The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full report, CLICK HERE.
Justiniano Anibal Ulloa, a 101-year-old member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Scarborough, Ontario, was born during the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 and has recently survived the deadly novel coronavirus. (See an additional report of this story by CTV News Toronto.)
With failing lungs and a serious cough, Justiniano was taken to hospital on April 4 and tested positive for COVID-19. The doctors expected he would not survive and said no one would be able to visit him in hospital. His family received permission to take him home and care for him there, which allowed him to receive calls from his immediate and extended family in Canada, Ecuador and the United States.
His son Marcelo Ulloa gave Justiniano a priesthood blessing, and family and friends fasted and prayed for his recovery. Justiniano made major improvements during the week that included Good Friday, April 10, the same day as the global fast that Church President Russell M. Nelson invited people of all faiths and beliefs to join.
Marcelo said, “Dad’s family doctor was surprised [Dad] was still alive and not requiring oxygen. It’s nothing short of the power of God keeping him going in a miraculous way. … [This experience] is definitely one way that Heavenly Father is showing His great power and mercy by answering our collective prayers.”
Latter-day Saints believe that fasting combined with sincere prayer can provide spiritual strength, closeness to God and preparation to receive His blessings.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.