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CBS2 Revisits NJ Girl Who Has Defied Odds Since Blessing From Pope John Paul II

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With Pope Francis now in the United States, countless people are hoping for a glimpse, maybe even a blessing.

CBS2's Dana Tyler revisited the family of a Monmouth County girl blessed by Pope John Paul II 20 years ago.

It was a reunion between Tyler and proud parents Elizabeth and Ward Foggin and their daughter, Caity, who continues to defy the odds.

Caity is 22 years old and has a genetic disorder called leukodystrophy. Degeneration of the white matter in her brain means her nerve fibers are exposed and send misfires to her body, causing defects. She can't swallow or talk, and she also has muscular dystrophy.

But seeing Caity now and in 2004 with her devoted big sister, Maura, it's evident Caitlyn Foggin is a fighter.

She was born healthy in 1993. At a year and a half, her parents of deep Catholic faith were told Caity wouldn't live past 5.

Tyler met the Foggin family by chance at Newark Liberty Airport in 1995.

What started as an intense, yet routine, live report of Pope John Paul II's departure turned into something extraordinary for the Foggins -- and for Tyler -- when the pope pointed to law enforcement families waiting to wave goodbye.

Tyler, among a small group of reporters, was behind the families. The pope stopped at Elizabeth Foggin, who was holding 2-year-old Caity, wearing a red coat, and kissed the toddler.

Tyler interviewed the Foggins moments later. Then and now, they say prayers move mountains.

"The day we met the pope, that was the day that turned her life around," Elizabeth Foggin said.

The papal blessing was a matter of seconds that the Foggins say added years to their daughter's life.

"For a child that had such a devastating diagnosis, it was a miracle for the length of time and the actual physical improvements," Ward Foggin said.

Elizabeth Foggin said Caity does find ways today to communicate through nodding.

The Foggins say since her blessing by Pope John Paul II, relatives and friends do more than just visit Caity, they pray with her.

When asked what he thinks of Pope Francis -- who landed in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and will arrive in New York on Thursday -- Ward Foggin said: "I think he's the people's pope, for sure. There's a lot of work to be done in the world, whether it's hunger, wars. He doesn't hide in the Vatican."

But the retired Port Authority police officer said his family had their moment and are now eager to watch Pope Francis' visit on TV, deeply grateful for their unforgettable encounter 20 years ago and counting their blessings.

"When she first was born, we thought she was sent to us for us to take care of her," Elizabeth Foggin said. "But we quickly realized that it was the other way around. She's here to take care of us."

The family is also profoundly grateful to all of Caity's doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland and at at Columbia Children's Hospital, now Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, in New York, as well as Caity's home nursing care and Port Authority police.

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