Ten months after suffering sepsis that nearly cost her life and left her with limb sequelae, Mariam Falcón, originally from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, shared an emotional moment with Pope Leo XIV. This encounter, which took place after the pontiff's eucharist, occurs a year after the young woman visited His Holiness in Rome during the jubilee year.
Visibly moved, Mariam described the moment: "I looked at him, I shook his hand, and I don't even know what to say anymore. I have no words." The young woman attributes her strength during the tough battle against the illness, which kept her hospitalized from August to December, to her faith and the unconditional support of her family, friends, and community.
Mariam's story is one of resilience and hope. After returning from Rome, she began experiencing symptoms that led to a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis with severe sepsis. The infection severely affected blood circulation in her limbs, leading doctors to consider significant amputations. However, specialized treatment and a second medical evaluation allowed for the preservation of most of her limbs, with amputations performed below the knees.
The young woman, who studies Administration and Finance and is the third of seven siblings, emphasizes the importance of "lifting her gaze" as a personal motto, an attitude that has helped her face suffering and look towards the future with optimism. The meeting with Pope Leo XIV, who invited her to the World Youth Day in Korea in 2027, reinforces her path of faith and overcoming adversity.
