JAHARA Katag-katag is a religious 22-year-old who is suffering from a heart condition. She is hoping her strong faith in God will help her overcome her illness.

Jahara went to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) on Saturday, Jan. 5. to admit herself. She was accompanied by her friend Maricel.

“On our way to the admission, we saw and heard that there was a mass going on for the Sto. Niño. That was why we decided to join. I feel blessed really to chance upon the Sto. Niño’s visit because I feel the need to seek his help in the challenges we need to face at present. This is the Sto. Niño’s way of reaching out to us,” she said in Cebuano.

Jahara, who hails from Barangay Buaya in Lapu-Lapu City, gave birth to her second child last Nov. 18. She had to return to the hospital because she started having trouble breathing.

“My heart is painful and there are times when it’s so hard to breathe. I already gave birth last November, but it looks like I’m still pregnant because of my growing tummy and swollen feet,” she said.

Jahara, who was already emotional while telling her story, almost broke down when she had the chance to kiss and whisper her petition to the image of the Sto. Niño.

“I pray that He will heal me so I can still take care of my two children. I know that with Sto. Niño, nothing is impossible,” she said.

The VSMMC was the second public hospital that the pilgrim image of the Sto. Niño visited after the Cebu City Medical Center, as part of the Fiesta Señor celebration this year.

After the VSMMC, the image will visit the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital and Chong Hua Hospital to give patients and their relatives a chance to pay homage to the Sto. Niño.

Right after the hospitals, the image of Sto. Niño will visit the Cebu City Jail. RVC