VIDALIA &8212; Cheryl Cullum didn&8217;t ask Santa for her best Christmas gift ever.

She went a little higher.

Cullum&8217;s mother, Hazel Minor of Ferriday, was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2004. She went through treatment and saw her cancer go into remission last Thanksgiving, which made for a wonderful Christmas gift for the family.

This year has brought an even better gift. Earlier this month, Minor got a clean bill of health.

Cullum credits the power of prayer with her mother&8217;s recovery.

&8220;We&8217;re very religious. We just had faith that she would be OK.&8221;

Minor agrees. &8220;I had my family, my Christian friends. Most of all, the Lord was with me,&8221; Minor said.

In fact, the family believes a higher power helped diagnose Minor in the first place.

&8220;We always said it was divine intervention she found out she had cancer,&8221; Cullum said.

The type of cancer Minor had is usually not detected until it is in the late stages.

But Minor was having some problems and sought help from a doctor.

During her illness, members of the family&8217;s church, Sycamore Baptist, were a source of strength and prayer, Cullum said.

But that&8217;s fitting, since Minor is the person who often visits or helps other church members who are sick.

&8220;She had a lot of support and encouragement,&8221; Cullum said. &8220;It was paid back to her.&8221;

Minor still works as a teacher&8217;s aide at Vidalia Upper Elementary. She worked throughout much of her treatment last year.

&8220;That was all she was worried about, missing a day of work,&8221; Cullum said.

&8220;People I work with were so good at school,&8221; Minor said.

Cullum, whose father died of cancer nine years ago, has been involved with Relay for Life for several years, but this year&8217;s event was particularly important.

Cullum and her sister walked with their mother during the survivor&8217;s lap.

&8220;It&8217;s hard to say what someone means to you. She&8217;s really been there for us.&8221;