Dr. Edward Gatz — St. Jeanne Jugan

Dr. Edward Gatz, a retired anesthesiologist from Omaha, was diagnosed with stage 3-b adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with distant metastasis. Doctors gave him six months to live. After palliative surgery, his wife prayed a novena to Blessed Jeanne Jugan. Within weeks, signs of cancer began to disappear. He chose not to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. Twenty years later he remained cancer-free.

Endoscopic biopsies confirmed stage 3-b adenocarcinoma with distant metastasis. A physician was the beneficiary—he understood the six-month prognosis and that chemotherapy and radiation were deemed non-curative. He chose not to undergo additional treatment. Twenty years later he remained cancer-free. Spontaneous remission of metastatic esophageal cancer is medically rare.