In
1968, Christiana Wayo of Makurdi, Nigeria, slipped and fell down some
stairs
in her house landing very hard on her left knee. She was taken to the
hospital
where an elastic bandage was applied.
PREVIEW OF THE MIRACLE?
Reprinted with kind permission from GARABANDAL JOURNAL September-October 2004
In
1968, Christiana Wayo of Makurdi, Nigeria, slipped and fell down some
stairs
in her house landing very hard on her left knee. She was taken to the
hospital
where an elastic bandage was applied.
When she got back home, she went to bed, but the pain prevented her from getting any rest. Others living in the house removed the bandage on the knee that was beginning to swell. That night she needed pain killers to get some sleep.
The next day she was taken to the hospital, where the swollen knee was drained of fluid and blood. X-rays showed that the kneecap was broken in two. A cast was applied and after spending a week in the hospital, she was discharged.
The cast was meant to be worn for three months, but because of the discomfort the woman felt, it was removed after eight weeks. A new set of x-rays revealed no change and another cast was applied. When at the end of six weeks this cast was removed, and a further set of x-rays showed no improvement, the attending physician explained that there was nothing he could do to save the kneecap. She was transferred to the orthopedic hospital in Kano where she was given some crutches and discharged. The inflammation had abated but the kneecap would not heal and Christiana could not bend her knee.
Seven months later she was visited by a hospital representative who asked her if she wanted surgery on her knee. He explained that the surgery would not improve her mobility, but that an artificial knee could be implanted later if she wished.
Christiana was four months pregnant when she went to the hospital so she asked if the surgery could harm the baby. When she was assured it would not, she placed herself in the hands of God and consented to the operation by signing the proper forms.
She was given spinal anesthesia and once the broken kneecap was removed, a cast was applied. After a month in the hospital, when the incision had healed, the cast was removed, and she underwent physical therapy to enable her to get around. A final set of x-rays was taken and given to her to present to a doctor should she decide to have an artificial knee implanted at a later date.
(For thirteen years, Christiana got around with the aid of crutches unable to bend her right leg.)
PILGRIMAGE TO GARABANDAL
On July 19, 1981, Mrs.Wayo and a group of Nigerians flew to London to join up with another group going to Garabandal. The trip was organized by Nadege Baco who ran an Anglo-French Garabandal Center. From London they took a boat to Brittany and then a bus to Spain which finally arrived the afternoon of July 20, in San Sebastian de Garabandal.
After breakfast the next morning, Christiana and members of the group climbed up to the Pines to say the rosary. Because of the rugged terrain of the calleja, two Nigerian girls supported her. She led the prayers and at the end the same two girls helped her get back down.
At 4:00 P.M. the group went up again to pray at the Pines, but this time the two girls who had helped her previously had gone ahead. She tried to climb the rough trail on her own but couldn't get very far. Dragging herself on her hands and knees she prayed mentally to Our Lady for help.
I didn't know what was happening to me. After the others had finished their prayers, I called out to them, "Look! I've climbed up the calleja by myself, walking from where the Angel appeared (halfway up the calleja) to the Pines feeling as though someone were carrying me!" Overjoyed, I shouted to Susanna, the leader of the group, and told her what happened. Everyone was so happy crying out, "Miracle! Miracle!" and thanking Our Lady. Susanna ran to tell Mrs. Baco.
While I was praying an interior voice kept telling me: "Touch your right knee, touch your right knee." I calmly touched my right knee. I felt the kneecap move. I sat down on the floor and compared both knees. They each had a kneecap. I went to Susanna's room but she had gone to Mass. When Susanna returned, I told her what had happened to my knee. We were both astonished.We returned to Nigeria on August 11, 1981, and since then I have been able to comfortably kneel and pray for long periods without any assistance. My right knee feels stronger than it ever did before August 8, and I have more strength in this leg than the other.
An x-ray of the right knee showing the new kneecap was sent to
Professor
Manuel Lopez Linares from Madrid, who has taken the responsibility of
documenting
cures associated with Garabandal. The healing of Christiana Wayo could
be considered as a preview of the countless healings and marvels that
will
occur the day of the prophesied great Miracle.On August 22, 1984, When Mrs. Wayo added her signature to this account, it was witnessed by Mr. M. Nwafor Churwuma, Notary Public, and Mr. A. Partearrollo, Chancellor of the Spanish Embassy in Nigeria.
