It is with a deep sense of gratitude for all the good that has come to me and mine through the ministrations of Christian Science, that I give this incident of my first healing, which was instantaneous and complete. It took place over twenty-three years ago, after I had had nearly four years of invalidism and semi-invalidism.
The illness began before the birth of our eldest son. The birth was most difficult, and following that, things continued to go wrong. When the baby was eight days old, I suffered blood poisoning from lacerations and extreme heat. The doctor in attendance gave us no hope that I should recover. But I did improve sufficiently to do easy things for a time; then I became bedfast again. Doctors said I could not be well until after the removal of several organs.
About three years later, after suffering most of that time, I consented to be taken to a hospital about a hundred miles distant for a major operation. Three doctors there said that it was impossible to perform it on account of an aneurysm of the aorta, and that I could live only a short time—just as long as I remained flat on my back and without any excitement. I did remain in that same position constantly for a whole month prior to my healing.
