History & Claims

Medium Impression by Violet Bloom

Vila Irwin was a little girl with a very short life, but she was the shining star of the Irwin family and the community. Her mother, Elizabeth was born in Wales and Vila was named after her grandmother or another close relative of her mother’s. Elizabeth and her husband Robert were pioneers and they moved cross country to a place call Zillah, Washington.

Elizabeth and Robert already had two children-Myrtle and Herbert-when they found out another child was on the way. Elizabeth became ill during her pregnancy after the visit of a neighbor. She was exposed to Rubella, which is also known as the German measles. She was feverish and sick for a few days, but when she recovered, she felt fine. She never expected it to affect her baby’s development.

When Vila was born, she was a beautiful baby with blonde hair, but her parents were worried when they saw her eyes were crossed. Otherwise, she was a happy baby with a healthy appetite. Unlike her siblings, Vila settled down easily at naptime and bedtime. All the neighbors adored Vila and someone came by to help her mother every afternoon.

As Vila got older, she became even more adorable, but her eyes didn’t straighten up. Her parents noticed that when Vila reached for something, her aim was off. She simply was not able to see well. She learned to talk without delay. By the time she was just a year old she was chattering like a magpie. Vila could walk but she stumbled because of her sight.

The community of Zillah was fortunate to have a doctor nearby. The doctor told Vila’s parents that when Elizabeth had Rubella, it had affected Vila’s eyesight and heart. He explained Vila had a heart murmur, which sounded like whooshing or swishing, Murmurs of the heart are caused by turbulent blood flow through the heart. The doctor did some treatments with eye patches and eyedrops, which helped strengthen her eyes. Eyeglasses were not readily available like they are nowadays, but an older German lady had a brother who made glasses. The next time he came to visit he brought Vila a pair of glasses that helped her see much better.

Vila and her brother Herbert were closest in age. By the time she was four, he was almost six and they were constantly together. If she fell down, he was there to help her get back up. He was her “Big Brother” and he looked after her. With the glasses she could see surprisingly well, and she had extraordinary hearing. Herbert used to say that “little Vila could heard a mouse whisper” Sometimes if she ran hard, she would fall down and he was afraid her heart would jump out of her chest.

The year that Vila turned six, they had a big snowstorm two days before Christmas and the snow was perfect for sledding. They had a lovely slope behind the house. They bundled up and went to the slope. Vila went down the hill and the others told her to hurry up and bring the sled back. Vila stood up, grabbed the sled, and fell backwards into the snow. Herbert checked on her. He thought she had the wind knocked out of her, but she didn’t move. He ran to the house as fast as he could.

Their father came out to see what was going on and Vila was unresponsive. He carried her to the house and summoned the doctor, but she was dead. The doctor said she died from heart failure.

Everyone was upset but little Herbert was inconsolable. Vila had this doll and he held the doll in his arms the rest of the night. He asked their parents ifhe could keep the doll in his room. Vila didn’t understand what had happened until she saw her brother kneeling at the side of his bed, saying his prayers, and asking God to please bring back his little sister.

Within the next few days, Herbert could hear and see his sister. Her eyes were no longer crossed and Vila told him she could see everything perfectly. I believe she looked like a living child to Herbert. And she was there with him always.

Herbert enlisted in the Marines in 1917 during World War I and he was sent to France. On November 14, 1918, Herbert died from battle wounds. Little Vila and their parents were waiting for him when he died.

Vila’s doll is one-of-a-kind. She is positive and happy and makes me and Donna smile! I have never seen a doll with crossed eyes and it is possible that the hair is human hair. Vila had an extraordinarily strong life-force in life and death did not change that. She attached her spirit to this doll mostly to comfort Herbert and their mother. Their mother Elizabeth grew up in Wales with stories of ghosts and beliefs in fairies and spirits. She did not find it unusual that Herbert talked about seeing Vila’s spirit and talking with her.

The former owner claims that this doll moves on its own. If I were to adopt Vila’s doll myself, I would buy a small video cam with night vision, and record what happens. Something will happen. Her new family may also hear the laughter of children playing. I would also expect Vila’s spirit to be a masterful orb-maker. Tiny footsteps up and down the hall or on the staircase are also possible with this little beauty!

Vila’s spirit will communicate using telepathy. She will be delighted to light up light activated cat toys or any other gadgets that produce pretty lights. She may tinker with lights in your home, such as ceiling lights and lamps. If you have candles that use batteries to light up, you may find the batteries drained.

I would love to see Vila’s spirit using an SLS camera. I think she would be on the move, all the time. Using an ancient method of spirit communication, Vila may enjoy answering YES/NO questions using a tall candle in a jar. Beforehand, explain to her that when the flame becomes vertically taller, the answer is YES. If the flame moves from side to side horizontally, then the answer is NO. Select just a few uncomplicated questions; ask them; then give her time to respond.