Tag Archives: McClelland

Glenn Returns (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

St. E. Hospital
Sept. 11, 1943.

Dear Daddy,

Writing from the hospital again. Glenn & family returned last night – got in just before Juanita & I returned from the hospital. Glenn, John & I came down today. John had an appointment with Dr. Van Buskirk and we spent some time in the clinic waiting. No seemed to be in a hurry. Alma had taken John with Jimmy two weeks ago and we had this appointment together too. We went to eat lunch and had a little time before our appointment so went out to Cole’s office but he was so busy we couldn’t see him – I will talk to him on the phone before going home. Mother seems better but is so weak & pale. I noticed Dr. Cole had two ampules of coramin of C on the dresser so I think he must be expecting another spell to come on like Mother had yesterday morning. I was afraid to leave her last night so got a special nurse to stay during the night. She said this morning she didn’t want her to stay tonight – she bothered her – but I am afraid she will have another spell and won’t be able to call a floor nurse. While in the Clinic I talk to McClelland about the X-Rays but he said Mother didn’t have enough barium to get good pictures & he couldn’t make a diagnosis from the X-Ray. There is a lot of fluid in the abdomen and he said that could be caused from a lot of things. However Cole says there is a mass in the abdomen – I am not a Dr. and I can feel it when I press on her abdomen.

Juanita & Pauline are holding forth today with Danny, Mark, David & James L. Juanita was going to pick tomatoes & makes catsup. Also help Mark dig potatoes. Just so they take care of the babies & do the necessary things – I don’t care about the extras.

[page 2] John has been “hacking” around with an irritating cough so had Van Buskirk look at his throat. He wanted to know if John had any allergies. I said he had day fever – he said this cough is an allergy condition and it wasn’t anything serious. I think I wrote you last year about this time that John would cough & sneeze every morning during hay fever time. He had been doing that some this year then the cough got more persistent and goes on thru the day. The Dr. listened to his chest – looked at his nose & throat. He gave me a prescription – bromides, but said John is on the jittery order & thought a good sedative was indicated. You know how jumpy John is about having anything done to him. Dr. Van kept telling him to relax when he was trying to look at his nose & throat.

This weather is still on the cold order. This is the first third of Sept. gone and as cool as we expect in Oct. Glen says it’s probably cold in Nev. now. He isn’t as bad as when they left to go to Penn., but says he will be glad to get back to the dry air in Nev.

John & Glenn are tired of sitting here in the room so are going to walk down the hall & mail this.

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/03/glenn-returns-gladys/

 

Almost Gone (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

St. Elizabeth Hospital
Sept. 10 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Am writing from Mother’s room. She had a bad spell this morning. Dr. Cole called me – said he had come in to give her a hypo – was giving her shots of Betalin complex – and when he came in the room she was almost gone – she told me the gas was hurting her so – but he said it was her heart. Anyway he gave her coramin injection as soon as possible and she came to. I met Juanita at the train this morning at 4:25 so we came down together. Dr. said he thought I should come down. I tried to get Clara Molter to stay with David & Dannie – she couldn’t come till noon but Mrs. Zell said she would stay till Clara came. Their two older girls are in school & Mr. Zell could take the youngest girl with him. We got down here about 10:30 – Mother is awfully weak & pale. Dr. Cole is sure she has an obstruction but McClelland says no – However she is bloated and I think Cole is right – there is an obstruction there causing the distention. We went out to get some lunch & of course the Dr. came while we were out. However I think he will be back – says he has two O.B. cases going here today, so I’ll probably see him sometime before we go back home. I called him before we went out to eat and I talked to him over the phone, but I want to see him personally.

It is cool today – a coat feels very good. I hope Chet gets some coal in soon. We have enough to last a while but if this cool weather continues it will soon exhaust our coal supply. I have had an order in for coal – weeks or maybe months, but Chet hasn’t been able to get any. I hear that Harlan’s did have some but I imagine he had more orders than he could fill. I was going to have him send me some but Van Scoyck told me he had me down for coal as soon as a shipment came in so I

[page 2] didn’t say anything to Harlan.

I thought Juanita & I would get the washing done & clean up the house and come down this afternoon but when I got the call this morning – before I was up – we got ready & come one. Dr. Cole said I had better stay all day. I told Juanita I was in the garden yesterday evening and didn’t have time to get all the things gathered that need to be – She said she would dig potatoes tomorrow. There are beans & tomatoes that need to be picked. This cool weather is pointing toward an early frost, if it doesn’t warm up soon. Was almost that cold this a.m. Mark’s garden wasn’t quite what it would have been had he had better supervision – but I couldn’t devote the time I wanted to and as much as he likes to do things he needs someone over him all the time. I told Juanita I felt like we got our seed back. We didn’t have to buy any vegetables all summer, canned more than 30 qt. green beans, so far several qts tomatoes & more coming on. Had some cabbage & onions all summer. Will have carrots to store for winter and tho the potatoe crop wasn’t very good have had potatoes to use along. I found in digging yesterday that the hills didn’t have very many potatoes in them. Mark wants to do things but needs company when he does the. His nervousness is at present is completely gone & he has a better appetite. I believe the tonsils were guilty of that trouble because he runs & plays just as hard as ever and has no reaction, so from all appearances the tonsils were harboring infection.

The new bond drive is on & John wanted me to buy him a bond – or rather give him the money to buy one at school – I told him I would give him his allowance in advance but he said he just wanted it outright – however I think he was just trying me out – I told him he could buy our (yours & mine) next bond for us – he said couldn’t he add another name[?]. I said that wouldn’t be fair to Mark & David. Jim sent your letter on to me – Thanks for all the nice things you said about me – so

Love – Mother

St. Elizabeth's Hospital

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Lafayette, Indiana

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/02/02/almost-gone-gladys/

New Meat Locker (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Went to the hospital today. I stopped on the way in to see Dr. Cole at his house because I wanted to talk to him directly. He said they tried to give Mother an enema for X-ray & she couldn’t retain it long enough  to get a picture. He said they had ordered the barium given by mouth and when I got there she had had it and thrown it right up. I noticed her abdomen looked distended – Dr. Cole had Baylee & McC. See her. Baylee says she has a bowel obstruction – I believe she has from the looks of things. I called Cole when I left the hospital to come home and told him about the throwing up. He said he would order no breakfast & see if she could keep it down without food. The other [order] was given shortly after her dinner today. I intend to go back again Tues. Marie Steinbaugh has to go for her X-ray treatment at the clinic & she may go along with me. If you missed my letter about her – she had one breast removed (cancer) and has to take treatment regularily now.

I saw Mary McGee Arnott in the hospital this afternoon – She has a baby girl – her husband was shipped out

[page 2] and she didn’t know where – when the baby was born and doesn’t know yet for sure but is guessing on England. She was permitted to send a cable however – more than we could do. – so maybe he will know he has a daughter and not the son he wanted, before you knew about our David. I believe you got the word about D. Oct. 20 & he was a month old Oct. 23.

I was going to take the family along this afternoon but Dorothy asked to keep David then Mark said he would stay too so John & I went to Laf. and D. & M. stayed at Krulls. When we got back Nick & D. had their dinner ready & invited us to eat with them so we had dinner at the restaurant – They are closed all day Sun. They had just had their breakfast when we left for Laf. this afternoon. They had a pork roast, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, baked squash, gravy, bread & butter. They told me Tom Spencer has bought the Shell Station. He was running the Crown Dairy – but evidently not too good. Cochrans are closing down now & Spencers are reopening Sept. 14. This restaurant business around Kentland isn’t what it used to be. You can’t drop in any place, any time, any more and get a meal. It is almost to the point of getting to eat by appointment. Maybe not that bad but not what it used to be.

[page 3] It doesn’t bother us any because we eat at home. Which is a problem I will have to work on next week with Glens, Juanita & possibly Jim coming. I am going to turn in my meat coupons for the beef I am getting so will have to collect meat tickets from the guests. It puts me in a spot – I have to turn in the meat stamps before I can use any of the meat but I think we will get along. There is a locker to be put either in Kentland or Brook. I have signed up & pd. $10⁰⁰. If it isn’t built here we get our money back & continue with Sheldon. The Government is allowing just so many to be guilt & I think there can’t be one here & at Brook so the town that hurries the fastest will get the locker. There has to be 300 signers.

I slipped up on your Mother’s birthday gift but am sending her a towel, wash cloth & hankie. She will get it a day or two late but she will know we thought about her. I was getting the package ready at the store and the P.O. closed before I got it finished. Then too Mon. being Labor Day there won’t e any mail delivery so guess it will get to her just as soon mailed tonight.

I sent you some pictures in yesterday’s letter. Your latest was Aug. 21. Rec’d Fri last. It is getting late and I want Mark to take this to the P.O. tonight so it will go out early in the morning. My hands are much better. Guess the H.C.L. still works. I am beginning to peal off – still some places yet to dry up but it doesn’t bother me.

Love – Mother

Gladys (January 1943)

Gladys (January 1943)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/23/new-meat-locker-gladys/

Back From St. E. (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Sept. 2 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Just back from St. E. We took Mother down in the ambulance. She stood the trip very well. Bob has a rubber sponge mattress on the cot & put a feather bed on top of that. We left the feather bed at the hospital. I asked the sister at the desk if we could put it on Mother’s bed & she consented. Also took her pillows along. She seemed very comfortable when I left. Dr. Cole came & ordered her some glucose. She was getting it when I left. He is having Baylee & McClelland see her tomorrow. I will let you know the report when I get it Sunday.

Glenn & Pauline & James L. went on to Penna. Today. I didn’t want to take Mother to the hospital while they were here. She says she wants to be back home by the time they come back thru on their way home but I told Dr. Cole to discourage her in that

[page 2] if he thinks she should stay longer. Will see what X-ray shows & what the other Drs. think. Dr. Cole said she had fluid in her bowels this evening when he examined her and it might mean T.B. of the bowel but he wouldn’t say anything definite without X-ray.

Alma W. called me today & said they had tomatoes she couldn’t can so gave me almost a bu. With all the Victory Gardens there still seems to be not enough tomatoes. I canned 9 qt. before going to the hospital. Will get at least 6 qt. tomorrow. I think Alma appreciates you more every day – your absence and other Dr. fees make her appreciate how generous you were. I imagine she things about the many treatments you threw in extra when she give me grapes, tomatoes, etc. She has a cold now & is almost down with it.

I want to go to bed early – last night & the night before I didn’t get enough rest. The boys go to school for a full day tomorrow. It will seem quiet around here with only D. & I. He won’t know what to do with everyone one but me gone. I think we will get along – don’t you?

Love Mother

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/17/back-from-st-e-gladys/

Scarcity of Film (Gladys)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Aug. 29 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Sunday afternoon – Dr. Cole was here to see other – He said he had to be back in the hospital by 5 – to do a section. I am going to take Mother back to the hospital for an x-ray – He said he would have McClelland & Baylee see her but he says he doesn’t think anything can be done. He thinks she would get an awful reaction from x-ray treatments. However we will get an x-ray to be sure about the mass in her bowels. He says he is sure it’s malignant. I told him I would bring her in some time this week. I am looking for Glenn to come any day now and hate to be gone when he comes. It’s been a week (will be tomorrow) since he started so he should be getting here any time.

Buddy Krull came out this afternoon to play with Mark and he has a terrible cold with a cough. I told Mark to keep him out in the yard away from David. Buddy probably got his cold on their trip in Wisconsin. They just got back yesterday.

[page 2] Last week was cold & cloudy and David didn’t get his usual quota of sunshine. I took him out this afternoon about an hour. He is a little rascal now, doesn’t want to take his afternoon nap. I tool some pictures of him today. Have to save the rest of the roll for his birthday Sept. 23 – so can’t send these out until I get the rest of the roll taken. Film is a scarce item now. I should have bought film ahead so I would have one roll for each month.

John is listening to his symphony programs this afternoon. Wed. school begins and then the “bigger half” of the neighborhood children will be in school again. Al is having a time getting teachers – Seems odd that only a few years ago there was a surplus of teachers and it required almost a pedigree to get a position – now the situation is reversed. Too many teachers I am afraid are in the W.A.C., W.A.V.E.S., etc. I suppose after the war the situation will be turned the other way again.

I think David has finally decided to go to sleep – Mark & Buddy have gone to Buddy’s house – I told Mark to come home in time for supper.

Love Mother

1943 - David playing with lawn chair

David, summer 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/09/scarcity-of-film-gladys/