Healing Testimony of Diala Romanos Skaff
Healing of Diala Romanos Skaff – A Maronite from Syria, born on March 6, 1986 – from the blood clotting disorder “Fandylaprad,” also known as Factor VIII deficiency (brand: Factrioid).
I, Diala Skaff, daughter of Lucia from Daher Safra, Syria, born on March 6, 1986, declare before God and in the presence of Msgr. Antoine Deeb, the Vicar General of the Maronite Diocese of Latakia, after placing my hand on the Holy Gospel, the following testimony:
Since I was four months old, I had suffered from this bleeding disorder. I was treated with regular blood transfusions at the Children’s Hospital in Damascus, under the care of Dr. Ziad Abdel Hadi, Dr. Bernard Al-Khazem, Dr. Fadel Kanani, and Dr. Nihan Elias.
In 2015, my condition worsened severely. While I was at Al-Mashreq Hospital in Tartous, Msgr. Antoine Deeb, who regularly visited the sick there, happened—by what seemed to be coincidence from a human perspective, but was in truth Divine Providence at work—to meet my late brother, Martyr Mikhael Skaff, at the elevator. When asked why he was there, my brother replied, "My sister Diala is in critical condition."
Msgr. Deeb immediately left his visits and came to my hospital room. He gave me Holy Communion, anointed my head with Saint Sharbel’s oil, had me drink the oil, and placed an image of Saint Sharbel under my pillow. A week later, I was discharged home. My brother-in-law Ramez Salloum called the monsignor to tell him that I was on the verge of death.
Msgr. Antoine Deeb’s Account:
While celebrating Mass, I felt a compelling force pulling me to visit Diala. It was a cold winter evening during the Christmas Novena, and I felt as though someone was physically leading me by the hand.
When I arrived and knocked on the door, the household was struck with fear. I was unaware of what was happening inside.
Diala’s Account:
Before the priest arrived, I suddenly woke from a coma and told everyone, "Open the door—Monsignor Antoine and Saint Sharbel are outside." I lit a candle and saw Saint Sharbel’s image in its flame, then fell unconscious again. My uncle, George Skaff, dismissed it as either a death vision or a moment of delirium, saying I had lost my mind, laughing at the candle and claiming "Fr. Sharbel and Antoine were at the door."
Msgr. Antoine Deeb:
When I was told what had happened, I was overwhelmed with reverence. I prayed over her, anointed her again with Saint Sharbel’s oil, and as I was leaving, I asked the family to escort me, for I felt the powerful presence of Saint Sharbel in the home.
Diala continues:
That night I was rushed to the hospital. The doctors determined I needed emergency surgery scheduled for 10 a.m. the next day. For unknown reasons, the surgery was postponed to 2 p.m., then to 6 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., just before the operation, I saw a black robe—Saint Sharbel, from the shoulders down, though I could not see his face. Moments later, Dr. Fadi Hanna entered and said: “A divine miracle has occurred. The bleeding has stopped. Surgery is no longer necessary.”
Today, I am married to Maron Elias El-Helou and live in Ghbatiye, Jezzine, Lebanon.
The miracle was officially recorded on December 21, 2023.
Thank you, Saint Sharbel
I, Diala Skaff, daughter of Lucia from Daher Safra, Syria, born on March 6, 1986, declare before God and in the presence of Msgr. Antoine Deeb, the Vicar General of the Maronite Diocese of Latakia, after placing my hand on the Holy Gospel, the following testimony:
Since I was four months old, I had suffered from this bleeding disorder. I was treated with regular blood transfusions at the Children’s Hospital in Damascus, under the care of Dr. Ziad Abdel Hadi, Dr. Bernard Al-Khazem, Dr. Fadel Kanani, and Dr. Nihan Elias.
In 2015, my condition worsened severely. While I was at Al-Mashreq Hospital in Tartous, Msgr. Antoine Deeb, who regularly visited the sick there, happened—by what seemed to be coincidence from a human perspective, but was in truth Divine Providence at work—to meet my late brother, Martyr Mikhael Skaff, at the elevator. When asked why he was there, my brother replied, "My sister Diala is in critical condition."
Msgr. Deeb immediately left his visits and came to my hospital room. He gave me Holy Communion, anointed my head with Saint Sharbel’s oil, had me drink the oil, and placed an image of Saint Sharbel under my pillow. A week later, I was discharged home. My brother-in-law Ramez Salloum called the monsignor to tell him that I was on the verge of death.
Msgr. Antoine Deeb’s Account:
While celebrating Mass, I felt a compelling force pulling me to visit Diala. It was a cold winter evening during the Christmas Novena, and I felt as though someone was physically leading me by the hand.
When I arrived and knocked on the door, the household was struck with fear. I was unaware of what was happening inside.
Diala’s Account:
Before the priest arrived, I suddenly woke from a coma and told everyone, "Open the door—Monsignor Antoine and Saint Sharbel are outside." I lit a candle and saw Saint Sharbel’s image in its flame, then fell unconscious again. My uncle, George Skaff, dismissed it as either a death vision or a moment of delirium, saying I had lost my mind, laughing at the candle and claiming "Fr. Sharbel and Antoine were at the door."
Msgr. Antoine Deeb:
When I was told what had happened, I was overwhelmed with reverence. I prayed over her, anointed her again with Saint Sharbel’s oil, and as I was leaving, I asked the family to escort me, for I felt the powerful presence of Saint Sharbel in the home.
Diala continues:
That night I was rushed to the hospital. The doctors determined I needed emergency surgery scheduled for 10 a.m. the next day. For unknown reasons, the surgery was postponed to 2 p.m., then to 6 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m., just before the operation, I saw a black robe—Saint Sharbel, from the shoulders down, though I could not see his face. Moments later, Dr. Fadi Hanna entered and said: “A divine miracle has occurred. The bleeding has stopped. Surgery is no longer necessary.”
Today, I am married to Maron Elias El-Helou and live in Ghbatiye, Jezzine, Lebanon.
The miracle was officially recorded on December 21, 2023.
Thank you, Saint Sharbel
