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One year ago, Thomas Aquinas College tutor Dr. Travis Cooper and his wife, Briena (Dunkel ’06), requested prayers, for their then 8-year-old son, Damian. Those prayers, made through the intercession of Venerable Mother Luisita, foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, have borne tremendous fruit. Damian’s surgery and treatment for the bone cancer in his leg have been successful. He is now in remission and cancer free!

“Damian’s last chemotherapy round was right before Easter, and all the scans since the end of chemotherapy have come back clean,” says Dr. Cooper. “His physical health is good. He walks around — even hops around — and rides his bike, despite having no hip joint.”

The Coopers  are humbled by the number of people who have prayed for Damian and their family this past year. “It’s incredible how many people across the world have been praying for him — people in Africa, people in Spain, mostly people we don’t even know. The Carmelites have been spreading the news. The TAC alumni community, too,” he says. “It’s been an obvious help, and the consolations we have received have been manifest. We felt their effect throughout the course of the treatment.”

The family asks for continued prayers, particularly that this aggressive form of cancer will not recur. It also expresses its great gratitude both to God and to all who have prayed. “Thank you to everybody for the prayers!”