1/10/44 Letter: "...On the last day of 1943, I finally
found a copy of 'There Is A River'. I sat up all night
reading it, and since, have read and re-read it. It held me
spellbound. It partly answers so many things I have vainly
searched for since the passing of my twin sister in 1902, and
my husband in 1934. So you see, I am not curious, but deeply
and sincerely interested. I have been deaf since the age
of 19. I am told the nerve is not destroyed, that it is a
prolapsed condition. Atmospheric changes cause fluctuations
in my ability to hear. Wherever there is a vibration I hear
perfectly, in street cars, trains, elevators, airplanes,
rooms filled with talking people, etc. Last summer a swollen
condition was noticeable in my hands and fingers. This has
steadily grown worse, so much so, that I cannot close my
hands, and they pain constantly, sometimes stabbing pains and
at times as if needles were sticking into them. Even cutting
a loaf of not-too-soft bread causes excruciating pain. There
are hard white incrustations on all the joints, so that they
are not flexible; as a matter of fact, all the joints in
my body creak and crack, even my vertebrae, when I turn
my head... My questions are: (1) What is this swollen
condition in my hands, principally fore and middle fingers
(swollen almost twice their former size)? (2) Is there fluid
in the tissues and will this destroy them...? (3) Can the
hard white incrustations on my finger joints be cured or
removed in any way, so the joints will be flexible again?
(4) Have I an excessive amount of poison in my system that
causes this condition, or is it faulty assimilation, nerves,
inactive or over-active glands, or a breaking down of a vital
organ? (5) Do my teeth contribute to this trouble? (6) What
is wrong with my hearing, and can it be improved in any way?
(lately I have noticed it is worse - for 13 years, eight
hours a day, I operated a dictaphone which I am told, pushed
my eardrums in). I have had very little occasion to call a
doctor in my life, and at present, we do not have a family
doctor. Shortly before this condition came about in my hands
last summer, our good doctor developed cancer and went away
to be with his only son, also a doctor. I have not consulted
a medical man about my health, because so many of our
well-known physicians have been called into service. If
there is any way of helping myself after my reading, I
shall do all I can to faithfully follow out instructions.
I simply must use my hands!... I should like also to tell
you of a psychic experience I had when my husband was on an
automobile trip and was injured.
"He was down in W. Va., and I was in Mich., but he came to
me and I saw blood just gushing out of his forehead where
the injury was... I have abiding faith that my reading will
bring relief... later I hope to have a Life Reading and a
Mental and Spiritual Reading also..."
5/17/44 Letter: "...I will be at Mich. Perhaps the case
history part does not apply to me, since this is my first
reading. However, so that everything will be intact, perhaps
I had better give this information: Painful swollen joints
both hands; middle and forefingers flesh and joints both
badly swollen; stiff, cannot close hands; all middle and
forefingers are becoming mis-shapen; ankle bones, shoulder
joints, neck, hip and vertebrae crack when moved; spasmodic
pain around heart."
REPORTS
6/05/44 Letter: "Thank you so much for my Physical
Reading of May 25. It did not reach me until May 31, and I
have been so busy since, trying to do what it tells me that I
have not taken time to write you. It is all quite wonderful,
and it is I, although if this calcium is in my toes, ankles,
knees, hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, I have not as
yet felt the ill effects; so we are trying to treat the hands
and ankles first. There are several parts of the reading I
did not quite understand, since it says 'there will be the
necessity of a careful diet and of real precautions taken';
though except to say 'vegetables raw, not too much but
sufficient each day to give those tendencies for better
alkalinity', there is no diet given. Is there any particular
diet, or shall I take it for granted that 'the still small
voice' will tell me what that diet is? Do 'precautions' mean
not overtaxing strength? And now since I got in touch with
Mrs. [
480] and she invited me out to her home, I want to say
she told me she owes her life to you, Mr. Cayce. I spent 3
hours with her the day I got the reading, and she explained
a few things to me. I told her of my experience while the
reading was being given, and she said she thought you'd be
interested in hearing it. I had been praying and reading
several of your pamphlets, and meditating before the hour
came. I sat in an easy chair, all alone in the apartment.
Shortly after 3:30 EWT, I had such a strange feeling: I
felt as if invisible fingers were going over my body, not on
the outside, but on the inside, particularly, my head, down
my arms to my fingertips, down my limbs to my toes. Then
several times, I seemed compelled to draw deep gasping
breaths, and though I have never been in a trance, I felt as
if I were. Just about the time the reading ended, suddenly,
but apparently not of my own volition, I said right out loud:
'You are the caretaker of your body'. I then looked at the
clock, and it was 4:30! I am so happy and grateful!... God
bless you and many thanks."
6/12/44 EC's reply: "...I am glad to know that you are
pleased with the information we attempted for you. I do hope
that you will follow through with the suggestions, just as
near as you can. Regarding the diet: I think the warnings
were not to eat combinations that would be acid producing,
such as sweets, white bread, white potatoes, macaroni and
cheese. Not a great deal of salt, unless you can get the
health-salt... I am glad to know that you got in touch with
Mrs. [
480]. We are all very, very fond of her. We love
her children and her, as if they were members of our own
family... I want to thank you too, for telling us about
your experience. It is most interesting..."
6/16/44 Letter: "...Will you kindly make appointments as
follows: There will be 4 in all, including a Check Physical
Reading for me, a Life Reading for my sister, Mrs. [...], my
son, and me."
10/24/44 Letter: "...I will be at the same address as
I was for my first Physical Reading. Here are my questions:
(1) Am I making any progress to clear up the deposits of
calcium and static condition in joints? (2) What caused
prolapsus of Eustachian tube? (3) Am I ready for osteopathic
finger surgery, or when will I be? (4) Should upper teeth
be removed before surgery treatments or afterwards? (5) Any
further instructions? I wish to be of service. Thank you
and God bless you, Mr. Cayce!"
10/28/44 Letter: "...If it is possible to ask 2 further
questions, will you kindly add them? (1) At this time, is my
physical body able to give blood to the Red Cross? I should
very much like to do so! (2) In re Physical Reading of
5/25/44, what today would have been the 'quite different
story for the physical forces of this body' had osteopathic
finger surgery been administered some 15 or 16 years ago?..."
10/31/44 A.R.E. form letter: "Due to Mr. Cayce's continued
illness, we are unable to get your Check Physical Reading...
we cannot offer you other appointments until Mr. Cayce
returns to the office." [Life Reading appointments for
Mrs. [
5144], her son and her sister cancelled
11/07/44.]
9/18/45 Letter: "...Because of absence from the city
during the summer months following the horrible death of my
only son, of polio, while in the service, I was unable to
reply to Gladys Davis' appeal about her Diary Letter. My
son was raised a Catholic, and left me on Christmas Day
in perfect health. On March 22, I was called to the Naval
Hospital to find him in an iron lung. One of the strangest
demonstrations I have ever heard of had taken place... He,
'died' and they revived him and he told me of his experience.
It was quite amazing. I had quite an experience myself, when
Mr. Cayce was giving a physical Reading for me... Kindly
send me the following publications... I have most of your
other publications."
11/15/45 Letter: "...I have not yet written up the
account of my son's spiritual revelation when he was put
in the Iron Lung, stepped out of his body and stood there
looking at himself. It sounds rather fantastic, because my
son was born and raised in the Catholic faith. I am told
I am a trance medium. On Oct. 21 I read "The Sermon on the
Mount" for 3 hours, went to bed, and actually 'talked with'
my son. No one will ever convince me I didn't. His fingers
gripped my right shoulder so hard I reached for his hand to
release the fingers and woke up with a sob - but he was there
and as REAL as I AM. As I told you in my letter of 10/12 if
my account of my son's spiritual revelation would help other
gold star mothers, I would like to give it to someone."
12/30/46 Letter: "...My only son died as a result of
this war... I was carrying out the instructions in my
reading when this tragedy happened, so I have never completed
them, but hope to before long, and I shall then make a
report..."
4/02/48 Associate Membership renewed. Note: "I think
a booklet on the readings' interpretation of dreams would be
very interesting. I have many astounding ones myself, and
know I have left my body in more than one instance, and
soared into another consciousness."
10/03/49 Letter: "...During the past year, I have been
on 2 or 3 months' absences from the city, hence the delay in
sending my small mite to the A.R.E... Also, I love the
little Prayer Group leaflets... I hope you are able to
reconcile my membership status."
6/25/50 Letter: "...Sorry to be so late with this
report. Circumstances beyond my control caused part of it.
I want you to know I DID benefit greatly by my reading, and
meant to have other readings and continue with my treatment;
but both Edgar Cayce and my son passed on in spring of the
same year... Perhaps when I find a hearing aid I can wear,
I'll come to Virginia Beach and see some of the wonderful
records. I've been an Associate member since 1944... My
chief complaint: Ankylosis, deafness, swollen hands, hard
incrustations joints. Deafness at age of 19; swelling began
1943; deafness still present, swelling etc. becoming worse;
little occasion to call doctor. I followed the treatments
only 8 months, and received much relief. After 8 months, did
not continue instructions. Bad steam burn on hand from Epsom
Packs. Went to another state to help a sister in her work;
no chance to take further treatments, massages, etc. My
hearing has not improved; in fact, in the past 2 years,
deafness is more pronounced. I do find that when the weather
is hot and dry, I feel much better. Where to locate an
osteopath who'd give finger surgery, I do not know. The
Peanut Oil was just wonderful and my body and hands just
soaked it up. Have not had osteopathic finger surgery
at any time. On my return home, after my son's death, I
thought perhaps I should be interested in going on with my
treatments. I did not, because although I searched for an
osteopath who'd give me finger surgery, I found but one man,
and he scoffed at the idea. He much preferred his method
of trying to do what he had learned, and then told me in his
opinion my deafness was simply a progressive one and must
have been inherited. I did not show him Edgar Cayce's
reading, as I sensed it would do no good. I did not have my
upper teeth removed, but even now, do mean to take care of
that before long. I know I'd be better physically in a hot,
dry climate, but since I am now practically alone in the
world, as far as relatives are concerned, and with general
housing and other conditions as they are today, I hesitate to
leave Mich. You see, I shall be sixty next November. when I
return after Labor Day, I shall then take more body massages
which greatly benefitted me. After that, I'll write you
again, if anything further could be written for the records."
6/04/51 Letter: "Enclosed please find check for my
Associate Membership... Also send me the following...these
prices are taken from the only list I have, so I am not sure
they are currently correct. If not, please advise, and I
will remit..."
4/08/52 Associate membership renewed.
2/25/59 GD's note: Mrs. [
5144] has continued to be
active as a member of A.R.E.


Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation