Many years ago my brother, about two years old at the time, became seriously ill with scarlet fever and slipped into a coma. At this point the doctor told my mother he could do nothing more. Our parents knew of Christian Science, and my mother telephoned a Christian Science practitioner and tearfully asked for help through prayer. Within two hours the coma broke, and my brother was on his way to a complete and quick recovery.
When I was nineteen I woke one morning with a pain in my side. After a few days I was feverish and walked with difficulty. My family and I prayed about this situation, but none of us had yet joined a branch Church of Christ, Scientist; and my dad insisted I go with him to a doctor.
After an examination the doctor diagnosed the case as appendicitis. He wanted me to stay in the hospital. But I said that I would continue to rely on God in Christian Science. The doctor felt I was taking quite a chance and warned that if I did recover, I might never stand straight again.
