After 1970, I found myself time and again seriously ill with a chronic kidney ailment, asthma, pulmonary emphysema, and all kinds of allergies. I also had chronic back and hip pain. Finally, my limbs started to become partially paralyzed. After several hip and spine operations, I went on disability. I consulted doctors in all areas of medicine, but no one could help. On the contrary, the allergies assumed more and more aggressive forms, so that for over seventeen years the life I was forced to lead was filled with ever-intensifying torment. I was totally dependent on help from others, because I could no longer dress or care for myself. I was afraid of every substance I breathed, and of the food and medication I had to take, to the point where my fear turned into panic whenever I was alone in my home. Day and night, I would suffer repeated severe asthma attacks. None of my medications helped anymore. Since the doctors had given up on me, I was mentally prepared to die.
At this point, I found God and Christian Science, which I had heard about through my mother. Conditioned by my career as a medical nurse, I could not conceive that matter had "no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance"—which is, after all, a fundamental truth taught by Christian Science (see Science and Health, p. 468). But in my hour of greatest need, I suddenly knew that I could believe. I began to study the Bible and the book Science and Health. During the months in which my healing took place, a Christian Science practitioner helped me with my acute problems, and I am infinitely grateful to him for his tireless help day or night. As a result of his pure, clear thoughts and statements, divine Love transformed my fear into trust in God.
For me, life has begun anew.
