My firstborn son was healed of a heart ailment as an infant at the Marian Shrine in Lourdes. Every year on February 11, which just passed, I am prompted to meditate on this fact.
Stephen, now 11 years old, was born more than seven weeks premature on the feast day of St. Padre Pio (who was a Blessed at the time). He spent 10 days in the neonatal ICU, where they detected a heart murmur. Tests revealed a mild coarctation. If you are like my wife and I were at the time, the word is unfamiliar. Coarctation is a narrowing of the aorta, a condition that restricts blood flow and could lead to hypertension and stroke.
We got a second opinion, with the same diagnosis, and our son was scheduled for surgery at 7 months of age. By God’s grace, we were accepted for a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Knights of Malta, who each year charter a plane to bring sick children and their parents to the place where St. Bernadette Soubirous saw the Blessed Mother and unearthed a stream of healing water.
We got little Stephen a passport, flew to Lourdes with the wonderful assistance of the Knights and Dame of Malta, and immersed ourselves in the grace of the famous shrine. My wife dipped him in the frigid water on two occasions, splashing extra water on his chest for good measure and we prayed for healing. We also took part in a healing Mass, an amazing candlelight procession, a visit to St. Bernadette’s little home (cachot) and many other activities during our week in Lourdes.
My wife had the distinct feeling that something had changed with our son. I was not sure, and thought that her hopeful emotions were natural for a mother who had gone through a high-risk pregnancy and an emergency delivery.
We returned home and a few days later had an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist, who performed the usual tests, this time in preparation for surgery. When he finished, he spoke little and said that he would call us later. We were puzzled and concerned.
Had things gotten worse?
The cardiologist called that evening to say that he was taking Stephen off the surgery list for now. Too stunned to think, I told him not to be let our hesitance sway him; we wanted the best for our son’s health. The doctor explained that the tests that day showed a marked improvement. He didn’t say anything after the exam because he wanted to consult with colleagues before breaking the good news.
“Is this the miracle we prayed for at Lourdes?” I asked.
He said that as a doctor he didn’t deal in miracles, but he had never seen such a rapid improvement of this condition.
Over the months, the coarctation continued to improved, so that a year later, a specialist at one of the nation’s top hospitals said he could not detect any evidence of the condition.
Stephen was healed. Now he’s a fast runner, a Little Leaguer with a good batting eye and a Boy Scout who can hike five miles and more.
The only explanation is Lourdes.
I tell this story to inspire faith and hope in others. Not everybody who goes to Lourdes receives a physical healing. But everyone is healed in some way, spiritually, emotionally, mentally.
Please join me in thanking the Blessed Mother for her intercession before God, for all the graces she bestows on souls and bodies.
Let us give glory to God.
Reprinted with permission of the Catholic News Agency
Brian Caulfield is editor of the website Fathers for Good, an initiative by the Knights of Columbus that features regular articles, videos and other multimedia on the subject of Christian fatherhood. A father of two young boys, Brian writes on the spiritual truths found in daily life and the issues men face while striving to live out their vocation.
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