Does the sentence mean that she actually prayed earnestly to God?

With her sheer determination to pray earnestly to God for a swift recovery after her surgery, she recovered very soon and managed to sit for her A Levels, which was/were a month away.

1. Does the sentence mean that she actually prayed earnestly to God and was able to recover quickly and managed to sit for her A Levels, which was a month away? If it does not mean that, how should the sentence be phrased?
2. Should it be 'was' or 'were'?

Thanks.