Did you know that there is not one disease or illness known to mankind that has not been overcome and cured by a miracle? Every fatal condition we know of has an example of a spontaneous remission. If you have ever experienced a miracle, describing the experience can be a challenge.
In Eastern spiritual tradition it is taught that only the experience itself is important, not the intellectual explanation of it. You can’t tell another person what a peach tastes like; one must eat a peach and experience the peach to know its flavor.
In my 20 years practicing in Lake County as a physician, I have witnessed several miracle healings. The problem in writing about these phenomena is that they are not provable. Science cannot run a double-blind study and prove the existence of miracles.
An interesting twist to miracles is that they may not be provable, but they are verifiable. How can this be? Because they are real experiences that people have. Much like the flavor of the peach, they can’t be described or proven but they can be experienced.
Another example is the healing power of love. Love is not measurable. Science can’t capture love in a laboratory and quantify it by recording a number. Yet love heals. I witness it all of the time. Patients who have supporting and loving families demonstrate healing capacities that are greater than those who are alone socially.
I have also witnessed patients who have dogs tend to heal better then patients who are alone and have no pet. Again, I can’t prove this but I witness it repeatedly. The love of a dog has a special quality to assist in healing.
Recently, I had an elderly woman who had multiple open bed sores on her ankle and both heels. When I first met this patient, my impression was this was a hopeless situation. Honestly, I thought she would lose both legs to amputation.
The element she had on her side was a supportive family. I outlined a treatment program for her and they agreed to be diligent about her care and do everything I recommended. One of her caregivers asked if he could massage her legs to increase the circulation to her feet. I said of course he could add that care, and he did.
What happened over the course of the next six months was nothing short of a miracle. She healed all of her wounds. I have never seen such a hopeless case go on to complete healing. It was amazing.
Upon reflection, I realized how the miracle occurred. The love of the caregiver and family member who massaged the legs was one of the reasons she healed. There is no doubt in my mind. Affectionate touching in the form of a massage was the love my patient needed to heal.
This story is not provable, but verifiable. Now you know the difference. Miracles are like eating the sweetest, most wonderful peach you have ever placed in your mouth. Only you can experience that flavor, but you will always know it to be true.
Matthew McQuaid, DPM is a board certified foot surgeon practicing in Lakeport. He has a particular interest in Mind/Body medicine and its impact on healing. He is an award winning author and teacher. For more information please call (707) 263-3727 and visit www.drmcquaid.com.
