When I first heard of Christian Science my life seemed very dark, as I had been a sufferer for eight years with hemorrhoidal tumors. Two years before I had gone through an operation and had four removed. Then my physician told me if I could change climate it might help me for a while, but I could never be a well woman.
As soon as we could arrange our business I started for Colorado, with three little children. I spent ten months in San Luis valley. My doctor there seemed frightened for fear I would die on his hands, and told my husband that if he wished to bury me in Iowa he had better start as soon as possible with me. My husband, almost in despair and wondering what we had better try next, started for home. He was obliged to call a physician at Ottumwa, Iowa, twenty miles from home.
On reaching home I was prostrated four weeks, at times unable to feed myself. As soon as I was able to sit up, and walk around the house, I was taken to the nearest town where my old doctor lived; he said if I could be where he could see me oftener, he could possibly build me up, but I never could be well. I remained there six weeks. On one of his visits he said he was building me up to undergo another operation, as I had seven more tumors that would have to be removed, or I could not last very long. At that point I began to lose all faith in material aid, and I sat right up in bed, and said, "I am not going to die, and I shall never go through another operation. I know there is a work for me to do yet in raising my three little children for the glory of God. In two days I was taken back home, and in a short time my husband's sister came to visit us, and brought a satchel full of books. She remained nine days. The first words she said to me were: "There is no use in your suffering like this; you can be well if you will only try Christian Science treatment." Her very words seemed to strengthen me as I was tired of patent medicines, operations, and doctors. We had and still have the warmest friendship for our old family physician, as I believe he did all he could for me in his way. While my sister was with me read and studied all the time, and when she started home I felt so sorry to part with Science and Health that we sent for one at once, and also wrote to a practitioner for treatment. In three days, I began to sleep and eat naturally. I had not slept for a long time without a powder or a tablet. When I began to take treatment I was taking from six to eight doses of medicine daily, and it really seemed as if I had begun to live a new life when I put them all out of the house, and began to go to my book for every bit of help I needed. My healing was slow and I am very thankful that it was so, as there seemed to be many old beliefs to eradicate. I am a well woman to-day, and have been for the past three years, owing to Christian Science treatment. The treatment was all absent. I cannot find words to express my thankfulness to our dear Mother, who is leading the way.
