I prayed a Novena to Padre Pio for the healing of my teen daughter. She had suffered from Pseudotumor Cerebri which, among having to endure several painful spinal taps had damaged her optical nerves. The specialists told us her nerve damage was permanent and irreversible. My daughter had been averaging 2-3 spinal taps a year by this time.

My request in the Novena was that Padre Pio would intervene for us so that our daughter would not have any more bouts of this condition which was making her eyesight progressively worse in addition to having to undergo the spinal taps.

Following my Novena, I felt an immense need to pray a Rosary in front of the tabernacle at church with my daughter and afterward to make the sign of the cross on both of her eyes with Holy Water. I can’t explain why I felt the need to do it so strongly (and I must admit I felt a little weird doing it because I hadn’t previously made those types of outward devotional gestures like that).

At our next follow up with the neurologist, he told us our daughter’s nerves actually looked good-improved even. He even felt confident enough to take our daughter off her medication! Another follow up with her eye specialist revealed the same. Our family gave thanks to God for healing her and to Padre Pio for his intercession.

A week or so later, we found a CD about Padre Pio at our local parish’s Lighthouse Catholic Media stand and listened to it on the way home as a family. In the CD, the presenter told a story of Padre Pio healing a little girl’s eyes by making the sign of the cross on each of them-the same thing I felt so strongly compelled to do! We ALL were completely stunned! It was as if Padre Pio was telling us, “yes, I heard your prayers and interceded”.

It’s been nearly two years now since our daughter’s last bout of Pseudotumor Cerebri and we just had another check up with her eye specialist. Her nerves looked great again and her vision was 20/20 (with her glasses, which she’s always needed anyway). Her vision had deteriorated previously though even with her glasses, so this is still an improvement.

My father had a very strong devotion to Padre Pio and he passed it along to me. In addition to helping me in my spiritual life, I know he interceded for us directly. We are currently saving up for a trip to San Giovanni Rotondo so we can show our devotion to him.

We thank God for the great Saints He has given us through Holy Mother Church. Thank you, St. Padre Pio. Ora Pro Nobis!