FIVE years ago last December, while in Oklahoma, I was taken ill, and when we returned home in the spring I grew rapidly worse. A physician was consulted, and after taking medicine for a short time I was confined to the bed with a fever. When well enough to get up I continued to call on the physician at his office, and one day he pronounced the trouble a malignant growth. It was such a shock to me, knowing what a fatal disease this is considered, that I was very much discouraged and would not go back to him. My husband then consulted another physician, whose report was that everything indicated the disease named. I continued to grow worse and medicine did me no good. Up to this time there had been no pain, but now I began to suffer a great deal.
I had not thought much about Christian Science, although some of my acquaintances were Scientists, but at last a friend asked if I would read "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, if I had a copy. By this time I was ready to grasp at anything, for medicine was doing me no good, so I borrowed the book and began to read it; but although I tried to get something out of it, I failed. After reading the testimonies, however, I finally decided to try Science. A practitioner was called, and treatment was given continuously for six months; but instead of growing better I felt I was growing steadily worse. Then to please my husband another physician was consulted, but his verdict was practically the same as that of the other two doctors. When I left his office I knew I should not go back, for I had suffered intensely during the examination and had a horror of the operating table. I told my husband that if Christian Science could not heal me, I would die. Following the examination I grew much worse, but decided to have nothing but Science and so again called a practitioner.
This was in August, and I did not leave the house until the next spring. All this time the discharge continued, and I suffered such distressing pains that it was almost impossible to endure them, and at times it seemed as if I would lose my mind. For three months I lived on liquid food, and my weight was greatly reduced. Once, when I was suffering intensely, my husband urged me to take a mild opiate, but I refused, for I was relying entirely on divine Love. I read Science and Health as much as possible, but most of the time I was in bed and suffered so greatly I could not read understandingly. At last, however, the mist began to clear away, and after more than two years had passed I touched the hem of Christ's garment. That was over two years ago. I knew I was getting better, and the improvement continued steadily, until now I am a perfectly well woman. I do all my housework and come and go whenever I please. The healing is so wonderful I can hardly find words to express my thankfulness to God for what has been done for me.
