On July 4, 1898, I was visiting in Wilmington, Del. I awoke in the morning with a very severe pain in my side. I tried to relieve it with material remedies but without any effect. The pain continued about the same until two o'clock in the morning of July 5; it then grew steadily worse until half past seven, when I started for my home, some fifteen miles distant. I walked from the carriage to the house, bent almost double and screaming with pain. A large lump had appeared on my side. A doctor was called who did all he could to relieve me, but with no effect. After two days he told my parents that I must be taken to a hospital for an operation for appendicitis. I was taken to the Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia. The operation was performed, but the suffering continued very great. I stayed at the hospital five weeks, taking much medicine, and then went home, still suffering extreme and constant pain. My kidneys had been injured in the operation and this added much to my discomfort. This trouble continued for six months when peritonitis appeared, making my condition unbearable. Another physician was called, and he did all in his power to relieve me but without avail.
In December, 1898, a surgeon was sent for and another; operation was performed. I was relieved for a time and my side seemed to be healing up, but it soon broke out again and was worse than ever. I lay in bed until March, 1899, growing constantly worse. Another surgeon was called and I endured another operation in Price's private hospital in Philadelphia, this time the appendix was removed, a piece of the bowel, and a hard substance besides. This operation relieved me more than the others had done, but none of the incisions had healed, and beside the extreme pain, I suffered intensely from soreness in my side, as the openings were grown over with proud flesh. My kidneys still troubled me, and besides this I was most uncomfortable from constipation.
On Easter morning, a friend took me to Wilmington to see a Christian Science practitioner. After hearing my story, she explained Christian Science to me, and I began to gain faith, my heart felt light, and I seemed made over again. I left off all material remedies, much against my sister's will, and felt I had made a great step spirit-ward. I lost my fear of being always an invalid, and I felt sure that God would take care of me. I did not see my practitioner often, but I corresponded with her regularly. In a very short time I was healed of constipation and the kidney trouble was met. My side was a little slow, but in August, 1899, I knew I was healed.
