39. I Said Goodbye To My Oxygen Tank And Wheelchair

　　My name is Liu Jieming and I am 75 years old this year [2001]. I have practiced Falun Dafa for over six months. During that period I have experienced tremendous physical and mental　changes. Teacher's benevolence and Falun Dafa's mighty power gave me a new life.

　　Before I took up the practice of Falun Dafa, I was in a dire situation, afflicted with numerous illnesses. Indeed, there was not a spot on my body that didn't hurt. My lung function was about 30% of a normal person's and I relied on an oxygen tank to breathe. It was difficult for me to eat and speak as I was extremely weak, and I had to rely on an oxygen tank and a wheelchair.

　　Other than lung problems, I also had heart disease, angina, high blood pressure, a stomach ulcer, narrowing of the esophagus, bone proliferation and gout, among other diseases. I suffered for decades and my condition worsened as I got older. I couldn't take care of myself and had to hire a nurse to help me walk, eat and take a shower. I was living in extreme pain that wracked my body constantly. I was struggling just to stay alive.

　　Around six months ago my daughter introduced me to Falun Dafa and told me about its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi. I felt it was great right away. Since then, I have been on the golden road of Falun Dafa practice.

　　My worldview changed as I read　Zhuan Falun. My understanding of the Falun Gong principles improved and I became a better person. I understood the meaning of life, and I tried to assimilate to the universal principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, to purify my mind with Falun Dafa, to conduct myself according to Dafa's standards and to be a true Falun Gong practitioner. When I first started practicing,　it was very difficult for me to do the sitting meditation exercise, let alone the standing exercises. I could hardly stand still or even follow the verses before each exercise. I didn't have enough strength to put my two hands together at the end of each exercise. It was exhausting for me to do the second exercise when I had to put my arms up for a long time, and my back hurt badly when I bent over during the fourth exercise. My knees were weak and I would experience sudden pain when doing the exercises. I felt so weak and sore that I could hardly finish. That was my first day doing the exercises. If it were not for the mighty power of Dafa, I would not have been able to continue, but I persisted and my health improved day by day.

　　Before, I had all kinds of medical devices and homecare services, as I relied on many people to take care of me day in and day out. After I began practicing Falun Gong, I discontinued the services and saved the government a large sum of medical expenses and various other costs. Falun Dafa practice is very beneficial for any individual, family or country. Just as Teacher said on the first page of the book Zhuan Falun,” For the whole time I've been transmitting our　teachings and exercises, I've made a point of being responsible to society and to our students. The results have been good, and the impact on the whole society has been pretty good, too.” Practicing Falun Dafa has enabled me to say goodbye to the oxygen tank and the wheelchair, as well as to the homecare nurse. Falun Dafa has shown its miraculous power and brought me back from death's door. Teacher and Dafa have given me a new life.

　　I have been so happy since I changed from a critically ill person to a Falun Dafa practitioner. My family and friends were pleasantly surprised by the changes that took place in me. My appetite has increased and I no longer need to avoid certain foods. I sleep well and become healthier by the day. From now on, I will make the best use of my time, genuinely improve myself and make diligent progress in Dafa cultivation.