A once-in-a-lifetime selfie with Pope Francis drew the attention of millions of people to Tricia Farnacio, earning for her hundreds of followers, back to back interviews, and countless comments saying "You're so blessed!"

But Tricia didn't need to be reminded of how lucky she was to meet the Pope and be able to immortalize that moment.

"I felt so special," Tricia, 17, tells GMA News Online. "I felt so blessed and grateful."

A year on, that feeling is still very much alive in me, she said.

In July 2014, Tricia was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disease   especially characterized by edema and the loss of protein from the plasma into the urine due to increased glomerular permeability.

Months of treatment in Tagaytay followed after she found about her disease, during which she missed school for two months.

By January 2015, Tricia was well enough to travel back to Manila to see the Holy Father who was arriving from typhoon-hit Tacloban City.

"At the airport ... they said the elderly and sick people can go closer to the pope. They gave me a wheelchair. And then I met him!" said Tricia.

Tricia has already stopped taking her medicines, after doctors declared her free from any illness. 

Her father, Brigadier General Raul Farnacio, is convinced that Tricia's recovery was a blessing from the Pope.

"Gumaling ang anak ko," he said. "Isa yun sa mga blessings."

For Tricia, however, the greatest gift she received since her meeting with Pope Francis was a stronger relationship with her family and God.

She and her family have since started to pray together, and attend Mass more often, she said.

Tricia was also glad about the effect of that "meeting" on her mother, who insisted that they should go to the airport to get a chance to see the Pope.

"Imagine if you're a mom and you took the trouble of bringing your child who is ill to the airport ... And then...you see the Pope. It's amazing," Tricia said.

The 17-year-old rekindled her relationship with God, after struggling with her faith during her illness.

"When I got sick, you can't help but doubt," she said. "But when I met the Pope...I just stopped doubting, and then I trusted God and his plans for me."

"He [Pope Francis] made a great impact on my life and the relationship in the family ... I'm still glad I got to experience something like that," she added.

It's been a year since Pope Francis visited the Philippines in January 2015. — LBG, GMA News