Maryory | Oncology Surgery Patient

My name is Maryory Dueñas. I am 32 years old and I live in Olanchito, Yoro. I used to work at a banana-packing plant. One day, a coworker mentioned that she had a lump in her breast. At that moment, I had a feeling that I should check myself, and when I did, I realized that I also had a small lump.

I went to the doctor and requested an ultrasound, but the doctor refused, saying that because I was young, it was nothing. I insisted that he order the ultrasound, and he agreed. The ultrasound showed that I had a mass in my breast. The nurse who performed the ultrasound told me that it could possibly save my life because the mass was visible and there were also lymph nodes. At that moment, I knew that God was going to save my life.

I went back to the doctor and requested an appointment with a gynecologist. However, because there was a strike at the public hospital, the doctor refused to give me an appointment, insisting that what I had was nothing, and scheduled me for four months later.

My husband and I fasted and prayed, asking the Lord for help. After a month of fasting, I had a revelation in which I saw myself and my hair falling out. It frightened me, and I asked the Lord to tell me if this revelation was from Him. The following night, I dreamed that I was in a room fighting a snake with the head of a crab and horns. Spiritually, I felt that I was facing the devil himself. At that moment, I knew that I was not facing just any illness; it was practically like a demon.

I spoke with a cousin who was a pathologist and asked if he could perform a biopsy for me. He said yes. I traveled to a hospital in Tocoa, where there was a radiologist who performed an ultrasound and offered to help me. At that time, we were people with very limited financial resources. My husband was unemployed, and so was I, but we never lost our faith in God because He can do anything.

Finally, the doctor told me that things were not looking good, that I had axillary lymph nodes and a mass. He told me that I needed a biopsy, which cost L14,000. I became extremely worried, so I prayed to the Lord and managed to gather L5,000.

On the day of the biopsy, I was praying and telling God that I was going through a difficult time and that I did not have enough money because of my financial situation at that time. I told the doctor that I only had that amount of money, and he responded that it was enough to cover the procedure. At that moment, I witnessed the first miracle God performed.

The doctor took the samples, and the results showed that I had cancer. I couldn't believe it. At that moment, all I could think about were my two young daughters. I had no money and no job, but I continued to trust in Almighty God.

My faith continued to grow. I attended a prayer vigil that was half an hour from where we lived, trusting that God would help me through everything. I felt as though this was a death sentence, and even so, I did not turn away from God because He knows why things happen. The pastor called my husband and me forward and prayed for us. I trusted God completely because I knew He would provide.

Each chemotherapy treatment cost L8,800, and the first one was paid for by an aunt who came from the United States. I continued praying, and doors began to open. I was able to receive five chemotherapy treatments.

One day, someone told me that a breast cancer medical brigade would be coming to Fundación Ruth Paz. I asked my oncologist to evaluate me and see if I could undergo surgery because a private institution was charging L50,000, and I did not have that amount of money. The oncologist initially rejected the idea, telling me that I needed to complete all eight chemotherapy treatments and then find the money for the surgery.

I asked him to examine me, saying that perhaps the tumor was beginning to shrink. He checked me and told me that it had indeed decreased in size and that I could undergo surgery.

I believe that in life, there is no greater failure than not trying. The Bible says that many times we may lose our lives, but what matters is where our souls will go. In my case, I feel that it is not yet my time to leave this world. God died for us so that we could be here and live life abundantly.

I thank God and the doctors for helping people like me—humble people who have nothing but Christ in our hearts.