Prayers to Father Emil Kapaun are Answered with a Miracle

As girl lay near death, family prayed to Kapaun - Wichita Eagle

The following excerpt is from Wichita Eagle - Kansas.com:

In October 2006, 12-year-old Avery Gerleman scored a goal in a soccer game.

She did not celebrate. She walked to the sidelines and threw up a gob of bright red blood into the grass.

She told her coach, "I need to get back in there."

The coach sat her down. After that, bad went to worse.

Doctors in Wichita put Avery in a drug-induced coma and pushed a breathing tube down her throat. Avery's lungs filled with blood. Her kidneys shut down.

There was so much air and fluid leaking into her chest that her heart nearly stopped beating from the pressure.

Doctors told Melissa and Shawn Gerleman that their daughter was going to die. Melissa cried.

She and Shawn began to pray; to Jesus and to a priest from Kansas who had been dead for 55 years.

Doctors say what happened next is the most mysterious medical recovery they have ever seen.

Avery's two primary physicians are scientists, with intellectual allegiances rooted firmly in facts and skeptical reasoning. And they are Protestants, with none of the Gerleman family's training in the Catholic traditions of sainthood, guardian angels and miracles.

But the doctors have told the Vatican that Avery's recovery is so unusual that there is no other explanation for what happened: They say it's a miracle.

Avery's parents say Father Emil Kapaun heard the prayers, and tipped the scales in heaven.

Read more: As girl lay near death, family prayed to Kapaun

Wonders Photobook on Focus Project 2011

Miracle of the Sun
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Wonders of Color and Light Photobook on Focus Project 2011

By Loci B. Lenar

Twenty of my photographs have been submitted to the Focus Project 2011 in order to share my work with others. One of the photos, Miracle of the Sun was photographed in 2008 inside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Shrine Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima. The chapel is located on the grounds of the World Apostolate of Fatima, Washington, New Jersey.

After taking the photograph, I shared the image with my spiritual advisor, Fr. Richard Tartaglia, exactly as it was captured on the camera's digital memory card. The image was transferred on to a CD for St. Mary's Church archives in Denville, NJ.

The competition is open to everyone interested in photography and helps in supplying exposure to emerging photographers.  The Focus Project indicates on their website that portfolios are viewed by thousands of visitors every month.

Corpus Christi - 2
Photo by Loci B. Lenar

A jury will review all of the entries; the Grand Prize selected winner will be announced in March 2012.  For additional information, please visit the website: Focus Project 

In the meantime thank you very much for reviewing my portfolio and voting for my work at the following link: Wonders of Color and Light Photobook