My husband was driving us home one night when we hit a car broadside that had unpredictably turned in front of us while we both had a green light. The other driver was fine and able to drive away, and my husband was not hurt, but our car was demolished, and I was badly injured. 

No one would touch me because of my condition. Police were all around us, and I asked not to be taken to the hospital, as I wanted to go home and be cared for through Christian Science treatment. I was raised in Christian Science, and my needs have always been effectively met by prayer. I am so grateful for the kind truck driver who stopped and offered to drive us home. 

At home on the sofa, I could not move without great pain. My back appeared to be injured. I was not thinking clearly, and reading was not an option. My brother-in-law sat with me that night in prayer. When I called a Christian Science practitioner, she said, “I’m on it!” That meant she would give me Christian Science treatment, and I felt comforted. My husband was distraught with fear for me and guilt that he had not been able to avoid the accident, so the practitioner helped him to be free of his concern that he had brought harm to me. 

My husband brought a hospital bed into the living room, and a Christian Science nursing service was called to help me. One of the Christian Science nurses appeared at our door, appraised the situation, and announced cheerfully, “This is going to be a short case.” This really calmed my husband’s fears.

Although I could not think clearly or read, I relied on a deep trust in the truths of Christian Science. At the same time, however, I was using ice packs for comfort. On the third or fourth night, I found myself fiddling around with them, changing their position endlessly to no avail. I had learned in Christian Science that we are completely spiritual. But here I was trying so hard to make matter comfortable. “This is ridiculous,” I thought. I dropped the ice packs, and this proved to be a turning point. From then on my progress to normalcy was steady and sure. 

About the fifth day, I decided to get up and walk upstairs. What a successful walk! When my husband discovered me upstairs, he was thrilled and grateful beyond words. We sent the hospital bed back and reclaimed our normal home atmosphere.

The practitioner stayed with us in prayer for a month or so, refuting every negative symptom that presented itself. She was adamant that because God had not caused this accident and knew nothing about it, it was a nonevent, not a horrific problem needing to be worked out. My husband and I embraced this truth and felt confidence in God’s unending care. My own spiritual work consisted of standing firm in the truth of God’s changeless perfection. I knew I was never outside of divine Love, never in danger, never apart from the source of my eternal being, and no material evidence could make me believe otherwise.

Another challenge came with insurance issues. Reimbursement for the car, the Christian Science nursing care, and the hospital bed were easily agreed on by the insurance company, but the practitioner fees were denied. I was offered, however, a very large sum of money if only I would claim “pain and suffering,” a legal term for stress caused by injury. Our insurance agent was kind and persuasive, and I was very tempted to accept it. But “pain and suffering” was exactly what had been healed. Since I had seen through the illusion of suffering and it was gone, I knew I could not give in to this temptation to make it real by requesting compensation for it. Though it was right for the practitioner fees to be reimbursed by the insurance company, more money than was required to pay her didn’t seem appropriate either. 

In prayer, I affirmed that I could trust God to meet every legitimate need. A short time later I received a call from the insurance company. The agent had gone to look at the crushed car and decided that we should be given extra compensation because of the severity of the accident. This amount was more in line with the practitioner’s fees, and I didn’t need to claim anything but the truth. 

This took place about five years ago, and the healing remains complete. I am more active than ever in enjoying and caring for my three young grandchildren, and I have an increased confidence in God’s presence and love to care for me and my family.

Susan Woeltjen
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, US