Just a year ago now, I was suffering from what the attending physician diagnosed as diphtheria. I did not seem to recover as was expected; so in January I underwent an operation on my throat, and in March a very serious operation on both ears. In April I was sent to my parents in Minneapolis, in the hope that the change of climate and fresh air would cure the lung trouble, which had become quite pronounced.
A new complication then arose, pronounced as tuberculosis of the stomach and bowels. Everything I ate or drank caused great distress. Convulsions became the order of the day, being very violent and often two hours in duration; and I had as many as five in twenty-four hours. We procured the best physicians in the Northwest; but they all pronounced my case incurable, and told me that I could not live. Then it was, that I began to long for home; and, in July, my husband brought me back—as we thought—to die. Our home physician started to treat me with renewed vigor; and for a short time I seemed to rally. Then, suddenly, I grew very ill; and I was again told that I was going to die.
Just at this time I received word from a cousin in a little near-by town that with my permission he would call on me and explain something of Christian Science. I must confess the permission was given very reluctantly, for I had always been very antagonistic towards Christian Science. The situation was desperate, however; something had to be done. My cousin, just a high school lad, was true to his promise, and came with his "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy. When he entered my room I was in great agony, and another convulsion seemed inevitable. He began reading the chapter on "Prayer," and I soon became easier. At the end of three hours he left; and I was free from all pain. At his advice, we called in a Christian Science practitioner, who told me to arise and dress. Although I had been bedfast for eighteen weeks, I did as I was bid. She also told me to take no thought of what I ate or drank; so I began to eat at the table with the members of my family; and I had not the slightest distress. She explained to me that such was my God-given dominion.
