11/19/44 Wife [
1158]'s letter [she sent small check to buy
some choice fruit or flowers for EC]:
"Dear Friends...with much love and gratitude for your many
valuable services in the past, or use it in whatever way
will contribute most to your peace and happiness.
"I want, also, to share with you a recent experience I had,
which I believe has been a valuable one for me.
"Four weeks ago, Thursday, my dear [
1151] fell out of his
bedroom window at the ... Club, dropping 15 feet to a terrace
below. He got up in the night to open his window wider,
placed his knee on the sill to get a better purchase (as the
window stuck) and suddenly it released and flew up, and he
flew out. He broke 3 ribs; badly injured his left eye and
face and forehead; cut in many places and bruised his right
leg; sprained his left ankle and broke his left leg in over
200 places. This happened between 2 and 3 o'clock in the
morning. He had expected to leave early the next morning
for Philadelphia and was spending the night at the Club in
New York.
"At 6:45 A.M. of that morning, 10/19th, I was awakened by a
phone call from the N.Y. State Police, announcing that my
husband was in the Post Graduate Hospital in New York City
with a possible fracture of both legs. They would tell me
nothing more except to contact the hospital where he had
been taken about 2:30 A.M.
"My first thought was that 'God is in charge of this case,
and I have no need for fear.' I then called the hospital,
but they would tell me nothing, not even what happened or
where it had happened. The two doctors attending him could
not be disturbed as they were fighting for his life with
oxygen tents and heart stimulants. So, I said I would dress
and come in at once. First, I got breakfast for the children
and saw them off to school at 7:45 (but told them nothing as
there was nothing they could do at that moment). It was an
hour later before I had reached the hospital, only to find
[
1151] groaning and mangled in a semi-private ward, and no
private nurse, and both doctors (who had struggled for his
life for 6 hours or so) had left, and the house doctor had
to go into an operation, and no one had authority to tell
me anything. All the nurse on the floor would say was:
'He is resting as well as you could expect, but you will
have to phone the doctors for information about him, we are
not allowed to give it out.' His life was still endangered.
Every 4 or 5 minutes the nurse would take his pulse, and
every 25 minutes or so the intern would take his blood
pressure. The nurse did tell me, however, finally, that he
had a concussion of the head, broken ribs and a dreadfully,
badly broken left leg, and would be in the hospital a very
long time before the repairs were achieved.
"[
1151] was too ill to talk to me and say what had happened
or how it had happened, and I could not reach either of the
doctors (on the case) as they were off attending to their
other patients; and were not expected in their offices until
2 P.M. [
1151], in the meantime, was pleading for something
to ease his excruciating pain, but they would not give him
anything because of his heart condition and concussion,
fearing he might 'pass out' if they did. He was in a
dazed, semiconscious condition, but recognized me.
"I tried repeatedly to locate the doctors, by phone, walking
down 3 flights of stairs each time I phoned, but to no avail.
Then a nurse told me I was to report at the business office
for an interview with the business manager. He said I must
pay AT ONCE a check for $287 on account, also I must sign
that I would be responsible for all bills. Also, he said,
I must decide at once whether Mr. [
1151] should have private
nurses or not (they would cost $24 per day), also whether I
should get a private room for him (they ranged from $10 to
$20 a day, and I would have to take the first room available,
irrespective of how much it cost, as they had waiting lists,
and you had to take your turn and your chance on whatever
the free room would cost when your turn came). Besides this,
the business manager told me that should I decide to take
a private room, he wanted me to realize that all hospital
charges IMMEDIATELY doubled, that is, X-ray pictures were
doubled, operating room charges doubled, medicines and all
services in hospital doubled. He said in cases of fracture,
such as my husband's, the X-rays were always high (in any
event), ranging from $150 up, but, if I had a private room,
these charges would all be doubled.
"I told this man I thought I had better wait until I talked
with the doctors on the case to ascertain what they thought
concerning the desirability of a private room, and nurses,
etc. Also, they might give me some idea as to how long these
expenses would have to continue. But he said he had to know
at once, that it was difficult to get trained nurses, also
private rooms were at a premium, and if I wanted either I
would have to so indicate immediately. He then told me that
one of the doctors had ordered private nurses for the first
24 hours, on his say-so, but that nurses always wanted to
know how long they were to be on a case before they accepted
it. That's why he asked me how long I wished to have them
continued.
"I went to the phone, hoping to get a word of enlightenment
from a talk with a spiritually minded cousin. The phone
booth had no light. I dropped my change purse containing $65
(all my money for house expenses which Mr. [
1151] had given
me the night before). A few minutes after leaving the booth
I discovered my loss, but the purse was gone when I returned
to look for it.
"Then it came to me clearly, just like a great light, 'To
him that hath (faith) shall be given, to him that hath not
(faith) shall be taken away that which he hath.'
"I saw THAT I DID NOT HAVE FAITH, that all the huge bills
that would have to be paid, for many months, could be handled
'under grace' by the Father. Instead, I had fear possessing
me that there would not be money enough, and therefore, that
which I had (the $65) was taken away.
"When I saw the working of the law I immediately turned about
face. Without any assurance from without, I marched up to
the business office and signed for nurses and a private room,
and said I would be responsible for expenses, though I did
not know how. Several days later a letter came from an aunt
enclosing $20, and another sister sent $25, another $10, and
our good old Mrs. [
1309] (who worked for us for 17 years)
left $10 at the house one evening. In less than 10 days the
$65 had been returned to me 'under grace.' Then $50 here,
and $37.50 there, etc., came in to me from unexpected
sources, and best of all Mr. [
1151] had such a remarkable
swift comeback, that in about 3 weeks he was able to begin
doing some business over the phone, and has kept his Savings
Bank Journal going, etc. (with cooperation with his office
force). So, to date, I can report all bills paid on time,
and evidence of God being abundantly able to care for our
every need, without leaning on human sources for help, or
requesting help from human sources. It has flowed naturally
through them.
"Mr. [
1151] will still be in the hospital for weeks;
probably well into February, but I know that all is being
divinely governed, and that 'everything works together for
good to them that love the Lord.'
"The fact that I have no help living in the house, only a day
worker, 1 and 1/2 days per week, makes letter writing almost
impossible. So, please excuse this letter, begun days ago,
but not finished.
"I know the struggle you are all having will work out in the
end all right, and great good will be the fruit thereof.
Keep saying to yourself, 'NOW are we the sons of God - NOW.'
This statement proved very useful to me, and still is.
"I know that physical strength will flow to dear Gladys, and
the others around about Mr. Cayce to help them meet their
extra tasks - and I know God's presence is felt by you all,
and that 'fear', (your only real enemy) will not be
entertained by you.
"We will be celebrating Christmas in [
1151]'s little 2 x 4
hospital room, and I know it will be one of deep joy and
peace.
"I know you, too, will find the peace and healing presence
of the Christ in your midst. Keep up your FAITH and see
the Salvation of the Lord.
"We love you all and know 'All is well.'
"Finished
12/18/44.
"So Christmas cheer to you one and all, and may the New Year
dawn bright and beautiful," Your faithful [
1158] and [
1151]
4/06/46 Wife [
1158]'s letter: "...Mr. [
1151] endeavors to
spend every other weekend with me and travels most of the
time in between..." [She was in Ohio nursing her father,
[
1266].]
[GD's note: Mr. [
1151] and Mrs. [
1158] continued to be
active helpers in the A.R.E. work. In the Fall of 1948
Mr. [
1151] offered to act as co-chairman for the E.C.F.
campaign for funds in New York City, but early in the year
1949, Mrs. [
1158] said his health would not allow it. In
March, 1949, she told us that his health was improving.
8/08/49 [
1151] died, 5 P.M. He had lived to see his daughter
[
1206] married, and he and Mrs. [
1158] had celebrated their
25th wedding anniversary on
12/25/48.
8/11/49 and
8/22/49 See GD's and HLC's letters of condolence
under
1158-15 Reports.
Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation