The Injury

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Mom's Letter, 7.3.70
Mom's Letter, 7.8.70
Mom's Letter, 7.13.70
Mom's Letter, 7.19.70
Mom's Letter, 8.8.70
Mary's Letter
Letter from an EMT

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Recollections

 

July 19, 1970

About an hour before lunch, so I will kill a little time. Jim is really having a good sleep. He is on his tummy so this is unusual he is sleeping so well. The nurse said, "Guess we'll have to be afraid he's gonna sleep good days and be awake nights." I had been thinking the same thing. He's really been sleeping hard the last few days. He has had dysentery the past days. First B.M. he's had. Even enemas hadn't worked. So may­be with all the throwing up and now down, he'll feel better

Thanks for all those letters. He smiles so nice when he sees your pictures you draw. Also I always show him how you address the envelope. He says, "yeh, I know" and smiles. Those smiles make me feel so good. He liked your joke. He really didn't figure on that answer. When he was a real little guy, one day he said, "Guess what I'm gonna be when I grow up?" I was so excited, I said, "What are you gonna be when you grow up?" Jim said, "A big man." Well, I guess that's just what he is, in body and in spirit.

We were looking for his picture we took when he was in traction for his broken leg. Well, we came across a card you sent him then, with pictures drawn, little boy and dog, butterfly, frog, etc. One place you wrote, "Such is life, Jimmy."

I came here on Wednesday and will stay until next Wednesday. Pie will come then. She had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday. Mary will come too. She will come real often when she is done teaching summer school. Jim especially likes Mary around. Jim told Betty that Mom tries so hard to keep up a conversation. Didn't realize I was that old.

The Cheese Company from Plymouth sent Jim $100 check. We will give it to charity if it isn't needed. Uncle George and Aunt Mabel Hemauer sent $25. I spent that for the T.V. in Jim's room. Many other people sent money, too.

Jim asked if he could go skiing this winter. Eleanore and Loraine both wrote of similar accidents and people recovered. Oh, for a miracle!

Doctor Burgland was just in. He says, "Are you here already?" So I told him I come every day about nine. Then I told him about Betty living in town and Mike working at St. Mary's. He said he goes over there everyday. Wish he would have told me some news. I'm afraid to ask, afraid it won't be good news.

Enclosed are some articles that were in our Plymouth Paper.

2:00 P.M.

Jim didn't eat much. They put coffee on the tray for me. I have that with a cookie I have here at the hospital. Right now I am watching the baseball game. When Jim had his broken leg the Braves won the pennant.

The MiIwaukee Bucks sent Jim two big envelopes of pictures, postal cards and literature. Also a big pendant to hang up.

Jim is watching the Brewers game too, and doing a bit of talking. He keeps me busy lifting his head, scratching it and his toes. But he does seem in better spirits.

Guess I chatted enough. Nobody came in today. Betty and Mike will come tonight. Last night Joe drove in with some boys. On Tuesday and Thursday a car drives down with a group of kids from Plymouth. The Jaycee's sponsor this. A young married man who once was Bob's student has a car wash in Plymouth and he organized this. Sure is nice. It sure is paying off that Bob did so much as far as public relations is con­cerned. There is a lot of praying being done for Jim.

Thanks for your letters and prayers and the "Jimmy Rosaries." Keep it up. At least one every week

Love, Rena