The following note was written by Benjamin's Gram
I am attaching some pictures of Benjamin on the Saturday that the novena ended.
The World Apostulate of Fatima held their mass and healing service down at St. Joseph's in Holbrook. The Pastor Father Riley actually came back from vacation as to meet Benjamin and the priest he had asked to do the mass, Fr. Currie from St. Paul's in Hingham is also very devoted to Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Riley is from a family of 10 and Fr. Currie is from a family of 12! Both fantastic and holy young priests dedicated to Our Lady! Unfortunately I did not get many pictures of the day. There were many people there and most had heard about Benjamin and a lot had been praying for him! It is so humbling to hear just how many have been praying for this little guy and it shows!!!
Before the novena, the doctor had been concerned as he had not really been gaining weight which would mean his intestines were not absorbing enough of what he was being fed by the iv and the feeding tube as well as the small jar and a half of baby food he eats per day. However.....when they weighed him yesterday he had actually gained a pound since the novena started!!! He is now 14 pounds 6 ounces! The doctor was so thrilled with how he looked and what he has started to do (clapping, waving, saying dada and bye and getting around in his walker), that he scheduled him to have his day surgery on March 15th to take the tube that protrudes from his abdomen and replace it with what is called "a button" which is flush with his skin so when he needs feedings, it just gets plugged into the button which will be so much easier. They also increased his formula from 5 ccs to 6 ccs per hour. He still has the iv central line where he gets the experimental omega TPN feedings but the more he is able to eat and absorb, the more they will cut that back and hopefully be able to get rid of that as well. Personally, looking at him and watching him this past weekend and Tuesday when Jen came to visit, I would not be surprised if he is not already cured, but unfortunately with his condition, we cannot just disconnect him or stop the feedings as it could be dangerous so we will gradually have to see it happening which we are!!! Our Lady at Fatima said some will be cured within the year so we shall see if he is one of them! He sure has come a long way in 9 months!