VINNIE: The Cat That Cured a Migraine

In 1997 I was commissioned to write a book for the award winning children’s publishers Element. The editor was Barry Cunningham, the man who had originally commissioned J.K. Rowling to write the Harry Potter books. Barry had listened to my idea for a book about the healing powers of pets and animals and suggested a title: Animals Make You Feel Better. I set about writing this and during my research came across a lady who claimed to have been healed by her cat:

Jeanne Garner, who lives in the town of Lexington, Oklahoma USA, was a very sick lady when she first welcomed Vinnie the cat into her home. Her life was spoiled by headaches, not just little ones that hurt a bit behind the forehead and disappear with a couple of tablets, but really serious ones. Doctors at her local hospital told her she was suffering from migraine attacks.

Often Jeanne would be so ill with these awful headaches that she would have to go into a dark room and lie down. The pain was unbearable and, when it was at it worst, the vision in her eyes would become really distorted.

Then one day, when she was at the veterinary surgeons office in New Orleans, she saw a bedraggled stray cat  that was due to be put to sleep. It had been abandoned, no one wanted this cat, Jeanne took one look and asked if she could have him. The vet agreed, after all the cat had no home and as he had been there seven days his time was up. Jeanne called the cat  Vinnie and took him home where he quickly became Jeanne's very best pal. He would snuggle up on her knee as she watched TV and, in next to no time at all, was her constant companion. Everywhere Jeanne went Vinnie followed. Then one busy afternoon, just as Jeanne was working on her computer, she was struck by the most horrible headache she had ever suffered.

Jeanne knew exactly what she had to do, go into her bedroom, draw the heavy velvet curtains, switch off the lights and lie down. The terrible buzzing feeling pounded through her brain and her eyes began to blur as the migraine attack took control. She was totally helpless, locked into a world of pure pain.

Then, as she lay in the darkness, she felt something gently stroking her neck and shoulders. Instantly Jeanne relaxed, the tension seemed to ease completely from her body as the soothing pressure smoothed away the awful pain. For a moment Jeanne did not think who or what was massaging her, she just enjoyed the release it brought, the feeling of perfect love.

Slowly the migraine attack passed and Jeanne switched on the bedside lamp, imagine her surprise when she saw Vinnie the cat sitting on the pillow by the side of her head. It had been her pet cat that had been softly stroking away the hurt from her headache. Vinnie had somehow known that his best pal was in pain and it was his little paws that stroked Jeanne's neck easing the terrible tension from her taught muscles.

For years and years Vinnie helped Jeanne, each time she had a migraine attack her pet cat would follow her into the darkened bedroom and help stroke away the blinding powerful pain she was suffering.

Gradually, and neither Jeanne Garner or her Doctors can explain how, her migraine attacks disappeared. It wasn't an overnight cure, but slowly they came less and less often. Months began to pass between the headache attacks until one day she realised she was cured.  Jeanne believes that cure  has something to do with the loving attention of Vinnie her pet cat. She thinks that the cat was sent to help  in her  hour of need, like a special gift bestowed from the mysterious world beyond. In her words she says that Vinnie is a 'bodhi sattava' a blessing from the universe.

The healing of that lady’s migraine headache is a medical fact, that her cat actually caused this is another matter. However she firmly believes that Vinnie her cat healed her and who is to say that he didn’t.

There are many other such accounts of individuals being helped and healed by animals and pets in my book and also tests to help the reader ascertain if their personal pet has healing powers.  For example:

• Has your pet ever reacted to you in a time of emotional distress. By this I mean has your dog or cat displayed any signs of attempting to comfort you when you were sad or upset.
• Has your pet ever placed a paw on your body at the site of an injury as if to sooth away the pain.
• Has your pet ever shown distress when you yourself have been hurt or injured.

If you answered yes to any of the above then it is likely that you have a pet with the power to heal.  If you answered no, it may be that your pet has not yet had the opportunity to display their healing potential. In any case do watch your pet carefully and always treat them with affection as you may just own a healing pet who will one day return all the love you share with them.

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