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 8, 1970

I don't know if you received the last letter, but I think Barbara said that you did when she talked to you on the telephone. I just hated to call you, and I was quite busy the short time I was home. Loraine, Cele and Francis were over Tuesday. I guess it did me a lot of good, but I didn't feel much in the mood for company. I really don' t think they comprehended how serious Jim's accident is and what his future will be like. I know, being his mother, my feeling is much greater. Now, I or our family, do not want sympathy, only encouragement and prayers. We are hoping for a miracle. Just to be able to use his arms and fingers. Ask those innocent retarded children to pray also.

Jim is now out of intensive care and up on the 6th floor of the hospital for therapy and rehabilitation. We can be with him all the time. The doctor was in about an hour ago and gave us a bit of hope. He said the report from the therapist was that they could feel some active muscle sill alive in his upper extremi­ties. He said he was doing better than two other patients in the same condition, but they were injured worse. I don' t know how that could be, but I am willing to believe it.

I think Jim is beginning to realize the seriousness of his condition. He told me it makes him sick when the doctor talks about it. Jim can only talk in a whisper and noise really bugs him. He is very crabby today.

Bob and I have accepted our challenge, hoping God picked us as special people. There are prayers being said all over Wis­consin, California and Costa Rica. Father Baer, our pastor, said a very, very old lady sent money to have a mass said. We don't even know who she is. Also St. Vin­cent de Paul society is having one said. Aunt Lucille Schoen, Jim's godmother, is having one said, too. This gives me so much more courage for what lies ahead.

Our girls, Mary, Daisy, Pie and Betty have been just wonderful. Guess it was providence Betty's husband should get a job in Milwaukee, coming from Wausau.

Daisy and Ed came up from Chicago and took over while I was at home. Betty and Mike stayed last night. Mary is com­ing for the weekend and Pie on Monday.

Father Bauer's sister gave me some Lourdes water. I was wishing to get a hold of some. I guess we really have a lot going for us. They said Jim's physi­cal condition at the time of the accident was just great. I don't know if I told you in the last letter that Jim remembers lying on the bottom of the lake and not being able to move.

I will try to keep you informed on his progress. Just do a lot of praying. Our Lady of Lourde's prayer, "Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recoursed to thee." And say three Hail Mary's.

Love, Lorena