Second intercession: healing of Phil McCord
Phil McCord knew he had increasingly poor eyesight, a condition with which he had coped since age 6. After moving to Terre Haute, he visited a local doctor who confirmed that he was a candidate for surgery to remove cataracts from both eyes. He also had myopia and astigmatism.
His left eye was worse, so the decision was made to wait on surgery until the right eye “caught up” with the left eye. He was referred to another doctor who was an ophthalmologist and surgeon. The surgeon confirmed that Phil had advanced cataracts. A plan to proceed with surgery was made with full recovery expected.
The operation on the first eye was Sept. 21, 2000. A week after the surgery, Phil was delighted with better color awareness and light perception and his peripheral vision had improved.
The second surgery occurred about a month later. Discomfort was nearly immediate. Phil’s right eye had a distinct “heaviness.” His eyelid was drooping significantly and his face was red and felt pulled. The surgeon was hopeful the condition would clear up with continued treatment. That strategy didn’t work.
His surgeon referred him to a specialist in Indianapolis. The specialist confirmed the surgeon’s suspicions that swelling existed in Phil’s cornea. A corneal transplant was recommended.
Phil was upset. He knew this type of surgery would be serious, and would have certain risks, including potential loss of sight. He wasn’t sure he could do it, or would want to do it. He admitted he was fearful.
About a week later, he was returning from a meeting at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods where he served as director of Facilities Management at that time. He heard organ music coming from the Church of the Immaculate Conception as he walked in the corridor parallel to the church.
“I don’t really know what made me go in,” Phil said. But he did, and he prayed to the Sisters of Providence foundress, Mother Theodore Guerin. “I prayed for my own inner peace and courage.”
Phil spent time in reflection, and that led to prayer. He described himself as not very observant of his religious faith. He was raised American Baptist, the son of a lay minister.
In the church that day, he prayed for the strength to endure the corneal transplant. He remembered saying that he didn’t think he had the courage to undergo the surgery.
He recalled there was something called intercession in the Catholic faith, so he asked Mother Theodore for assistance.
“It was not an eloquent prayer. I said, ‘Mother Theodore, this is your house. I am your servant, for a lack of a better word, and if you have the power to intercede, I would appreciate anything that you can do for me.’”
After a few minutes of quiet, he prepared to leave and noticed a sense of peacefulness. He believed he had the confidence to proceed with the transplant.
He woke up the next morning and the heaviness and droopiness and redness around his right eye had diminished. His wife, a registered nurse, agreed.
He soon met with the surgeon with the likelihood of surgery occurring in the not-too-distant future. After an examination, the specialist wanted to know what he had done to his eye. The transplant was no longer needed. Healing had occurred. The specialist referred Phil back to his original surgeon.
A simple laser treatment to remove some tissue buildup was all Phil needed to have his vision restored. He now wears reading glasses, but can see nearly perfectly.
“There was nothing immediately dramatic about it. There was no instant, startling change. I’m not steeped in Catholic ritual, but I was aware of intercessory powers. I said [to Mother Theodore] ‘If you have God’s ear, I would appreciate it.’ It was kind of like exhaling. I felt better. Everything else followed from there,” Phil said.