Article July 4, 2005 Issue

ONE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER

By Leslie Wise

A couple of years ago, I began to feel an unusual discomfort in one of my knees. Within a few days, I wasn't able to bend down or put any weight on the leg. I did not have the condition medically diagnosed, but I wondered if it was a recurrence of Lyme disease. Our home is surrounded by woods where there are deer ticks, which are said to carry the disease. The previous summer, I'd heard about the symptoms on the news and from friends, and I had experienced them. Now the symptoms were appearing again and were more serious.

The situation soon became alarming, and I found I couldn't even walk on my own. I had to do something, and I chose to rely on Christian Science for treatment, as I have done my entire life. To me, scientific prayer is the safest, most effective method of healing. And I have seen that this prayer always works.

In this case, I was confined to bed as the pain and swelling persisted for several weeks. Although my husband was praying along with me, and my three children and other family and friends were helping out at home, it became clear that I also needed the support of a Christian Science practitioner. The practitioner prayed with me daily and gave me many inspiring ideas during this time; yet, my physical condition remained the same.