I deem it a great privilege, as well as a duty I owe to the cause of Christian Science and to any seeker for the truth, to testify of the benefits received through Christian Science. Some twenty-three years ago my health began to fail. I consulted a prominent physician at Utica, N. Y., where I then resided, who passed upon the case as "heart trouble," and who was unable to afford any permanent relief. Soon after this, in 1884, I moved to Omaha, Neb., in the hope that the climate of that region would benefit me. My health, however, continued to fail, and in 1890 I contracted a severe cold, which resulted in that much dreaded disease, consumption. (I might here add that previous to this time a younger sister had passed on with the same disease.) A noted physician was again consulted, and I was informed that both of my lungs were diseased, my heart was seriously affected, and that there was very little hope of my recovery. I was under this physician's care for very nearly, if not quite, four years. Later, I called a specialist, who made a thorough examination and diagnosed the case. I will not attempt to quote the medical terms used, but the doctor explained it as an extreme case of enlargement of the heart and diseased lungs. This specialist of course prescribed for me, but gave me no hope nor assurance. From this time on I failed rapidly. New Year's day, 1894, found me in bed, and it certainly looked as if the end were near. The day before this I had been rapidly sinking, and my husband had hurriedly called the nearest physician, who said it was a total collapse of the system and there was absolutely no hope. From this spell, however, I rallied somewhat, but it was only to go down again. Our old family physician was again called, and after a most thorough examination he said there was no use in holding out any false hope. He advised that I be made as comfortable as possible, and as he left the house called my husband to the door and informed him that it would be well to be prepared for the worst at any moment, for I could not possibly last until cold weather came; that one lung was about the same as gone, and not much left of the other; and that my heart was in a terrible condition. This was about October 1, 1894 I felt, after so many discouraging trials, that all hope for relief through medical treatment had passed, and my husband and friends had given up all hope of my recovery and felt that the end was upon me.
At this time my attention was called to Christian Science by a friend whose husband had been healed of asthma. I knew them to be thoroughly honest people, and felt that they would not recommend Christian Science did they not believe it to be the truth and something that would bring me relief as it had them. The twentieth day of October, 1894, I shall never forget, for that day I received my first Christian Science treatment from a practitioner. Immediately I began to recover. The first day I was able to be out of bed, and in one week was practically a well woman.
From the date of my first treatment to the present time, not one drop of medicine has been used in our family, consisting of three boys, my husband, and myself. We have depended entirely upon Christian Science, and have found it an ever-present help in time of trouble. At the present writing I am in perfect health, with not one trace of any of the old complaints. The love and joy and peace that have come into my life cause me to be thankful to God every day. By living the life taught by the Master, and so clearly interpreted in our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, I am striving to pay the debt of gratitude I owe to God, and to our faithful Leader, Mrs. Eddy.
