Christian Science has always been for me a precious guide. I had the joy of being reared in Christian Science, and because of this I received instruction in the Christian Science Sunday School from the age of four.

A healing I had at the age of twelve showed me the marvelous power of the Christ. I was at a holiday camp far from my family, and one evening, feeling suddenly very tired, I decided to go to bed without eating my dinner. The director of the camp, noticing my absence from the meal, came to see me and in spite of my protests sent for a doctor. The latter took me at once to the hospital, declaring that I was seriously ill.

During the journey I affirmed the truth of man created spiritually and not materially, as I had learned in the Sunday School. But in spite of that, when I arrived at the hospital I experienced violent pain and lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital bed surrounded by several doctors who were telling me that I had a severe attack of appendicitis and they were going to operate at once. To their common astonishment, I declared that I forbade them to operate on me and wished to speak to my parents. They called my parents on the telephone. My parents comforted me and told me that while I was in a coma they had asked for prayerful treatment for me of a Christian Science practitioner and they were coming to see me.

After a day's journey my father arrived at the hospital and, being an earnest Christian Scientist but wishing to respect my thoughts, he asked me if I wished Christian Science treatment or medical treatment. I had no hesitation whatsoever. Without fear or doubt I asked that the practitioner continue her prayerful work and I would pray as I had been taught in the Sunday School in order to be receptive to the Christ-idea of healing. From that moment I experienced no more pain. When the doctors insisted on my keeping ice packs on my abdomen, supposedly to relieve the pain, they would not believe me when I told them I was not in pain. Eventually my father removed me from the hospital in spite of the protest of the doctors, who said I would die within twenty-four hours. No such thing happened, and my healing was complete and permanent.

I am extremely grateful for Mrs. Eddy for her discovery of Christian Science and the founding of the Christian Science movement, thanks to which I have been able on numerous occasions to put into practice the truths of the Bible. I am very grateful for the practitioners, who are so devoted to our Cause and always ready to sustain us lovingly and help us progress spiritually.

Alain Rakhmanoff
Paris, France