As we continue adjusting to life in isolation, COVID-19 is giving us fresh appreciation for those who risk their lives to help others. This is hardly new. In fact, one hero from an earlier epidemic was a practitioner of the world’s oldest profession.

History is filled with prostitutes who did inspiring things. The Bible tells about Rahab, who harbored two Israeli spies inside Jericho. Gone With the Wind includes Belle Watling, whom some scholars believe was modeled on real-life Kentucky madam Belle Brezing.