I’m originally from Arequipa. For work reasons I had to move with my family to Andahuaylas 20 years ago. Much later, when I reached the menopausal stage, I had haemorrhages. After six months, the doctors stopped them with ampoules. After about three or four months the bleeding returned. The doctors stopped it for a month, then for a fortnight. And in the end there was nothing that could stop them: no blisters, no home remedies. The bleeding was so bad that I could no longer use hygienic bandages, only disposable nappies.

Since I worked as a seamstress, I had to sit at the sewing machine to complete the jobs that were brought to me. There came a time when I could barely move, I had a heavy flow. It was already 1993. I went to the doctor, who told me I had to have an operation because I had a fibroid. I was so anaemic, my hands were yellow and I needed a blood transfusion. I needed a donor. My husband and my son looked for a donor and could not find one, until they found a young man, but he had very little time, from 7 to 7.15 am, which he used for breakfast. The young man generously went to the insurance company, for the donation, up to three times, but it did not coincide with the lab’s hours. The young man apologised to me and said he could not wait any longer because he risked losing his job.

I was so weak that I had to stay in bed, I could no longer get up. I was on the first floor and couldn’t get up because my head was spinning. My daughter and my goddaughter helped me to the doctor, one on each side, but my legs were still bent.

I had known M. Luciana for a long time. One day there was a knock at the door, which opened by itself, because my daughter had left it together when she went out. Mother came into my house calling me. I called her from upstairs and told her to come up. She told me from downstairs: come down. I had to tell her that I was very sick. When she saw me, she got scared. She took out a photo of Bishop Kaiser and Mother Wilibrordis, gave it to me and said: pray, pray a lot, pray a lot.

In my bed I started to pray, I put the picture on my belly, praying. In a semi-conscious state I saw the house spinning… and I fell asleep…. When I woke up my daughter came to me and asked: are you feeling well? I told her I was feeling a little better and that I wanted to get up. I washed myself and then told her to come with me to the Lord of Ascensión. By taxi, my daughter asked. “No, on foot. I walked, helped by my goddaughter, up a slope, a bridle path, for about ten blocks. The surprising thing was that I did not get tired. I got there without getting tired and without having to change my disposition. I prayed, I stayed there for about half an hour. We walked back. The descent was a bit difficult for me: but I did not feel as weak as before. I arrived at my house ‘dry’. From there until today. I started to recover with a nutritious diet until I regained my colour. I felt strong enough to go back to work and continued my normal life.

I thank our Father Federico, I attribute my healing to his intercession. I know it is a miracle, from the moment I put his image on my belly, I was healed. Now I am completely cured. I always pray to our Father Federico. He helps me and protects me. Thanks to him I don’t miss work. I am happy because I am in demand, they offer me work contracts and when I compare my situation with that of my children who are young and can’t find work, I can only think: ‘it is thanks to Father Federico’. I have our Father’s photo on my dresser, where I light a candle of gratitude every now and then, and he is always there with flowers.

This is my testimony. May God grant us to raise him to the altars, ‘our saint’.

L.C.H. 27 February 2004.