Some years ago, I decided to leave my professional activities in order to care for our first baby. I have a degree in physical education, and I've always worked in the fields of gymnastics and swimming.

When I felt I wanted to go back to work, I began to suffer from a pretty serious problem with the sciatic nerve, which prevented me from performing any type of physical activity. I couldn't do anything—not even walk, take care of my son, or clean the house.

At the time, I was being treated by a homeopathic doctor. Even after many treatments, the problem persisted. The pains were very intense, no matter what my position. The last doctor I consulted, an orthopedist who specialized in homeopathy, suggested I retire. In his opinion, I would never again be able to perform my occupation, and he said I shouldn't become pregnant again. He did not foresee a cure for my condition, but rather only a slight improvement. I returned home very sad, because I was already contemplating a new job. I was in the interview stage and a door was opening for me, through which I could return to my activities.

A friend, who was a neighbor and who is very dear to me to this day, studies Christian Science. When we spoke, I told her I wasn't going to accept what the doctor had said to me, and that I was going to cancel all the medications I had already ordered. Although I only knew about Christian Science through our conversations, I was willing to receive treatment through prayer as taught in this Science. My friend had children who were my son's age, and we talked a lot about childhood problems and child development. I thought her approach to her children's health and childhood diseases was very interesting.

My friend had already given me Science and Health. I had read a few things in it, but I still thought it was a difficult read. Still, I began to receive treatment through prayer with the help of a Christian Science practitioner. I would study passages from the Bible and from Science and Health, and whatever I didn't understand was clarified during our conversations. I wanted a complete healing from that terrible problem.

I went through a learning period and a process of inner growth and of understanding God's laws. The practitioner's dedication and my earnest efforts to pray for myself were very important in my obtaining a complete healing.

In my conversations with the practitioner, we would talk about how to overcome fear, as I was afraid of becoming an invalid. One of the passages that helped me a lot is in the Gospel of Mark (5:22-43). A man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, went to speak to Jesus, because he had heard about the healings he performed. Jairus's daughter was at the brink of death, so he pleaded for Jesus to go see her and heal her. But while Jairus was still talking to Jesus, some of his servants arrived and told him his daughter had already died. That's when Jesus said to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe." After this, Jesus went to Jairus's house and brought the girl back to life.

Jesus' words "Be not afraid, only believe" kept coming back to my thought, all day long. With a lot of prayer, I was able to understand what that meant to me: Have faith based on an understanding that fear is not from God and is not real. Because of this, there's no reason to fear and nothing to fear. I realized that God had not created me to live in a critical condition. God created us perfect and maintains us that way. I had graduated from college with a degree in physical education, I had always been active in sports, so why should all that suddenly stop?

When I was able to overcome the fear of becoming an invalid, I was permanently healed. The pain left, and I was able again to perform physical activity.

I returned to my professional activities, and have been at the same job for 18 years. To this day I am a physical education and swimming teacher. I do gymnastics every day. In addition, I've had two more children, and the third one was born when I was 40. I took care of all of them. My healing really was permanent.

This was a very significant experience that led me to a deeper study of Christian Science. At that time, I decided to take my son to Sunday School. We enjoyed it very much. Then my husband decided to come with us. He never stopped attending and has had many gratifying experiences as a result. Christian Science has been a blessing to my family.

Rosemary Vaiano
Sâo Paulo, SP, Brazil