My childhood and adolescence were spent in terrible suffering, manifold and almost continuous. Here I will mention only that which relates to my eyes. They were so bad and my vision so weak that I could scarcely study. My mother was obliged to put me in an institution for the blind, where I remained as an outpatient for eight years. While there, I underwent eleven operations, which did not produce results and caused me much suffering. My left eye had only 4/20 vision and the right one was artificial.
In desperation my mother confided in an aunt who lived in the provinces, and she suggested that we try Christian Science. My mother made inquiries and took me to see a practitioner. His warm welcome and words alone were immediately of great comfort to us. He quoted: "God is love" (I John 4:16) and "Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need" (Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 494). And he added: "Put your whole trust in Him [God] and He will heal you." Very quickly I felt the swelling in my left eye go down. My suffering decreased and my sight improved. It was wonderful, and I was filled with hope and love for God.
A week later I returned to the hospital because the twelfth operation was to take place on that day. They examined me, but the operation did not take place. From that moment much of my fear disappeared, and I gave up medicine completely.
