Hope That Overcame Despair

Our son Tato was born with a serious condition: hydrocephalus.

A tragic error occurred during childbirth, as a result of which the child suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. At only four months old, he underwent his first operation. Unfortunately, complications arose during surgery, requiring another operation only a few days later.

Over the following years, Tato underwent several more operations and many difficult medical procedures.

The boy was unable to move independently.

Later, his condition became even more complicated: a brain cyst began growing rapidly, epilepsy developed, and episodes of loss of consciousness occurred twenty or more times a day.

The doctors said that the possibilities of modern medicine had been almost completely exhausted.

A time of severe trial began for our family.

It was then that we heard about Saint Gabriel Urgebadze and learned that many people travelled to his resting place at Samtavro Monastery to ask the Lord for help in prayer.

Our entire family went there.

As we approached the saint’s grave, something wholly unexpected occurred.

Tato, who usually sat quietly in his wheelchair, suddenly became visibly animated.

We carefully placed him on the ground.

For the first time in his life, the child began to move on his own.

He crawled towards Saint Gabriel’s resting place, touched it with his hands, then bowed his head and remained in prayerful silence for a long time.

For us, this became an immense spiritual consolation.

After returning home, we continued to pray to the Lord every day, reciting the Lord’s Prayer and reverently anointing our son’s head with blessed oil from the saint’s grave.

A few days later, Tato stood on his feet by himself for the first time and took his first steps.

His condition continued to improve gradually.

He learned to embrace his parents, kiss his loved ones, walk independently, and move about with confidence.

Today, we remember everything we endured with profound gratitude and continually thank the Lord for the mercy shown to our family through the prayers of Saint Gabriel.

“For our family, this became a great consolation and strengthening of faith. Glory to God for all things!”

Glory to God for all things!