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Carol Markey has been part of the Catholic church since as long as she can remember. She's also faced all kinds of trials, the latest one was a go-around with tonsil cancer.

That's partly what motivated her to write to Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, asking for a ticket to Pope Francis' address to Congress.

"I did think, 'Oh well, this won't happen. She probably won't even read it,'" Markey explained.

Congresswoman Foxx did read her letter and decided to give Markey her one-and-only ticket to sit inside the gallery.

"I just can't believe it's happened and I'm still floating around on that cloud nine," Markey said.

Like many Catholics, Markey has a strong affection for the Pontifex and supports his views on controversial issues like divorce, abortion and homosexuality.

"He just says love everybody and that's what I love about him," she said.

During radiation for tonsil cancer Markey kept a framed quote from Pope Francis nearby to get her through treatment.

"Knowing I could say that everyday just before I went to my treatments, it just gave me hope," she said.

Markey said she's thinking her visit to see and hear the pope in the flesh could close the door on all that suffering.

"Well I kind of feel like I'm not going to touch his robe, but I'm in the room with him and that's all I need," she said smiling.

She's also got high expectations for how lawmakers will take the Pope Francis' words.

"I'm hoping that the words that our pope shares with this group will somehow bring us together. Because what a necessary time for us to be together because we are such a divided nation right now," she said.

She's planning on leaving Washington a new woman. "I'm hoping that this is going to be a life-changer for me."

http://myfox8.com/2015/09/24/winston-salem-woman-inside-us-capitol-for-pope-francis-speech/