One morning, I was struck by a car while crossing a downtown street. There were many witnesses to the incident, including two policemen. As one of them helped carry me into a nearby office building, he said that an ambulance had been called. Going to a hospital was not my preference. But out of regard for the extreme concern expressed by many of the witnesses, including the young driver of the car who was almost beside himself with worry, I told the officer I would go. Before the ambulance arrived I was able to phone a Christian Science practitioner. He was cheerful and comforting, and agreed to pray for me.
In the hospital examining room I told the doctor that I was a Christian Scientist and that I felt I had no business being there. He was very understanding when I said I would be depending on Christian Science alone for healing. X-rays were taken, which showed a broken back and a broken arm. Before placing me in the orthopedic ward, the doctor mentioned that out of consideration for my position in the matter, he had left instructions with the nurse on duty that I was to have none of the routine medical procedures. He also commented that while he respected the fact that Christian Science obviously meant a lot to me, he felt I should realize that back injuries sometimes result in permanent deformity and/or disability.
This conversation planted a seed of fear. But when I mentioned this fear of being crippled to the practitioner who was helping me, he instantly set the record straight by saying, "You're going to be a better Christian Scientist as a result of this experience." He then recommended I study—even memorize—the opening four paragraphs in the chapter "Footsteps of Truth," beginning on page 201 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
