One evening in February, 1895, while riding with my husband in a spring wagon, we were thrown out, the wheel passed over my right limb below the knee and, becoming entangled with my clothing, I was dragged a distance of fifty feet, apparently under the wheel, the horse running away. My husband carried me home in his arms, a distance of half a mile. At that time we were living in the country, and had no one to send for help. It seeming as if I could not be left alone, my husband worked over me all night, doing all he could to relieve my suffering.
When the physician was called the limb was swollen to a great extent, and black from the knee to the ankle, so that he could not determine what the injury was, but thought it only bruised, therefore prescribed hot poultices to reduce the swelling.
I lay in one position for three weeks and four days with constant changing of almost boiling hot applications; still I could not feel any warmth from them. The suffering was beyond description; my hair, which was dark, turning white in the three weeks. The swelling being reduced sufficiently, upon thorough examination the physicians found that the two bones extending from the knee to the ankle had been separated, severing cords and muscles, and the smaller bone forced over on the other and upward very much out of place, making the limb four inches short. The physicians insisted upon an operation, but as the bones had begun to grow in that position, they would be obliged to use the knife in order to put the bone back in its proper place. They acknowledged, however, that it would only be an experiment, as they could neither promise the saving of the limb, nor even of my life; therefore we would not consent to the operation, but continued poulticing and using every kind of liniment that was suggested, hoping to find relief from the suffering, thinking that was all that ever could be done.
After many weeks I could get around a little on crutches, but the greater part of the time I sat with the limb upon a chair, resting upon hot stove lids, as it was seemingly as cold as ice, so that any one in dressing it would be astonished at the coldness if they touched the flesh. Every effort was made to produce a natural heat, but it was without success.
Continuing in this condition for nearly two years and a half, the limb, from the hip to the knee, was shrinking away, while below the knee it did not resemble the color of flesh, and scarcely the shape of a limb at all.
I had not a ray of hope of ever walking again, when one morning, the 19th day of June, 1897, a friend rode nine miles to tell me that a Christian Scientist was coming from Riverside, Cal., the next day, to visit a friend near him, and he wanted me to come to his house and try the treatment.
I had never heard of Christian Science before, and was afraid it was mesmerism or spiritualism; but on the friend's assurance that it was the Christ teaching demonstrated, my husband and I promised to go over the next morning. The nearer the time came to go, the more anxious I was to see the Scientist and learn more about that which promised the healing.
"Man's extremity" was indeed "God's opportunity." Hope was taking the place of despair and fear. We arrived at the friend's house at five o'clock in the morning. I received my first Christian Science treatment that forenoon, and before it was finished I felt my hip getting warm, then gradually on down to the foot, for the first time since the accident, and all suffering left me and never returned.
That night when preparing for bed, to my astonishment the swelling was gone, and there was no appearance of it afterward.
Such sweet rest and sleep I had not experienced in all those months as I did that night. Before this, what little sleep I would get was attended with distressing dreams, whereas from this time on it was sweet and peaceful.
I received three present treatments before the Scientist left for her home, which was all the present treatments I ever received; and I did not see the practitioner again until after I was healed.
Absent treatments were continued regularly for several months, when the crutches were laid aside, since I had no further use for them. The bone had gone back almost to its proper place; the entire limb filled out and became natural in size and but a trifle shorter. My old physician, on hearing I was walking again, could not believe it possible, and called the next day to see for himself.
I rejoice to-day that I am a living witness of the healing power of the Christ-truth. I am doing all my housework, including washing, sewing, attending to my flowers, etc.
For all the many blessings I have received, words are inedequate to express my love and gratitude, especially for Christian Science, as revealed to us through our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and for the untiring efforts and unfailing love of Mrs. Eddy in giving to the world this precious truth that destroys both sin and suffering, and brings to our darkened sense the true knowledge of God. This understanding enabled my dear helper to do much for me. She lifted me out of darkness into the glorious light of Christian Science, and thus proved the words of our Master as true to-day as when he said, "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."
Elsinore, Cal.
