Susanna Porritt Barnes — Recovery from the 'Dixie Chills'

Following her arrival in St. George, Utah, during the early 1860s, Susanna Porritt Barnes contracted a severe case of 'Dixie Chills' (a form of malaria prevalent along the Virgin River). The illness was so debilitating that she was rendered bedridden and her life was feared for by her family. Her husband, James Barnes, called upon local Priesthood holders to administer a healing blessing. According to the manuscript account by Kay Schooler, Susanna experienced an immediate and remarkable recovery following the administration, allowing her to resume her duties as a pioneer mother and nurse in the community.