Article February 12, 2007 Issue

GOD GAVE ME A VOICE AND SOMETHING WORTH SAYING

BY PAMELA MARTIN

After I'd had a 30-year career as a medical nurse, Christian Science came into my life when I married a Christian Scientist. As I began to study the Bible and Science and Health, I thought, "This is it! This makes sense out of all the craziness I've seen." Most of my career had been spent in the emergency room—and as you might imagine, that could be at times quite challenging.

I myself had had two surgeries for the removal of vocal cord polyps, which had left me with a very small, gravelly voice that tired very quickly. I was happy just to be able to communicate and never really expected anything much better than that. I believed the scars that were left on my vocal cords were permanent and that nothing would ever change that or the many other health challenges I had.

When my life reached an extremity of unmanageable illness and depression, I remember asking my husband if I could call a Christian Science practitioner—someone who prays with you to bring about healing. He said, "Yes, but it will change your life."