I had been delicate from childhood, having had catarrh of the head, throat, and bronchial tubes, and also liver complaint. I was seldom without some kind of cold. In 19011 underwent a major surgical operation. For three years the shock from this operation caused greater suffering. Additional diseases and complications developed, such as a catarrhal condition of the stomach, nervous indigestion, nausea, and bladder trouble.
At this time I experienced a great sorrow, causing nerve exhaustion. I became irritable, restless, sensitive, impatient, despondent, was often weeping, and extremely resentful. I lost faith in God, thinking He was responsible for my suffering, and I hated one who I believed had done me a great injury. Under this mental strain my physical condition became aggravated. All sorts of material remedies were resorted to without relief. My diet was very restricted, and so little of the food could be retained that I was half starved and suffered pain continually. This suffering continued eight or nine years. The last year I would have hiccoughs for hours and spent most of my time in bed. The trouble was diagnosed as ulcers of the stomach. I was too weak to have an operation, the physician stated, and could not be otherwise helped.
When I had awakened to the fact that physicians were powerless to help me I discontinued their service and stopped taking medicine. I existed for another year about the same, but no worse. Christian Science was then presented to me and I became very much interested in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" and "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mrs. Eddy, and the Christian Science Sentinel. I did not dream that this reading would heal me physically, but very soon recognized that a wonderful change was taking place mentally. Fear was vanishing; anxiety, resentment, hate, and worry were being wrenched from their stronghold in my thinking. The knowledge that God is Love, and that He knows nothing of disease, replaced erroneous thinking with compassion, love, and confidence. The statement of Paul, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God," was surely fulfilled in my experience, for soon I was partaking of food, and in large quantities, which would have resulted disastrously prior to this. In five months I was completely healed of all the difficulties mentioned. I regained my normal weight and felt better than I had ever felt before.
