Was labrador Ella’s cancer really cured by owner’s healing hands?
As a retired healer, Avril Priestley is a true believer in the power of love.
so when her beloved labrador Ella was diagnosed with bone cancer, she put her heart and soul into caring for the pet and ‘laying on hands’.
Almost a year on, the disease has disappeared – leaving vets amazed.
Experts had suggested Ella would die within weeks without the amputation of one of her legs and a course of chemotherapy.
But Mrs Priestley, 73, and husband Andy decided the five- year- old dog should simply enjoy the life she had left rather than endure agonising treatment. They let Ella dine on steak, pork loin and chicken, and allowed her to sleep on their bed. Meanwhile, as well as giving Ella small doses of painkillers, Mrs Priestley carried out regular treatment laying her hands ‘with love’ on the dog’s front right leg. And incredibly, the cancer vanished.
Ella’s vet, Dr Chris Vogt at the Polsloe Veterinary Clinic in Exeter, said: ‘We, like her devoted owners, are astounded with Ella’s story and could not be happier with the outcome.’
The Priestleys first became concerned about Ella when they noticed her limping last year. The couple, who at the time lived in Barnsley, took their pet to their local vet, and scans in April showed Ella had bone cancer.
Mr Priestley, 63, said: ‘We were told without an urgent amputation and a course of chemotherapy we could not expect her to live much longer than another four weeks. Ella was such an important part of our family but at the same time there was no certainty of a successful outcome.’
so the couple decided they would make whatever life their dog had left one of ‘minimal suffering and maximum joy’. In the New Year – having moved to Exeter – the Priestleys decided to go to their new local vet to check on the progress of the cancer.
Mr Priestley said: ‘We thought maybe Ella was enjoying a brief renaissance prior to the final decline … so Avril and I were amazed when the vet rang and said, “There has been a miracle” as there was no sign of the cancer.’
Mrs Priestley said: ‘We will never know if it was the healing. But Andy and I are just thrilled to have Ella well.’ Mrs Priestley became a healer 20 years ago after being inspired by the recovery of her grandaughter, Paige Gill. she said: ‘When Paige was 18 months she fell into a swimming pool and almost died. she spent months in hospital and was sent healing messages from all over the world. Today Paige is 23 and completely recovered.’
Although very rare, there are reports of cancers spontaneously disappearing, not only in animals but also in humans. scientists believe in these cases the body may trigger an immune response against specific antigens displayed on the surface of tumour cells.