Pray it Forward: Melanie Pritchard's Miraculous Recovery

By Mark Henry
8/2/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The prayers of the faithful included requests for the intercession of Pope John Paul II

It all started out 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning when Melanie Pritchard texted my wife Tina telling her that she was going into labor and "asking for our prayers". Little did we know how much Melanie would soon need prayers and how a digital juggernaught of prayers would soon be unleashed to save the life of Melanie and her new born daughter, Gabriella Cecilia. Many asked specifically for the intercession of Pope John Paul II whose teachings inform Melanie's life and work.

Melanie Pritchard. Melanie's Catholic spirituality is steeped in the Culture of Life and thoroughly imbued with the teachings of Pope John Paul II. Her healing is inspiring thousands.

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PHOENIX, AZ (Catholic Online) - It all started out 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning when Melanie Pritchard texted my wife Tina telling her that she was going into labor and "asking for prayers" After Tina and I returned from morning Mass, Melanie's friend Meghan called Tina in tears telling us that Melanie's heart stopped during delivery and she desperately needed our prayers.

During the frantic drive to the hospital, my wife was distraught. She loved Melanie like a younger sister. In Melanie's eyes, her greatest accomplishments are being a loyal wife to her husband Doug and dutiful mother to her son Brady. To the public, Melanie is a nationally known pro-life speaker and the founder of the Foundation for Life and Love, an educational organization that seeks to preserve and promote the dignity and sanctity of human life at all stages. Melanie is the former Education Director for Arizona Right To Life.

Melanie is much in demand as a vibrant speaker to youth and adult groups on pro-life issues, modesty and chastity. Melanie and her husband Doug teach marriage preparation classes for the Diocese of Phoenix using Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body writings. Melanie's Catholic spirituality is steeped in the Culture of Life and thoroughly imbued with the teachings of Pope John Paul II.

My wife first became acquainted with Melanie when Melanie graciously agreed to serve, without pay, as a virtues coordinator in a modesty and chastity apostolate my wife runs. Melanie is a mentor of countless young Catholic girls, a fabulous role model of motherhood, chastity and modestly and treasured by the pro-life community in Phoenix and beyond.

In the dreadfully long drive to the hospital, we felt helpless and wondered what could we possibly do for Melanie? Well, let's pray a decade of the Rosary. We also prayed to Pope John Paul II that he would intercede for a miraculous healing of Melanie, a prayer that we and countless others would invoke many times over the next 24 hours. After our drive time prayer, we still had quite a bit of time before reaching the hospital so we started calling everyone we knew, requesting their fervent prayers and to pass the word by email.

I called contacts I had in Catholic media, both new and traditional. Fortunately, I got through to close friends at Immaculate Heart Radio, St. Joseph Communications and other Catholic media outlets who faithfully responded and immediately started broadcasting prayer requests for Melanie on the radio, internet and other media. I am a contributing writer for Catholic Online and a member of the Catholic Online Writers Circle. The other members joined the cascade of prayer being offered for Melanie. Of course, Melanie's friends and family had already started prayer requests of their own and impassioned pleas for prayer made to many convents, monasteries and religious orders.

Very quickly news of Melanie's critical condition spread like a digital wildfire with "prayer for Melanie" requests now going "viral" online. The pray it forward juggernaught to save Melanie had begun in earnest with many specifically praying for Pope John Paul II's intercession to save the life of his loyal spiritual daughter, Melanie.

When we got to the hospital, the news was worse than we thought. Melanie had suffered an amniotic embolism and there was massive internal bleeding. Her heart had stopped again, twice, and they were rushing her into surgery again. There was a real likelihood of heart and kidney failure. I learned later that the medical condition Melanie was experiencing was usually fatal.

There was some good news, however, which was that Melanie and Doug's new born daughter Gabriella Cecilia was healthy after her emergency C-Section delivery. Additionally, Melanie's brother Larry, a renowned heart surgeon, was on the scene and keeping a keenly trained medical eye on everything.

Melanie somehow made it through the surgery but then suddenly she took a turn for the worse. Fr. John Muir, a childhood friend of Melanie and Doug, arrived at the hospital and administered the last rites to Melanie. Melanie's husband Doug was told that Melanie was slipping away and it was time to say his final goodbye to Melanie, the love of his life. Shortly thereafter, Melanie's parents and sisters also proceeded to Melanie's bedside to bid her goodbye.

By now, legions of prayers were storming heaven from Melanie's bedside, from the local community and throughout the country as well. Prayer vigils were organized at a number of Phoenix parishes and all the way across the country at a Theology of the Body conference in Philadelphia they took a break to pray for Melanie's healing.

Inspirational stories of personal faith conversions of those hearing and reading about Melanie's faithful fight for life ...

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33 Comments

Angela Catalano
January 23rd, 2011 12:15 pm
I had a similar birthing situation in August of 1967- I had just turned 43! (a time when is was shocking for a 42 year old was pregnant!) All I can remember is saying"I'm too old" I passed out and woke up 3 days later! My Uterous tore and the amniotic fluid got into my system--tthis occured just as my son's head appeared--both of us were "Catotonic"! I was hemorraging and received 11 pints of blood, the Doctorshad to perform an hysterectomy-- I was told that many people in the town of Rockford, Ill and relatives and friends were on their knees for me!! It's remarkable how a Birth of a Child affects so many people. Nautreally I'm Pro Life and do what I can to help the cause!! My Son will celebrate his 44th on Aug. 8 and I will be 87 on the 5th Feast of Our Lady of Snows! I'm joining in on Praying for Pope John Paul the 2nd! !
Mary John Victoria
August 10th, 2010 7:53 am
Heavenly Father, I ask You in the name of Jesus, and through the Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, to rebuke Satan for taking captive that which belongs to You.I ask Jesus to place His Crown of thorns around (mazzoni 7/31/2010 M 7/31/2010 miguel 7/31/2010 kbv 7/31/2010 Jim 7/31/2010 Sophia 7/31/2010 JPB 7/31/2010 James 7/31/2010 james 7/31/2010 james 7/31/2010 Marsha 7/31/2010 denise 7/31/2010 A.D. 7/31/2010 Michael 7/31/2010 OMID 7/31/2010 C. 7/31/2010 Cat 7/31/2010 Brenda 7/31/2010 Yolanda 7/31/2010 tom 7/31/2010 tom 7/31/2010 VICKIE NOEL 7/31/2010 rosemary dovile 7/31/2010 Jess 7/31/2010 eve 7/31/2010 sherri 7/31/2010 GERRYRAE 7/31/2010 michelle 7/31/2010 Deb 7/31/2010 Vikki 7/31/2010 Ray 7/31/2010 sanju 7/31/2010 Robert 7/31/2010 dayna 7/31/2010 Linda 7/31/2010 Jennifer 7/31/2010 Charles 7/31/2010 GC 7/31/2010 austin 7/31/2010 Stacie 7/31/2010 Deandra 7/31/2010 Cris 7/31/2010 beth 7/31/2010 brenda 7/31/2010 sonia 7/31/2010 victoria 7/31/2010 Chinyere 7/31/2010 Clement 7/31/2010 ) so that those with wrong influences will lose interest and depart.Mary Mother of Jesus, place your mantle of love around, (mazzoni 7/31/2010 M 7/31/2010 miguel 7/31/2010 kbv 7/31/2010 Jim 7/31/2010 Sophia 7/31/2010 JPB 7/31/2010 James 7/31/2010 james 7/31/2010 james 7/31/2010 Marsha 7/31/2010 denise 7/31/2010 A.D. 7/31/2010 Michael 7/31/2010 OMID 7/31/2010 C. 7/31/2010 Cat 7/31/2010 Brenda 7/31/2010 Yolanda 7/31/2010 tom 7/31/2010 tom 7/31/2010 VICKIE NOEL 7/31/2010 rosemary dovile 7/31/2010 Jess 7/31/2010 eve 7/31/2010 sherri 7/31/2010 GERRYRAE 7/31/2010 michelle 7/31/2010 Deb 7/31/2010 Vikki 7/31/2010 Ray 7/31/2010 sanju 7/31/2010 Robert 7/31/2010 dayna 7/31/2010 Linda 7/31/2010 Jennifer 7/31/2010 Charles 7/31/2010 GC 7/31/2010 austin 7/31/2010 Stacie 7/31/2010 Deandra 7/31/2010 Cris 7/31/2010 beth 7/31/2010 brenda 7/31/2010 sonia 7/31/2010 victoria 7/31/2010 Chinyere 7/31/2010 Clement 7/31/2010 .)Amen.St. Michael, protect us. I know these people Jesus follow the 10 commandments, and go to confession for all their sins, and receive the Body and Blood you freely gave up for us Oh Blessed Word of God Creator made flesh for us whom carry out our trust, faith, and battle for you and your children.
John
August 3rd, 2010 12:10 pm
I know Melanie (and her mother Sherry) from AZRTL. She is a wonderful young woman and committed Christian defender of innocent life, so I am deeply thankful for her miraculous recovery, for which we all prayed. Although (to say the least) I am not even an amateur thelogian myself (just a very imperfect, reluctantly non-conformist Catholic), I also want to comment on Joel's objection to the claim that if "nothing happens without God's will," then He must be considered responsible not only for such expressions of love and mercy as Melanie has experienced, but also for the Holocaust, the Haiti eathquake, etc. From my perspective, this question of human suffering and the unfairness of life, going back to JOB and beyond, must never be dismissed, and Joel, whether he is a believer himself or not, is right to raise it once again. Perhaps, it is better to characterize events as only occurring if God PERMITS them, rather than attributing horrors to His desired will. (I believe this is consistent with Jesus's explanation about no bird dying without the Father's knowledge, how every hair on our heads is counted, etc. And indeed, it seems downright blasphemous to attribute instances of satanic evil to an all-good supreme being.) And while the standard, unchallengable arguments for WHY tragedy is allowed to occur, namely human free will (which must permit the capacity for choosing sin or even monstrous evil), as well as the necessity for reliable physical laws (which inevitably result in pain and death), certainly explain a lot, nevertheless I confess that I have always found these inadequate as to the presence of SO MUCH human suffering and evil. And to either attribute these to God's will, or to wrongly dismiss them as either irrelevant or trivial, is not (IMHO) truthful and therefore is not Christian. So even though it is emotionally unsatisfying to admit this, I have personally found the only useful response to this eternal conundrum to accept that we just don't know why (to cite the most extreme example) God permitted a Hitler to attain the power to, in effect, murder up to 40 million people. As I heard Billy Graham say once, we don't know why God allows Satan to exist. But we also can feel and experience His presence and love as expressed through such beautiful people as Melanie and her family, and celebrate His mercy in sparing her and her baby Gabriella's lives. To me, this is the difference between an open mind and an open heart....
Sylvia Colasacco
August 3rd, 2010 9:43 am
Thanks be to God for this Miracle. There is so much suffering in the world and no one that is praying here is necessarily ignorant of that. I am so grateful to God for this miracle that is available for so many to witness. To Joel, Even the doctors can't explain Melanie's miraculous recovery. No one is ignoring or discounting their role in all of this. And, much of the things that go wrong in the world are because God gave us the gift of free will. I too am upset about the injustices and suffering that goes on around the world and especially to the poor. These happen because of the imperfect nature of man. But this story has nothing to do with what's going on in Haiti or anywhere else. This is one woman who almost died but didn't. She is a witness to the power of prayer and to faith in God. I'm catholic but I think God hears all our prayers. He loves all of us and we are all His children whether we believe in Him or not. So lets rejoice in that even with all that is wrong in the world God showed us a miracle that reminds us of His presence and His love for us. God Bless.
Margaret Duggins
August 2nd, 2010 9:09 pm
Oh, the power of prayer! A miracle indeed! God bless the entire families.
Mary Beth
August 2nd, 2010 5:44 pm
Oh....Let us give THANKS!
ldc
August 2nd, 2010 7:18 am
God allowed this Miracle, guiding everyone involved the doctors, the staff & the people praying, many had not prayed in a long time, He touched everyone's life, that's another miracle in itself....let us now do the same work together to defend the Life of the Unborn, we cannot have Peace until then...God's most precious Gift to us all. I do not have all the answers, but I do have the Faith and I daily pray for His guidance, it is not easy but we cannot make it w/o Him, He shows us the way and the answer, some time during our live journey ...only He knows, I thank God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the same God that all others speak to, for there is only one Creator...the One that gives us Life & the Moral Laws at conception in our Souls, He gives us the free will, the One that keeps giving us time to figure it out in this journey Home. God Bless Melanie and her family and everyone that has written a thoughtful gratitude of thanks to God and the doctors and nurses, and everyone in prayer and those we do not know, only He knows them. Thank you Lord!
sam
August 2nd, 2010 12:40 am
The miracle here is having access to healthcare that most people do not have access to, and a brother who was able to pull strings. Thank god for the real miracle in life, those who fight for equal healthcare for all.
Denton
August 1st, 2010 11:40 pm
There is no doubt we witnessed a miracle this week. To quote Matt Maher..."You called and you shouted, Broke through my deafness, Now I'm breathing in and breathing out, I'm alive again." May this miracle we've witnessed open the hearts of many.
Laurel
August 1st, 2010 10:12 pm
A beautiful young lady with a strong spirit! Truly a gift to the world, that she inspired so many to come together in prayer. Blessings to Melanie, baby, and family! Laurel
KATHLEEN BURTON
August 1st, 2010 5:54 pm
PRAISE BE TO GOD! THANK DEAR PAPA JOHN PAUL II AND ST GEMMA FOR ANSWERING THE PRAYERS OF SO MANY FOR THIS DEAR MOTHER . MAY THIS MIGHTY WORK GLORIFY YOUR NAME.
Joel
August 1st, 2010 3:29 pm
"to Joel, I would like to say that it was God that placed theses fine doctors around this mother and her baby....nothing happens w/o God's Will" So does that include all the rape, genocide, murder, spousal abuse, starvation, etc.? Was the death of a quarter of a million people in Haiti this year "God's Will"? (with another million people rendered homeless too) I just want to make sure you're being consistent, because if God can be given credit for all the good done by humans (doctors who devoted their lives to medicine and the like) then he can also be given blame for all the bad. Either you think we have free will or we don't. If it was God's will that caused these doctors to undergo a decade of schooling, years of hellish hours in residency, constant continuing education to stay on top of their fields, and stacked the deck to get these particular doctors at this particular hospital on this particular night, then how can anyone claim that it's not also God's will when a suicide bomber kills dozens of innocent men women and children? If the doctor's decisions are God's will and not their own then can any person be said to make choices of their own volition? To be honest, "nothing happens w/o God's Will" sounds more like Calvinism than Catholicism. If God is responsible for all the good, he is responsible for all the bad and people are condemned to hell or purgatory for being what God's Will demanded that they be. If God is NOT responsible for the bad, then he does not get credit for the good and the doctors who saved this womans life deserve FAR more credit than they've been given here. Furthermore, what about all of the atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jainists, Wiccans, Protestants, etc., who survive against all odds or expectations every year? It's not Catholics alone who experience the extraordinary, so do you think that their survival is attributable to your God as well? Why then would they place the credit on their own concept of God (or in the atheists case chance)? Or do they beat the odds solely through chance, and if so how then can you argue that Melanie's case was special when similar circumstances happen with no prayer to gods or saints? Don't misunderstand me, I'm happy for Melanie, her family, and the daughter that will get to know her mother that she survived. While I have differences of opinion with her I don't wish death for those I disagree with. I just like to see credit given where it's due and to encourage people to be consistent with their viewpoints. Based on past experience, I'm not sure how long the administrators here will continue to allow me to post. Please note that while you may disagree with what I say, I am being courteous and simply asking honest questions and raising points that are relevant to the article as it was written. Hopefully, this will be seen for what it is, a genuine attempt at discourse.
Jared S.
August 1st, 2010 2:37 pm
Dear Lord, thank You so much! You are truly wonderful for all that you do and have done especially for Melanie! I know I have said a few Hail Mary's here and there for her but, I again ask that you continue to heal her and bring her to full health. O, Blessed John Paul II, please intercede for this woman in all her necessities and beg God to heal her! I ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen!
LOURDES del-CALVO
August 1st, 2010 7:58 am
thank you Lord for this Great Miracle and thank you Blessed Mother for always being w/us and your guidance. to Joel, I would like to say that it was God that placed theses fine doctors around this mother and her baby....nothing happens w/o God's Will, I am not good at quoting phrases from the Word of God, the Bible, the Old and the New Testament, but I am a practicing Roman Catholic w/a profound Faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, and proud of our ancestors our elders our Jewish Brothers...what happened here w/Melanie and her baby, her family, and all of us is a Will of God...and it can be found not only int he New Testament but in the Old Testament. Faith is blind, and obtain through daily Prayer and Obedience to His Word, it is not easy to be a Catholic, He said pick-up your Cross and follow me. With Melanie Faith and Purification came about. I cried and I promise to keep her in my prayers for in times like these we need people like Melanie. Thank You Lord!
Gloria & Patrick Lee
August 1st, 2010 12:11 am
We praise & thank God for the miraculous healing of Melanie! We will continue to pray for her complete healing & amazing recovery! Melanie has touched the hearts of all Catholics with her fervency & strong faith! She has been selfless in her reaching out to others in need of God's Love, Faith, Joy & Healing. We, as the Body of Christ, must reach out to her family in need of prayer, love & generousity! We thank you Melanie for all you have done to be the light of Christ for young women & mothers all over the world! May God bless, completely heal you & continue to inspire love to those who hear your story. We are blessed to have you in our Diocese! Love & Blessings...
Joel
July 31st, 2010 9:32 pm
Where's the credit for the doctors in all this? Had she had the same problem without skilled and highly trained doctors there do you really think she would have lived?
Margaret
July 31st, 2010 9:03 pm
Please continue to ask everyone for prayers for Melanie's quick and painless recovery. Thank you.
margare IIreland
July 31st, 2010 7:18 pm
T hank you Jesus and our Blessed Mother for Melanie and her Husband Doug May blessed Mother Intercede for them to her son Jesus The healer of the whole world. for Melanie that she may be healed . May our Blessed Mother Intercede For this Family and all Familes love you Jesus and Mama.
andrew
July 31st, 2010 7:15 pm
Persistent Prayer[against all odds] is so powerful that God said, "Talitha cumi". Amen.
Peggy Hughes
July 31st, 2010 6:07 pm
When I heard the news about Melanie I was devastated. I asked our vocation group at our parish to pray for her and the seminarians in our diocese. I know that God works in many ways. I believe that pray is very powerful. God is good. I will continue to pray for Melanie and her family. What a blessing with the arrival of her new daughter.
Phil Skala
July 31st, 2010 4:03 pm
Thank you Jesus for the miracle of letting this wonderful person live. It just goes to show that the power of prayer is awsome. As often said, "Trust in Jesus."
Wendy Wood
July 31st, 2010 2:43 pm
http://www.pritchardsupport.com/Pritchard_Support/Welcome.html the above website is an easy online PayPal account that goes directly to Melanie and Doug set up by a dear family friend. Please comtinue to keep Melanie, Doug, Brady and baby Ella in your prayers and of course the medical team assigned to Melanie. I witnessed first hand the prayers at Mel's bedside in ICU asking for the intercession of JPII There is not a doubt in my mind he heard. Blessings and continued prayers
Kim Donnelly
July 31st, 2010 1:56 pm
I have been following this story since I first heard about it. and can assure you that JP II and saint Gianna Molla were prayed to over and over again. And I will continue to pray for her recovery. I believe with all my heart that God's will will be done and she will be around for a very long time. God is so good and is ALWAYS faithful to us!
Sushila Pereira
July 31st, 2010 12:47 pm
Believing against all odds is true faith in God.
Dora
July 31st, 2010 12:43 pm
Thank You, LORD! You are Merciful and Great indeed! This brings tears to my eyes. When I first read about this young woman's struggle, I just offered up a simple prayer. All those prayers went up to Heaven like incense and God, in His Mercy and Love, has allowed Melanie to continue her great work for Him. I praise His Power and His great Mercy and Love!
mike
July 31st, 2010 12:20 pm
I have been praying that the Lord send a miracle worker to the Church - maybe a healer, or another stigmatic like Padre Pio, or some one who flies around like Joseph of Cupertino used to do - and things like this fit into this mold. Miracles do not impel faith, but they serve to strengthen faith. Miracles also confound the unbeliever. I want the Lord to further confound those unbelievers, and confirm His faithful in their belief! Hallelujia!
Dirtdartwife
July 31st, 2010 10:52 am
Praise be to God!!!! What a wonderful and uplifting article. I am *SO* thankful that Melanie is ok and continues to get better every day. She will continue to be in my prayers along with the rest of her beautiful family.
Carol Adair
July 31st, 2010 10:25 am
Melanie's sister, Kym, and her husband, Craig, have established a fund at Wells Fargo to assist in the enormous mounting medical bills: We have set up an account to help financially off-set what will be some astounding medical bills for the Pritchard family: Wells Fargo account # 9246432695. Make deposit slip to The Pritchard Family (sponsored by Craig & Kym Adair). http://www.livinggracefully.net/2010/07/29/urgent-prayer-request-melanie-pritchard-in-critical-condition/ The Wells Fargo branch in Arizona is located at 7171 E Tanque Verde Tucson, AZ 85715 Any branch, however, will be able to take a deposit with the above account number. Thank you for your prayers and support.
GHISLAINE GUTIERREZ
July 31st, 2010 10:15 am
AMAZING! I very happy for Melanie Pritchard God Bless her. I do believe that Pope John Paul II is a Saint,hope to canonise soon , Ill till continue to pray for him. Ghislaine
Michael Rusell
July 31st, 2010 9:31 am
What a MOST wonderful and miraculous example of the power of prayer and the mercy and love of God our Father. Prayer, especially the Holy Rosary, is our most faithful means of bringing a true appreciation, respect, and love for the gift of life. Melanie and her family will remain in my daily prayers, and may all those ,who prayed for her, recieve multiple graces from God.
Jennifer
July 31st, 2010 7:13 am
Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, John Paul the Great! Blessed Mother and all the saints, thank you so much for this marvelous recovery. No mother wants to leave her young children. I will continue to keep Melanie in my prayers. Thanks, Mark, for the update.
Wendy Holden
July 31st, 2010 7:03 am
How beautiful! I was one of the people that received an e-mail to pray for Melanie and her family here in Middle Tennessee. Let this be a reminder to all of us who receive a prayer request to pay attention and be vigilent to those in need.
Moggie
July 31st, 2010 6:54 am
Dear God, Thank You for this miracle for this dear lady and her family. Thank You for answering all our prayers. All thanksgiving and glory to God. Amen!

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