Toronto

July 3rd 1937

This is to certify that Mrs Annie Bonner, 260 Logan Avenue, Toronto, has been receiving treatment at St. Michaels hospital for carcinoma of the cervix. She has developed metastases in the upper right arm. Locally, the malignancy seems to be controlled.

J. C. Threbold, M.D.

970 Queen St., East

Remarks

October 9th, 1938 Patient feeling very well, in fact so well that she is now able to undertake the washing, making of the beds and other housework in connection with the running of a large rooming house.

Copy of letter from
Mrs Bonner to Rene Caisse

As published in the Bracebridge Examiner article Part 13

Dear Miss Caisse,

It is with much pleasure that I give you herewith, particulars of the history of my case.

It was in December 1935 that I was rushed to St Michael's Hospital here in Toronto by Dr Stanley, who examined me. After having a section of growth removed for examination, the doctor told my husband that it was definitely cancer. He told him also that it was inoperable as the cancer had already spread to other internal organs. I suffered agonies for ten days with radium needles and spent altogether nine weeks in the hospital.

After four weeks rest I started taking x-ray treatments. These were administered each day and sometimes twice a day for a year, except for occasional periods of rest when I was too badly burned to continue. By this time the x-ray treatments spread the growth up the right side of my body, to the right shoulder. At this time the doctor suggested removing the right arm from the shoulder. Needless to say I was feeling very ill and was unable to rise from my bed or even a chair without help. My weight had gone down from 120 lbs to 90 lbs, and I had no appetite whatever.

About this time a friend told us of your work at Bracebridge, and as the doctors could do nothing for me when I refused to have the arm amputated, we decided to try your treatments. You will remember how my arm was black and swollen to more than twice its normal size and I could not bear to have anything touch it. I was so weak that I had to lie down in the back of the car during the first few trips back and forth to Bracebridge.

But after a few treatments I began to feel much better. The swelling gradually went down in the arm and my appetite improved. In the summer of 1937, Dr Leonardo, Chief Coroner for Rochester, N.Y., who saw my condition said that my arm was dead and would never move again. But thanks to Essiac my arm is normal. After about 60 treatments I underwent a series of x-ray examinations and am delighted to say that no sign of the growth appeared whatever.

I am feeling quite well and able to do all my own house- work. I thank God for having spared me, and sincerely hope that you may be able to carry on this work and eventually be able to make your treatments available to all cancer sufferers. "

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Annie Bonner.