Dear Betsy,
I am in St. Mary's Hospital here in Rochester, Minnesota. It is a 930 beds. Big! They will be doing lots of tests and try to control my legs and feet as they hurt. Grandma is with me. She is a big help. We read too. I hope I can see you soon. Escuse my writing. My room is #2150. I love you very much and Miss you.
Love,
Mom
Tuesday, June 30, 1981
Tuesday, June 16, 1981
June 16, 1981
Dear Betsy, Sandy and Kirstie,
I am writing to all of you on the same stationary as I wanted to send these three little gifts to you to let you know that I think of you all the time and I miss you very much. I wish I could see you. I am supposed to go to MAYO clinic on the 28th of June through Detroit. I will probably be there one week. I am scared of what they will say as my feet really hurt. Tomorrow is prayer group at 6:30 and I hope I can make it there.
Today I went no where as it was so humid and hot and my feet were really sore. I made banana not bread a few nights ago. I cleaned the apartment last night but I messed it up today. I am still trying to read and getting fat. How are all of you? Is school over yet? When are you coming here? I see the doctors tomorrow and also go to physical therapy for my hand. It cooled off a lot tonight. It has been so hot and humid here. We had lots of rain. Grandpa is going to play golf in the morning. He will enjoy it very much. I have a prayer group at 6:30 AM. A friend is taking me to breakfast on Thursday. It is a sourdough Charlie's and they have a good breakfast so all say. Uncle Dick's birthday is Saturday and he will be 37 years old. It is already midnight and I am still up. I have to soak my feet yet and set up my breakfast so I can eat easier when I get home from the prayer group. Sandy, I hope to send you Heidi like you said you wanted. Are you coming back here to live with me or what Please express how you really feel. I wish all of you would write me. I look every day for a letter. I need to do my devotionals more than I do. I read but not enough. I want to sew and mend some clothes. I need material as Betsy has all I liked and used. Well, for the past 2 days Sandy hasn't called me in the morning. What happened? Is it too much trouble? I am nothing but problems. I am on some new medicine and they make me sleepy during the day. All morning I am so tired and have to force myself to move. I have lots of phone calls to make. I miss you all so much. Why does this have to happen like this? Why couldn't we have been a happy family? I am so lonely. At least you are all together. I am scare to go to MAYO. It really costs a lot of money. I guess I really have no good news at this time. I hope you have a nice day this Sunday with your Father on his day. You must serve him breakfast in bed. He would like that.
I hope you are all happy. I miss you so much. I can never tell you how much I love you in words on paper. Please remember me and how much I love you and always will. I am so sorry that I had to get so ill that I couldn't care for you. Always remember that you are so very dear in my heart and I love you all with all my heart. Uncle Dick has a birthday on the 20th. Do you hear from your friends? I wish that you would write me. I am going to do some reading now and mending. I sure miss you not being here, Sandy. Do you miss me? WRITE! I have to worry about getting a few groceries. I'd like to see a movie also but I haven't the money for all that. I don't know how I'd get along without Food Stamps. It is 81 degrees now. It was cool early this morning. Really nice for my feet. I eat ice cream every night now and really look forward to it. Do you all eat well? Are you dieting? You look nice in your pictures. Mom and Aunt Ida went to a luncheon with the Pinochile Club and then to the theater to see "Hello Dolly." I hope they had a good time. Dad went golfing and the Heatherdowns Country Club all day. I hope he had fun. He needs to get out more and use up his energy. Are you babysitting much these days? Have you many friends? I hope so. Elaine was over on Sunday. She is working 3-11 PM now part time and going to school to get her RN. She is a good friend. She is tired today and started her period and has a headache. I still use her typewriter. I don't know what I would do without it. My hand has not improved and it is discouraging. I wish I could afford to go out to eat tonight as I am so tired of eating alone every night. I may bake some muffins or bread tonight. The church could use some on Sunday. Well, I must close so this can get mailed. I hope you are all well. Please write to me soon ….. all of you! When can you come to visit? Remember that I love you all very much. Take care of yourselves. I love you.
All my love,
Mom
I am writing to all of you on the same stationary as I wanted to send these three little gifts to you to let you know that I think of you all the time and I miss you very much. I wish I could see you. I am supposed to go to MAYO clinic on the 28th of June through Detroit. I will probably be there one week. I am scared of what they will say as my feet really hurt. Tomorrow is prayer group at 6:30 and I hope I can make it there. 
Today I went no where as it was so humid and hot and my feet were really sore. I made banana not bread a few nights ago. I cleaned the apartment last night but I messed it up today. I am still trying to read and getting fat. How are all of you? Is school over yet? When are you coming here? I see the doctors tomorrow and also go to physical therapy for my hand. It cooled off a lot tonight. It has been so hot and humid here. We had lots of rain. Grandpa is going to play golf in the morning. He will enjoy it very much. I have a prayer group at 6:30 AM. A friend is taking me to breakfast on Thursday. It is a sourdough Charlie's and they have a good breakfast so all say. Uncle Dick's birthday is Saturday and he will be 37 years old. It is already midnight and I am still up. I have to soak my feet yet and set up my breakfast so I can eat easier when I get home from the prayer group. Sandy, I hope to send you Heidi like you said you wanted. Are you coming back here to live with me or what Please express how you really feel. I wish all of you would write me. I look every day for a letter. I need to do my devotionals more than I do. I read but not enough. I want to sew and mend some clothes. I need material as Betsy has all I liked and used. Well, for the past 2 days Sandy hasn't called me in the morning. What happened? Is it too much trouble? I am nothing but problems. I am on some new medicine and they make me sleepy during the day. All morning I am so tired and have to force myself to move. I have lots of phone calls to make. I miss you all so much. Why does this have to happen like this? Why couldn't we have been a happy family? I am so lonely. At least you are all together. I am scare to go to MAYO. It really costs a lot of money. I guess I really have no good news at this time. I hope you have a nice day this Sunday with your Father on his day. You must serve him breakfast in bed. He would like that. I hope you are all happy. I miss you so much. I can never tell you how much I love you in words on paper. Please remember me and how much I love you and always will. I am so sorry that I had to get so ill that I couldn't care for you. Always remember that you are so very dear in my heart and I love you all with all my heart. Uncle Dick has a birthday on the 20th. Do you hear from your friends? I wish that you would write me. I am going to do some reading now and mending. I sure miss you not being here, Sandy. Do you miss me? WRITE! I have to worry about getting a few groceries. I'd like to see a movie also but I haven't the money for all that. I don't know how I'd get along without Food Stamps. It is 81 degrees now. It was cool early this morning. Really nice for my feet. I eat ice cream every night now and really look forward to it. Do you all eat well? Are you dieting? You look nice in your pictures. Mom and Aunt Ida went to a luncheon with the Pinochile Club and then to the theater to see "Hello Dolly." I hope they had a good time. Dad went golfing and the Heatherdowns Country Club all day. I hope he had fun. He needs to get out more and use up his energy. Are you babysitting much these days? Have you many friends? I hope so. Elaine was over on Sunday. She is working 3-11 PM now part time and going to school to get her RN. She is a good friend. She is tired today and started her period and has a headache. I still use her typewriter. I don't know what I would do without it. My hand has not improved and it is discouraging. I wish I could afford to go out to eat tonight as I am so tired of eating alone every night. I may bake some muffins or bread tonight. The church could use some on Sunday. Well, I must close so this can get mailed. I hope you are all well. Please write to me soon ….. all of you! When can you come to visit? Remember that I love you all very much. Take care of yourselves. I love you.
All my love,
Mom
Friday, June 12, 1981
June 12, 1981
Dear Betsy,
I hope by the time you get this letter that your finals are over. I hope that you did well. I miss your not writing me and it sounds like your dad hasn't been telling you that I called. I am lonely today. My feet are sore and swollen and it is hot outside. I go to MAYO clinic on the 28th for a week, hopefully. Lori is getting married this Friday night and it is a big wedding. I wish you could go. She is such a cute girl and it is going to be a super wedding. Well, I have a four month old kitten and it is a tiger color and really lovable. I think I will name him Samson. It is cute and I will try to get a picture of him. Maybe a friend can take one of me holding him outside since I have no flash attachment. I would love to sew but need Grandma's if I do and that is a lot of trouble. I wear shorts most of the time because of my legs. The mail just came and I got a card from the Rainbow assembly. Tell them thank you very much. I hope that all of you enjoy Rainbows. I miss you so much and am so lonely right now. I wish I could see you. When will your dad let you come to see me? I made apple coffee cake the other night and gave it to a friend. I squeezed 3 pounds of oranges that Sandy left in the basement. Tell her there were three pounds apples and three pounds rotten onions down in the basement also. What a mess. It is 80 outside. I think the humidity is making my legs worse. My back bothers me lately because they stopped all the meds for it because of the two ulcers. It is a losing battle. My living room and kitchen are a mess as I have been trying to clean out boxes of things from the basement. Samson thinks he is supposed to help me all the time. He loves to sit on my lap. He scratched my leg last night when he jumped into the wheel chair. I wish Sandy could see my new wheel chair and my canes. She would be proud of me walking. I do look handicapped and it is hard to take but I am better than I was thanks to God and all the answered prayers. I only wish I had you children and could love you and be your mom. My heart breaks and the tears run when I think of you. Your cat is in my bed all the time and sleeps with me and so do Sandy's and Kirstie's animals. I hope you are well and happy. Please try and write me. I love to hear from you and it seems like ages since you wrote. Are you going to summer school? I hope you pass good old Geometry. I feel for you as it was my favorite subject. I started to read The Wildest Heart by Rosemary Rodgers. It is good but I have other books I want to read. I love to read and it is the one thing I can still do. I wear my glasses most all the time now. Well, I must close. You write me soon. Remember that I love you so very much. Say a prayer for me. I love you.
Love,
Mom
I hope by the time you get this letter that your finals are over. I hope that you did well. I miss your not writing me and it sounds like your dad hasn't been telling you that I called. I am lonely today. My feet are sore and swollen and it is hot outside. I go to MAYO clinic on the 28th for a week, hopefully. Lori is getting married this Friday night and it is a big wedding. I wish you could go. She is such a cute girl and it is going to be a super wedding. Well, I have a four month old kitten and it is a tiger color and really lovable. I think I will name him Samson. It is cute and I will try to get a picture of him. Maybe a friend can take one of me holding him outside since I have no flash attachment. I would love to sew but need Grandma's if I do and that is a lot of trouble. I wear shorts most of the time because of my legs. The mail just came and I got a card from the Rainbow assembly. Tell them thank you very much. I hope that all of you enjoy Rainbows. I miss you so much and am so lonely right now. I wish I could see you. When will your dad let you come to see me? I made apple coffee cake the other night and gave it to a friend. I squeezed 3 pounds of oranges that Sandy left in the basement. Tell her there were three pounds apples and three pounds rotten onions down in the basement also. What a mess. It is 80 outside. I think the humidity is making my legs worse. My back bothers me lately because they stopped all the meds for it because of the two ulcers. It is a losing battle. My living room and kitchen are a mess as I have been trying to clean out boxes of things from the basement. Samson thinks he is supposed to help me all the time. He loves to sit on my lap. He scratched my leg last night when he jumped into the wheel chair. I wish Sandy could see my new wheel chair and my canes. She would be proud of me walking. I do look handicapped and it is hard to take but I am better than I was thanks to God and all the answered prayers. I only wish I had you children and could love you and be your mom. My heart breaks and the tears run when I think of you. Your cat is in my bed all the time and sleeps with me and so do Sandy's and Kirstie's animals. I hope you are well and happy. Please try and write me. I love to hear from you and it seems like ages since you wrote. Are you going to summer school? I hope you pass good old Geometry. I feel for you as it was my favorite subject. I started to read The Wildest Heart by Rosemary Rodgers. It is good but I have other books I want to read. I love to read and it is the one thing I can still do. I wear my glasses most all the time now. Well, I must close. You write me soon. Remember that I love you so very much. Say a prayer for me. I love you.
Love,
Mom
Thursday, June 4, 1981
June 4, 1981 Sally
Dear Sally,
It was sure good to talk with you tonight. I am so lonely and scared. I go to MAYO clinic on the 28th by plane. I am scared of getting there and what the outcome will be. Everyone here seems to think I belong there. I wish I had more faith. I my have to change climates. I have been much worse here with the increased humidity. I would have to live somewhere alone most likely and where there were good medical facilities. It is so lonely without Sandy. I think she is happy with her sisters and that is important. I am sure Garry will take care of her. I miss them so much. It has been so long since I saw them last. I can now walk some with the use of a cane and have my own private wheel chair. It is nice. I have a walker and a pair of crutches also. It finally rained here tonight which was needed and maybe my feet will be better. I just go them cool in cold water. It took over an hour. They are still swollen badly. I went to the store tonight and got a few necessities. I can hardly make it. My parents want to take me to a steak house for supper and I hope I can go. They have a big salad bar and that is what I love. I still eat my big breakfast and egg or meat or cottage cheese. I have started to gain some weight also. I hope I can exercise some day and move it around. I still have no use of my right hand and have to go to physical therapy every day at 3:30. It is very frustrating to have this palsy. I c. if she knows anything about MAYO. If she does left me know. I know nothing about the area. I hope my mother still goes. It is scary but hopefully all will go well.
June 5
My one visiting teacher is supposed to call tomorrow and see if I need anything. My dad runs errands a lot and I go to therapy every day at the hospital on my hand. I saw the psychiatrist yesterday and he will be seeing me regularly after I go to MAYO. I like him. I am on Welfare so I think the State pays for it since I have no money. I am now soaking the feet and ankles are so swollen. I think it is the humidity. I will probably have to move to a dry climate. I hope I will move close to you all. My phone bill is high this month and I shouldn't use it at all. I get so lonely now with Sandy gone. She left before I came home from the hospital. I then had to box her things and send them plus I cleaned all the drawers and closets out and put my things in them as we were so crowded for space. I have a small apartment and it is hard with all I did gave. I had to sell most of the good things in order to live. Sandy seems happy and only wrote me once. In fact they all owe me letters. Sandy said she took the smallest room but they are renting a big 2 story house and Garry complains because he wants to build a big house and borrow money. He has to be crazy to think I would ever give him money. He won't even let me see the girls. I miss them so much. I hope to sew me some clothes soon. I haven't done anything since we moved here and Betsy has my machine so I have to use my Aunt Ida's old one. I am invited to my cousin's wedding a week from Friday in a Catholic church. It is going to be huge. Then a friend's daughter is getting married on the 20th in Findlay and I am invited. I only hope the weather is improved so I can go. My car has no air conditioning. I sold the Gremlin and Dad bought me a 1973 Ford Galaxy and it is a gas hog with no air. However, it only had 28,000 miles. The owner hardly ever used it. So how is all the family and the weather in the summer. I bet you are out at the pool all the time. It sounds good. I bet the boys are really growing. Are the girls a big help to you? Sandy loves to hear from Ginny so have her write Sandy in VA. I can sell Shakelee products now and use them. I drink the protein drink for short distances with the cane. It feels good. It is hard to be so dependent on my parents when it should be reversed roles. Dad runs errands a lot and mom does a lot of my laundry since the machines cost $1 per load and are in the basement. Please excuse this typing as it is all left handed and electric and I never learned how to type in a class. Mom has an upset stomach and I am worried. My ulcers feel okay but I take a lot of medicine for it plus iron. I had six units of blood as my hemoglobin was only 6.0. It is no wonder I passed out and was so weak. Well, I must close and get to bed. Hopefully as it is 12:30 and a friend calls me at 6:30 every morning so I get up and start the day. She has been so good to me and helped so much. I only wish the Mormon sisters helped here. I finally got the Sacrament last Sunday for the first time since the fall came. It is not like CA. I live in Chicago and were really spread out but a very active church. Oh well, I keep saying to myself -- It is not the people that make the church true. However, I wish they were more helpful since my parents judge them but they only help when absolutely necessary. Sandy went to school with the Bishop's daughter. She was nice. Sandy was active and attended the meetings. The Bishop wants me out to meetings but I guess he doesn't understand that I am not supposed to go out at all. I have to stay in and that is why I had 2 bleeding ulcers. Well, I must close. Say hello to everyone for me. Thanks again for getting me the bread. I sure appreciate it and enjoy it. It doesn't taste salty at all like the breads do here. Take care of yourself and your family. Remember me to all. Tell them to write. I am lonely and scared of this MAYO trip and what they will find and the prognosis. Pray and Pray some more. I sure miss you.
All my love,
Judy
It was sure good to talk with you tonight. I am so lonely and scared. I go to MAYO clinic on the 28th by plane. I am scared of getting there and what the outcome will be. Everyone here seems to think I belong there. I wish I had more faith. I my have to change climates. I have been much worse here with the increased humidity. I would have to live somewhere alone most likely and where there were good medical facilities. It is so lonely without Sandy. I think she is happy with her sisters and that is important. I am sure Garry will take care of her. I miss them so much. It has been so long since I saw them last. I can now walk some with the use of a cane and have my own private wheel chair. It is nice. I have a walker and a pair of crutches also. It finally rained here tonight which was needed and maybe my feet will be better. I just go them cool in cold water. It took over an hour. They are still swollen badly. I went to the store tonight and got a few necessities. I can hardly make it. My parents want to take me to a steak house for supper and I hope I can go. They have a big salad bar and that is what I love. I still eat my big breakfast and egg or meat or cottage cheese. I have started to gain some weight also. I hope I can exercise some day and move it around. I still have no use of my right hand and have to go to physical therapy every day at 3:30. It is very frustrating to have this palsy. I c. if she knows anything about MAYO. If she does left me know. I know nothing about the area. I hope my mother still goes. It is scary but hopefully all will go well.
June 5
My one visiting teacher is supposed to call tomorrow and see if I need anything. My dad runs errands a lot and I go to therapy every day at the hospital on my hand. I saw the psychiatrist yesterday and he will be seeing me regularly after I go to MAYO. I like him. I am on Welfare so I think the State pays for it since I have no money. I am now soaking the feet and ankles are so swollen. I think it is the humidity. I will probably have to move to a dry climate. I hope I will move close to you all. My phone bill is high this month and I shouldn't use it at all. I get so lonely now with Sandy gone. She left before I came home from the hospital. I then had to box her things and send them plus I cleaned all the drawers and closets out and put my things in them as we were so crowded for space. I have a small apartment and it is hard with all I did gave. I had to sell most of the good things in order to live. Sandy seems happy and only wrote me once. In fact they all owe me letters. Sandy said she took the smallest room but they are renting a big 2 story house and Garry complains because he wants to build a big house and borrow money. He has to be crazy to think I would ever give him money. He won't even let me see the girls. I miss them so much. I hope to sew me some clothes soon. I haven't done anything since we moved here and Betsy has my machine so I have to use my Aunt Ida's old one. I am invited to my cousin's wedding a week from Friday in a Catholic church. It is going to be huge. Then a friend's daughter is getting married on the 20th in Findlay and I am invited. I only hope the weather is improved so I can go. My car has no air conditioning. I sold the Gremlin and Dad bought me a 1973 Ford Galaxy and it is a gas hog with no air. However, it only had 28,000 miles. The owner hardly ever used it. So how is all the family and the weather in the summer. I bet you are out at the pool all the time. It sounds good. I bet the boys are really growing. Are the girls a big help to you? Sandy loves to hear from Ginny so have her write Sandy in VA. I can sell Shakelee products now and use them. I drink the protein drink for short distances with the cane. It feels good. It is hard to be so dependent on my parents when it should be reversed roles. Dad runs errands a lot and mom does a lot of my laundry since the machines cost $1 per load and are in the basement. Please excuse this typing as it is all left handed and electric and I never learned how to type in a class. Mom has an upset stomach and I am worried. My ulcers feel okay but I take a lot of medicine for it plus iron. I had six units of blood as my hemoglobin was only 6.0. It is no wonder I passed out and was so weak. Well, I must close and get to bed. Hopefully as it is 12:30 and a friend calls me at 6:30 every morning so I get up and start the day. She has been so good to me and helped so much. I only wish the Mormon sisters helped here. I finally got the Sacrament last Sunday for the first time since the fall came. It is not like CA. I live in Chicago and were really spread out but a very active church. Oh well, I keep saying to myself -- It is not the people that make the church true. However, I wish they were more helpful since my parents judge them but they only help when absolutely necessary. Sandy went to school with the Bishop's daughter. She was nice. Sandy was active and attended the meetings. The Bishop wants me out to meetings but I guess he doesn't understand that I am not supposed to go out at all. I have to stay in and that is why I had 2 bleeding ulcers. Well, I must close. Say hello to everyone for me. Thanks again for getting me the bread. I sure appreciate it and enjoy it. It doesn't taste salty at all like the breads do here. Take care of yourself and your family. Remember me to all. Tell them to write. I am lonely and scared of this MAYO trip and what they will find and the prognosis. Pray and Pray some more. I sure miss you.
All my love,
Judy
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