As my 75-year-old mother returned home from grocery shopping seven years ago, she fell suddenly and lost consciousness. She was sent to the hospital. My family and I listened to the doctor explain the images of her CT scan. He told us that many places in her brain were clogged by blood clots. Even if he could save her life, she would be a vegetable. Despite the shocking prognosis, I had the thought that my mom is a Falun Dafa practitioner and that miracles can happen.

My mom suffered from many physical problems—severe malnutrition, high blood pressure, and heart problems. She had lost her hearing in one ear. She often went to the hospital when she felt discomfort here and there. She took handfuls of medicine every day, which caused her body to swell. She was so weak that it seemed she would collapse at any time. Everything changed when she took up Falun Dafa in the summer of 1997.

“This is a great practice! How come I heard about it so late!” she exclaimed. Her excitement caused her face to appear rosy, a complexion we hadn't seen in her for a long time.

“Let me tell you what happened,” she said to us. “I was walking by the river the other day. I heard some music and then, I felt someone push me from the back. I turned around and didn't see anyone. I became curious and followed the music. It came from the Falun Dafa exercise site. The assistant was very friendly and inviting. I stayed there and learned some movements from her. I didn't quite learn all the movements, but I felt so relaxed and comfortable. My body felt very light. It was so magical!”

We were all amazed by her experience. We supported and encouraged her to keep learning Dafa.

She told me that she had fever-like symptoms one day. She skipped dinner and went to bed. She woke up in the middle of the night and had sweat all over her body. The odor resembled that of a mixture of medicine. Then, she felt really comfortable, and her body temperature returned to normal. She realized that the Teacher of Falun Dafa was purifying her body for her.

Now in good health, my mother has become independent and often helps others. Because she had never gone to school, she found it difficult to read Zhuan Falun, the main book of Falun Dafa. Seeing her sincere wish to learn, we agreed to teach her. While reading the book to her, I also took up the practice. She joined several reading groups with other practitioners. Eventually, she was able to read the entire book.

The good days didn't last very long. When the nationwide persecution of Falun Dafa was started in July 1999, our lives were turned upside down. Upset about the demonizing propaganda against Falun Dafa being broadcast across the country, my mom decided to try her best to let people know the facts. She often went to the countryside or residential neighborhoods to distribute pamphlets about Falun Dafa and tell people her story. For doing this, she was sentenced twice, and her pension was withheld by her workplace.

I recall my mom lying in the intensive care unit seven years ago. The doctor and nurses worked hard. They inserted all kinds of tubes into her body—an oxygen tube, a feeding tube, and a urinary catheter. She appeared to be in another world. We continually spoke to her, but she never responded. Seven days later, she woke up from her coma. She told me that she went to a heaven-like place, where some Taoist immortals were welcoming her. She said to them, “I'm a Falun Dafa practitioner. Master Li Hongzhi takes care of me. I don't belong here.” A dark shadow flashed in front of her eyes, and she woke up.

We were all astonished to hear her story. This was a real life-and-death test for her. With her strong faith in Dafa, she made it through.

Still, her body was badly damaged. Her left leg was disabled, her left hand was paralyzed, and the left side of her mouth drooped. She also appeared to be hyperactive and had difficulty concentrating. For example, she wanted to drink water one minute and then wanted to use the restroom a minute later, or she kept changing her mind about where she wanted to go.

Things were worse in the evenings. She got up four or five times during the night to use the bathroom, so whoever was taking care of her was unable to sleep all night. I was really frustrated and couldn't understand why this had happened to her. However, after so many years of cultivation in Dafa, I knew that things all have karmic ties and that nothing happens accidentally.

Teacher said in Zhuan Falun:

“Furthermore, how will you practice cultivation if you do not have any worries or troubles? How can you do the exercises comfortably and restfully? How can there be such a thing?”

I felt enlightened. As Falun Dafa practitioners, we cultivate in the mundane world and among worldly troubles. There is no easy path for cultivation. My mom needed my help, and I had to help her. The simple wish of helping Mom resume cultivation turned out to be an arduous journey for me. I began to read Falun Dafa books to her, even if she only listened to one word or one sentence each time. I told myself to have confidence and be patient with her.

Other Falun Dafa practitioners also joined me in reading the books to her and talked to her about their cultivation experiences. Gradually, Mom calmed down. She concentrated and listened to our reading the book to her, extending the time from ten minutes to fifteen minutes, and then half an hour. Dafa also manifested its power in her. As time went by, the more she listened to the books, the quicker she improved.

She began to read with us, and then she began to recite the poems from Hong Yin. Her mouth didn't droop anymore, and she could get up to use the restroom at night by herself. I am really happy for her and also deeply grateful for the practice and Teacher.