Israel Lemus is a walking miracle, a medical mystery his doctors can’t quite understand.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, the same aggressive form of brain cancer that took the late Sen. John McCain’s life in the summer of 2018. At the time, Lemus was given a mere two months to live.

Since then, he’s gotten engaged, married, purchased a home, and changed careers, according to KHOU-TV. “To me, it’s 100% God,” Lemus told the news outlet. “Honestly, I’m thankful to God for every day. The first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before going to sleep is thank God for that day.” Lemus, diagnosed at age 29, said he doesn’t even feel sick.

“The scans may show different, and the doctors may say different, but in my mind, I’m in remission,” he explained, noting the “typical prognosis is 14-24 months.”

Since his diagnosis, the Houston native has undergone three surgeries and every kind of cancer treatment available. Dr. Jay-Jiguang Zhu, Lemus’ oncologist at UTHealth Houston and Memorial Hermann, said there is no known cure for his late-stage glioblastoma, which first presented itself with a golf ball-sized tumor in his brain. He said the fact that Lemus is still alive and healthy, aside from the cancer, is “a miracle.”

Dr. Zhu says the fact that Israel has lived years longer than anyone could have guessed is a mystery. He believes a positive attitude, a strong support system, and a team of doctors who work together have helped.

“We can see the disease on his MRI; that’s why we don’t use the word ‘remission,'” the doctor said, noting it’s a mystery as to why and how his patient has stayed alive for so long. Lemus’ wife, Samantha, describes her husband as “my miracle” — an incredible story of survival they both credit to the Lord.

Imagine being told you have cancer with only two months to live. At that moment, your life immediately flashes before your eyes. You start to think about the life you lived, what you could’ve done better, and the things you didn’t get to accomplish. You begin to think about your loved ones and how they’ll go on once you’re gone. This struggle must have been hard for Israel Lemus and his family.

However, something miraculous happened; Israel lived past his two-month prognosis and longer than anyone could’ve guessed, which is nothing short of a miracle. Since living past the two-month prediction, Israel has taken advantage of his extra time. He’s gotten married, changed careers, and lived every day like it’s his last. Doctors are unsure of how this happened, but for Israel and his family, it’s nothing short of God and His mercy.

As for what the future holds for Israel and his family, nobody knows what will happen. No one knows the time or the hour that God will call them home. However, until his time, Israel will continue being a walking miracle and spend as much time with his family as possible.