some soil from the tomb of the “Saint that cures from cancer.” She believed the soil would heal Celine. Meanwhile, Celine’s mother, Mrs. Raymonda Daoo Rbaiz, had acquired a handful of this soil. On the evening of November 23, 1985, Celine’s mother and grandmother added the soil to Celine’s food; and her mother said “This is the only medication for Celine.”
The soil used by Celine’s mother had been given to her by her neighbor, Mrs. Bernadette Kababeh Ibrahim. She had read a book entitled Rafqa: The Sixth Wound, and had been very impressed by Rafqa’s life and miracles…She had gone with Fr. Salim Rizkallah, a Capuchin priest, and a group of pilgrims to celebrate The Divine Liturgy on Rafqa’s tomb on Saturday, November 16, 1985, the night before Rafqa was beatified. That is when, she obtained the soil from Rafqa’s grave, which she later gave to Celine’s mother.
With difficulty, Celine ate the first spoonful. After few seconds, she felt her strength returning and ate the whole portion. One hour later, she recovered totally.
Mrs. Raymonda Daoo Rbaiz was astonished when she saw her daughter, Celine getting out of bed and walking in the hospital corridors…She knelt and said the rosary in honor of Blessed Rafqa and thanked her for healing Celine.
Later, when the doctor examined her, he was stunned. “What did you do to the child?!!! I can’t understand, this is impossible!!! Celine no longer needs an operation!!!”
He was getting ready to close Celine’s file when Mrs. Daoo Rbaiz said “I closed it with Saint Rafqa.” Another doctor examined Celine and said “… I am a believer and I practice my faith. In my opinion, Celine’s cure was the result of divine intervention, because it happened suddenly and quickly…”
Mrs. Yvette Daoo, Celine’s grandmother, insisted on Celine visiting St. Rafqa’s Tomb. There she told her to repeat after her: “Saint Rafqa, I am Celine. I ask you to cure me.” All who were present and heard what she said started to cry…
To the continuing astonishment of her doctors, Celine remains physically vigorous, pursuing her studies with distinction, and she is active in her parish. Especially, she honors Saint Rafqa.