An Amish Healer Tried to Treat an Infant Who Had RSV
It is hard to know what is the worst part of this story of the Amish healer who tried to treat an infant with RSV.
An infant who died later that day.
The healer operated the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat.
“When the parents brought their 6-month-old son to Shetler for treatment after noticing he was “turning blue,” he allegedly performed a “lavender breathing treatment” on the boy on March 6, 2025, and sent him home.”
6-month-old died after ‘turning blue’ and being treated with lavender oil instead of being taken to the hospital: Police
And in the course of investigating the sex crime charges, officials found that the healer was also involved in the death of a 6-month-old Amish infant with RSV, resulting in a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
A 6-month-old who was already “declining” when they were treated at the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat and didn’t improve with a “lavender breathing treatment.”
“The parents found the boy unresponsive and "blue in color" when they tried to wake him from a nap.”
6-month-old died after ‘turning blue’ and being treated with lavender oil instead of being taken to the hospital: Police
Tragically, when a neighbor who was not Amish called 911, they found that the baby had already died.
The employee told detectives that the Amish community viewed Shetler as an "actual" doctor or "healer" who led the community to believe that "English," or non-Amish, medical doctors "do not know what they are doing."
6-month-old died after ‘turning blue’ and being treated with lavender oil instead of being taken to the hospital: Police
And their Amish healer couldn’t be found.
What’s the Harm of Alternative Treatments?
Tragically, this isn’t an isolated story.
Children often die because their parents are lured into trying alternative or more natural treatments, not understanding the risks of skipping or delaying more proven, standard medical therapies.
They don’t understand that children can die when their parents skip their baby’s vitamin K shot, vaccines, insulin therapy, chemotherapy, seizure medications, or antibiotics, etc.
They don’t understand the risk of listening to bad advice…