My father was a child in the 1940’s. His father was an Episcopalian priest and his mother a homemaker. They had a housekeeper that would assist with chores weekly. Unbeknownst to the family, the housekeeper had tuberculosis. (Tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial pulmonary (lung) disease that at that time did not have a treatment.) My father contracted the disease when he was around six years old. My father described how my grandfather wept at the foot of his bed when he found out the news of his illness.
For several years he was in and out of the hospital. When not in the hospital, he was isolated and much of the time bedridden at home, a tutor helping with school. He explained to me during this time he would build model airplanes in his bed, a passion that would continue throughout his lifetime.
My grandfather, a priest at one of the large parishes in Detroit at the time, had invited a “spiritual healer,” Agnes Sanford, to talk to the congregation that year. My grandfather also asked Agnes if she would come and “pray for Bill” when she visited. Dad was now fourteen. Agnes agreed, and suggested my father read her book, The Healing Light prior to their meeting.
My dad completed the book and the day arrived that Agnes was due in Detroit. He shared how that evening his father and Agnes came into his bedroom. As he described, “She laid hands on me and said a few prayers.” To his surprise, within a few days his symptoms began to improve; within two weeks he had no symptoms at all! After eight years, he had made a full recovery! Later, x-rays would reveal no sign of any disease.
Of course this had a signficant influence on my dad's life. He ultimately also became an Episcopal priest and found he was able to offer healing help to many over his lifetime.