It is with a heart full of gratitude to God, and to dear Mrs. Eddy, that I give the testimony of my healing. In the spring of 1900 I was taken ill with a dreaded disease of the kidneys in its worst form. I had a trained nurse for six months, during which time I was downstairs only four times, and then with the greatest difficulty. The heart action was very feeble, and I suffered terribly. My physician was distinguished in his profession, and did all in his power to alleviate my sufferings. I had also been a martyr to headaches most of my life, and for over five years had had serious bowel trouble. I was taking different kinds of medicine all the time. I was taken ill at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and in January it was decided that I should go to Coronado. Cal., my good, kind physician going as far as Kansas City with me. As he said good-by to me, I asked if he thought I would ever be well. He replied, with the greatest tenderness, "Only God can answer you." My family and friends feared I would pass on en route, but after arriving in Coronado I seemed to improve for a short time. I used will-power, and would walk around. I was living on the simplest diet, and eating the smallest quantities, but the attacks became more frequent. Within a week after I arrived in Coronado I was compelled to call a physician, although I had all my remedies at hand. This physician was most noted and was as kind and attentive as one could possibly be, but my condition grew desperate.
This state of affairs continued until the 16th of September, when my maid insisted upon going for a Christian science practitioner. I wanted to wait one more day, but she insisted upon going then. I found out afterwards that she had been told I could live only a short time. She went to San Diego, which is across the bay from Coronado, to the Christian Science Reading Room, and upon her return she told me that a practitioner would be with me within an hour. The practitioner was prompt, and she found me a suffering woman. I told her I had no faith, although dear friends had been urging me to try Science. She smiled sweetly and said, "We do not ask you to have faith until you are healed; only you must not use any material remedies;" and I agreed to do as she asked. From that time until this not only have material remedies not been used, but they have never been needed. The practitioner gave me treatment, and on leaving said I should come in the morning to her office for treatment. I really thought she was "daft," but suffice it to say that I ate heartily that evening, went to sleep at nine o'clock, slept until eight next morning and awakened feeling almost well. I had my breakfast, and with my maid went to the practitioner, then to see a dentist, who showed his surprise by saying, "I thought it must be your ghost." I went daily for treatment, not feeling sick, but full of fear—I could not believe I was cured. After three weeks I went by water to San Francisco, my physician in Coronado saying it would surely be my death. He afterwards told friends, as well as myself, that for the first three weeks after I went to San Francisco he expected each morning to hear of my death. T stayed in San Francisco two months, then went to other places, and then back to Coronado the first of February, a different looking woman and a very different one in thought. When I met my physician he was most cordial, and said, "Tell me, do you really feel as well as you look, for it is simply marvelous?" I returned to Fort Leavenworth in April. My family and friends looked at me with astonishment, for they had only half believed in my recovery; but now they saw me and were convinced. The physician who had attended me had been ordered to another station, but I have heard that he said, "Mrs. Thibaut's recovery is wonderful—a miracle."
It is now over five years since my first treatment in Christian Science and I have had no return of the dread disease. In this time I have had only three headaches, two of which were met within twenty minutes with the help of a practitioner; the other one, I am most thankful to say, I was able to meet myself. I have been in different climates, have traveled by rail and water, have driven and walked miles, have had the greatest responsibilities and many duties, and yet have never suffered, for divine Love has ever been with me. I cannot close this testimony to God's great goodness without saying that Truth as revealed in Christian Science has met my every need.
