AGOURA HILLS, CA (ANS) -- Doctors are hopeful for a good prognosis and outcome following internationally-beloved and well-known disability advocate, artist and quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada's successful breast cancer surgery Monday.

Joni Eareckson Tada (Joni and Friends Photo)

The news comes after last week's diagnosis and announcement of Eareckson Tada's surgery, in a statement by Doug Mazza, Joni and Friends International Disability Center president and COO, released through A Larry Ross Communications.

“Joni’s surgery was completed successfully yesterday evening, and she is resting comfortably, preparing to begin the rest of her course of treatment in the next few days,” Mazza said.

“She is appreciative of all the prayers on her and her husband Ken’s behalf and is grateful to God for His sustaining grace and extra measure of strength during this time.”

Tada’s family physician, Dr. Geoffrey Drew, was with her all day, standing by as the oncology surgeon, Dr. David Chi, performed the procedure.

“Joni’s cancer was determined to be Stage 2, and while some lymph nodes were affected and Joni will need chemotherapy to follow up this surgery, this is a highly survivable cancer and we anticipate a positive prognosis,” Dr. Drew said.

“We ask for continued prayers on Joni’s behalf, that God would give her and Ken more grace and peace for the next steps,” Mazza added. “With prayer and good care, we look forward to her full recovery.”

A quadriplegic for more than 40 years, Tada is founder of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, and has been a strong advocate for people with disabilities. She has served on the National Council on Disability and the Disability Advisory Committee to the U.S. State Department. She is senior associate for disability concerns for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization and serves in an advisory capacity to the American Leprosy Mission, the National Institute on Learning Disabilities, as well as on the boards of reference for the Christian Writers’ Guild and the
Christian Medical and Dental Society.

Further updates regarding Tada’s health and progress will be posted to the “Joni’s Corner” section of the Joni and Friends ministry website at
www.joniandfriends.org  .

Well-wishers are invited to continue to post assurances of their prayers and encouragement to Joni and her husband, as she begins chemotherapy in the next few weeks and on through the recovery process.

Joni and Friends continues to serve the disability community through its International Disability Center, offering a wide array of life-affirming ministries to people with disabilities around the world, including international radio and television programs featuring inspirational stories.

Wheels for the World enables thousands of individuals to receive wheelchairs and the life-giving message of the Gospel. Every year families affected by disability learn that they are not alone when they attend Family Retreats across the U.S. and around the world. The Joni and Friends Christian Institute on Disability equips the Christian community to engage in bioethics and value of life issues.

More information can be found online at the ministry’s new website, www.joniandfriends.org  .

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For more information about Joni and Friends or to arrange an interview with Joni and Friends representatives, please contact Melany Ethridge of A. Larry Ross Communications at 972.267.1111 or melany@alarryross.com

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649,at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can donate online to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Chief Reporter