ACCOUNTS OF HEALING

We have seen several healings of the effects of accidents and falls, where sudden needs were properly cared for and quick healing resulted. We have cared for individuals who seemed to be immobilized with severe back pain when they arrived, regain their dominion and freely walk out of here within a couple of weeks. We have admitted patients who were weak and had difficulty eating, and see their strength restored and normal eating resume. We have also witnessed healings of wounds, breathing difficulties, and sudden inability to use one side of body; and we have seen the individuals return home expressing complete dominion.

A person unable to walk or use his leg after a fall is now mobile and back in his own home, healed.

An individual came to Arden Wood for Spiritual Renewal and after a few days was presented with a challenge that required support and assistance on the nursing floor. This challenge included a severe, constant headache that interfered with her regular activities and made it difficult to move at times. She spent a few weeks studying and praying and was so grateful for the all of the nurses’ tender loving care and support. She said that there were times that she wasn’t sure she was going to make it, but then one of the nurses would come in and share just the supportive Truth that was needed. She said she really needed to feel the love of God, and she felt it like she never had in her lifetime—and it was expressed through each one of the nurses. One day she realized the pain was completely gone and she had regained her freedom and dominion. Love was indeed the healing balm. She returned home, healed, to a grateful and loving husband.

A woman was suddenly unable to use one side of her body. With quick prayerful work and the support of a Christian Science practitioner, things turned around and she regained most of the use of her body. Her family was still concerned and so she came to Arden Wood to complete the healing. In less than two weeks, she returned home with restored strength, mobility, balance, and complete dominion.

A woman had recently returned from a trip to an exotic part of the world, where she believed she had received a poisonous spider bite. The wound had become quite aggressive and painful, making it difficult to walk. She sought refuge at Arden Wood for proper care and support. After a few days she returned home. In a few more days she sent the walker and other nursing equipment back, with a lovely note of gratitude and healing. She is home and active as ever in church work.

The role of the Christian Science nurse is to bear witness to the Truth, to behold the perfect man and not be impressed with the material evidence. Christian Science nurses often see the effect of the atmosphere of thought in a patient’s room. There are times when well-meaning family members’ concern about a loved one’s condition can take on the false belief that the family member is going to pass on. We had the privilege this past year of seeing just the opposite expressed by family members who embarked on a “prayer watch” for Life in a situation where the nursing needs were great. For several weeks, this patient was receiving all care in bed. Three nurses were needed to turn and care for her in bed. She was only able to eat liquid nourishment, which was patiently fed to her one sip or spoonful at a time by nurses. She was quiet and peaceful, but unresponsive at times. While the nurses provided the skillful care needed by this patient they saw through to her real spiritual identity. They were unimpressed by the material picture of weakness and decline.

The patient’s two children came—one from the Bay Area and one from out of town (who stayed in a spiritual renewal room). This brother and sister spent many hours every day and night sitting at their mom’s bedside providing support when the nurses were not in the room. They read the Bible Lesson aloud, they read from the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and they sang hymns to their mom. The nurses loved hearing their harmonious voices gently filtering down the hall. They could have taken turns and spelled each other, but they did not. They stayed together and witnessed the healing—after several days, actually a few weeks, we all saw this situation turn around completely. One day she was being fed liquid nourishment, the next day she was sitting up in bed eating French toast and bacon herself. The patient was restored to her previous strength, mobility, and vitality.