Healing Testimony
At the beginning of her performing career, Deborah discovered the healing power of Christian Science prayer at a critical moment. After making it onto the chorus line of a Broadway show, Deborah came down with two illnesses that left her unable to dance. She tried rest, medicine, and a trip to Florida—but wasn’t making progress, and the show’s producers were ready to let her go.
In need of immediate healing, Deborah turned to prayer for healing illness and called a Christian Science practitioner, who shared a simple spiritual truth and prayed for her. Watch the video to find out how the situation was resolved and learn why Deborah has relied on Christian Science prayer for healing ever since.
A Broadway Dancer Finds Healing
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Sometimes people ask me how I got into Christian Science. Toward the beginning of my career, I was a dancer on Broadway in New York and managed to get into a chorus line. I was dancing there eight shows a week.
A friend came to stay with me, and after they left, they told me they discovered they had mononucleosis. Soon after that, I started getting symptoms of fatigue.
What Happened When Nothing Seemed to Help During Illness?
I told the producers, and they said, “We’ll accommodate you. You don’t have to come to rehearsals. You can just sleep all day and work at night.” So I was grateful. And then I got bronchitis on top of that. I went to see a doctor, who was a lovely person, and he gave me medicine. So I was taking that. Finally, one day, I said to the producers, “I really need a break.” If I could just take a week off and go to Florida, I thought I’d feel better. So I went to Florida, and I took this medicine with me. And after a week, I was not better.
I flew back to New York and went on stage to warm up. I did the opening combination, which involved a grand jeté, a big leap. When I landed the leap, my knee buckled, and I fell to the stage. I went to the stage manager, and I said, “I can’t do it. I can’t go on. Could I have another week?” And he said, “Oh no, we can’t give you any more time.” He said, “We’re going to have to fire you.” Oh, that was such a blow.
How Did Prayer for Healing Illness Change Everything?
I’d heard about Christian Science from a friend. So I went to the payphone in the green room, and I remembered the number of this Christian Science practitioner that my friend had introduced me to, and I called him. A practitioner is a person who has dedicated their life to healing people through the understanding of Christian Science and through prayer. I told the practitioner what was going on, and he said, “Whatever it is your duty to do, you can do without harm to yourself.” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures) He also said, “I’ll stay very close.”
What Was the Result of Turning to Prayer?
I was able to go on stage that night and do the whole show. The next day was a Wednesday, and I did the matinee and the evening show. On Thursday, I went back to the sweet doctor, and he said, “You’re much better.” And in fact, I felt better. I wasn’t coughing anymore.
Before I called the practitioner, I had tried everything. I had tried rest. I had tried Florida. I had tried medicine. And the only thing that worked for me was Christian Science prayer. And so I was determined that Christian Science was all I was going to use from then on, because it was the only thing I could count on.
How Did This Experience Shape the Rest of My Career?
I stayed in the show, and it was the beginning of a lovely career in which I had many, many more healings and demonstrations of Christian Science.
You will find thousands of testimonies of Christian Science healing online. Go to JSH-Online.
More about healing
Christian Science offers a spiritual, Bible-based way to approach life’s challenges — one that turns thought toward God’s goodness, love, and ever-present care. As we follow Christ Jesus’ example, we discover more of our true, spiritual identity as God’s children and see how His law brings harmony, healing, and peace to daily experience.
For generations, people practicing Christian Science have found that sincere prayer opens the way to guidance, strength, and practical solutions, even when circumstances seem uncertain. This practice isn’t about willpower or wishing for a certain outcome; it’s about trusting God and understanding His loving government of our lives.
Those who rely on Christian Science find freedom in choosing the path of spiritual healing — one grounded in Love, faith, understanding, and a desire to follow Christ. Time and again, this approach has proven effective in all kinds of situations, bringing comfort, health, protection, and progress.
Join Us for a Midweek Prayer Meeting
You’re warmly invited to a Wednesday prayer gathering at a Christian Science church—here in Southern California or anywhere in the world. Each week, communities come together to explore a fresh healing topic and share how Christian Science is making a difference in daily life.
During this uplifting service, you’ll hear readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy—a companion to the Bible that explains how spiritual healing was demonstrated in the past and how those same truths bring healing today. The meeting also includes hymns, quiet prayer, and inspiring testimonies of healing.
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