JUST four weeks after meeting, a Philadelphia woman married her reiki healer – who is 46 years her senior.
Danielle Reiff, 25, booked a session with 71-year-old reiki master Howard Reiff after suffering from mysterious aches and pains.
Howard soon cured Danielle, and despite being over four decades apart in age, the pair fell in love and eloped.
Afterwards, friends and family disowned the couple, whilst strangers confused Howard for Danielle’s grandfather.
But Danielle and Howard have refused to let any negative comments get to them and insist they are happier than ever.
Danielle, a delivery driver, said: “Howard and I have dealt with so much judgement and hate for our relationship.
“Now, two years on from our whirlwind romance and wedding, we don’t care what people think.
“Howard is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I owe him my life.”
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SEEKING A HEALER
Growing up, Danielle suffered from a mystery illness.
She said: “For years I slept constantly, yet always felt tired.
“I had no appetite, yet I was gaining weight. And I had agonising pain in my bones and muscles.
“Frustratingly, doctors didn’t have a clue what was wrong with me.
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“I was at the end of my tether. I couldn’t live like this anymore.”
In September 2019, when Danielle was 22, she confided in a friend about her medical issues.
Her friend recommended energy healing and gave Danielle a number.
“She told me his name was Howard and he was certified in Reiki, gem healing, crystal healing and lots more," Danielle said. “I was desperate to try anything.”
Soon after, Danielle booked a session and drove 90 miles from her hometown, Philadelphia, to Howard’s house in Saltsburg.
Danielle said: “Howard was mostly bald, with white hair sprouting out on the sides. I guessed he was in his late 60s.
“He delved into my problems straight away and began the session with chromotherapy, a method of treating ailments by using colours.
“I couldn't believe it but I already felt some relief in my body.”
Ecstatic, Danielle returned for more sessions that week.
"She was so sick and I felt it was my duty to heal her," Howard said. "But she also healed me too."
MAKING A CONNECTION
“Even though he was so much older than me, we got on so well," Danielle said. “I felt a connection and I was certain he felt the same.
“Then one day I asked him how old he was, and he said he was 68. I realised he was 46 years older than me, but I didn’t care.
“I couldn’t help how I felt," Danielle remembered.
The connection was instantaneous for Howard, too.
"When I first saw Danielle, my heart opened," Howard said. "I knew there was a very large age gap between us but I felt okay about it."
“I moaned to Howard how all guys my age acted like children and weren’t men," Danielle remembered.
After their sixth session together, Howard confessed his feelings for Danielle.
She said, “He told me how a priestess told him years before that he’d have a young wife. Howard then said when he first saw me, he knew it was me.
“I was over the moon and told him I’d love to be his wife," Danielle said.
“It was so fast but we both realised we’d fallen in love already.”
BECOMING A FAMILY
The next week, Howard and Danielle eloped without telling their family and friends.
"When we got married, I didn’t care what people would think," Howard said. "We were too in love to have a choice."
Shortly after, the couple moved in together.
Danielle said: “For weeks I kept Howard a secret as I knew my family would be mad.
“I finally brought Howard to my mum's house and told her he was my husband. Her jaw dropped. He was 15 years older than her.
“Mum refused to accept us, telling me he was too old for me," Danielle continued.
“I told her how he’d healed me and she said he must’ve brainwashed me during our sessions. Howard and I were heartbroken.”
Soon after, word spread and Danielle and Howard’s loved ones all found out.
“Thankfully, Howard had never been married or had kids," Danielle said. “So that was one less thing for me to worry about."
"Sadly my best friend of 40 years didn’t agree with us and he became a tad jealous," Howard revealed. "We didn’t speak for two years."
“A lot of my friends didn’t agree with us either. It was really hard," Danielle said.
NAVIGATING A NEW LIFE
The couple also began to face criticism from strangers while out in public.
"Once, at a hardware store, a store assistant thought Howard was my father," Danielle remembered.
“When I corrected him, he burst out laughing, thinking it was a joke. It was humiliating. After that, it kept happening everywhere we went.
“Sometimes, people even confused Howard for my grandfather," Danielle recalled.
“At first it gave me so much anxiety that I didn’t want to leave the house with him.
“But after a while, Howard and I realised we needed to just laugh it off," Danielle said.
“We knew our love was the most important thing and we couldn’t let a silly taboo in society upset us.”
"After everything Danielle and I have been through, we have each other," Howard added.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Since then, Howard has retired.
“He takes three naps a day while I love going out with my friends," Danielle said.
“He always tells me to have a great time and he’s happy for me. It’s the best feeling having the most loving and caring partner.”
Now, Danielle and Howard have been happily married for two years.
Danielle said, “He has completely healed my illness and I owe my life to him.
“Due to his age, we can’t have kids. But I make that choice every day and I’ve accepted it," she added.
“We also often speak about him dying. My biggest fear is when I become widowed, and everyone can say ‘I told you so.’"
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“It’s crucial we are together for the rest of our lives," Howard emphasized.
“Regardless of what judgements people have, I’d rather Howard be in my life now, than not at all," Danielle agreed.
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