I first became interested in Christian Science about eighteen years ago. I had been sick for so many years that I finally became so discouraged I did not see anything to live for. At this point my sister urged me to come to stay with her and try Christian Science. I knew nothing about Christian Science; I understood that it had to do with mental healing of some kind, but had no idea it was a religion, and did not care to try it. But to please her I consented to go to see a practitioner. The practitioner gave me an article from The Christian Science Journal to read, to show me that, to get the healing, one only needs to trust God as a little child, and be obedient. This article referred to the narrative in the Bible where Elisha told Naaman to go and wash in the river Jordan, and when he did as he was commanded he was healed of his leprosy. I took one treatment, but did not arrange for another as I did not think it would do me any good. That afternoon I began to feel hungry for the first time in several years, and it seemed as if I could not eat enough. I took seven treatments, and gained in weight from one hundred and four to one hundred and twenty pounds in a very short time. Then I knew the treatments had helped me, and I at once became very curious as to what was accomplishing the healing, so began to search the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, and at once disposed of the large accumulation of all sorts of medicine in my home. I was healed of many ailments.
After this I had better health than I had had for years, until a strange experience came to me and I was taken ill with nervous prostration. I could not sleep for about eight months. The mental distress seemed unbearable, and I did not believe I could live longer than a short time, as I ate and drank very little and weighed only a little over eighty pounds. Just at this stage I had the misfortune to be injured in an accident, in which my collar bone was broken, three bones were broken from the spine, and the pelvic bone was broken in two places, as shown by X-rays. The physician who was called thought there was no chance for my recovery, as my age and previous state of health were both against me. Some of the family insisted on having medical aid, and after one week I lapsed into an unconscious state and did not realize my surroundings for six weeks. I was so weakened that the doctor said there was not an organ in my body acting properly, and he could see no hope for me; that I might live an hour or two, or possibly a day or two at most; and he asked my daughter if it were kind to try to keep me alive, since I would never be able to walk again. Then a Christian Science practitioner was called, and the first treatment brought me to consciousness. I had treatments for one week. I began to improve slowly but surely, and was able to walk within six months from the time of the accident. I gained in weight until I weighed one hundred and twenty-nine pounds, and was healed of ailments that I had had since babyhood. I now have better health than I have ever had before, and have been able to do a great deal of hard work without fatigue.
I can never be grateful enough for this wonderful healing and relief from the terrible suffering. And I am so grateful for the proof this experience gave me that there is nothing impossible with God. I am grateful to God for His wonderful gift to mankind; to Jesus, who showed us the way; and to our dear Leader, Mrs. Eddy, who labored for so many years to make plain to us the great revelation she had had of Truth; also, to all the friends who have so lovingly helped me. Mrs. Eddy says, "Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching" (Science and Health, p. 454); and I feel I have more than ever to live for.— Los Angeles, California.
