Article November 7, 2011 Issue

Freed from effects of stroke

By David Seligson

In the fall of 2010, I had just returned to the United States from Mexico, where I had written a children’s story called “We Are the Monarchs,” about the flight of monarch butterflies from Canada to Mexico, a distance of 2,500 miles. Each of my butterfly characters is distinct and has a spiritually inspirational message. (The principal of a private school in Ajijic, Mexico, was moved by the story, had it translated into Spanish, and her schoolchildren performed it in the spring as a play with music and dance.)

Since time allowed, I decided to visit a friend in California. While alone in the middle of the night, and staying at my temporary quarters, I tried to get out of bed and fell. I tried to get up once, twice, with all my strength, but down again I went. My cellphone was within my grasp, and I called my friend, who helped me back to bed. 

Fifteen years prior to this I’d had a paralyzing stroke, and the symptoms I was experiencing appeared the same. Back then, I didn’t yet know about Christian Science. I had recovered from the debilitating effects of this diagnosed condition through perseverance and not accepting the dire predictions. I was in a medical nursing facility for several months. My progress was steady. I worked hard physically, and was able to run a 10K race two years later. 