Category: Diary

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 17, 1943 – Saturday

“Well as this is a 7 day advent hospital it is the Sabbath today.  Put me in a wheelchair and pulled myself around some.  Jerrie, Leonard & youngsters came to see me.  Sure was good to get out of that bed.  Sure hot.  Have heard some beautiful music and chimes with Hawaiian guitar.“

Adventist Health St. Helena is the oldest Seventh-day Adventist hospital in the United States. 

Jerrie is my grandmother’s step-daughter.  Leonard is her husband.  And the “youngsters” their children.

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 16, 1943 – Friday

“Sat up in bed some today.  Wrote some letters. Harley comes to see me every a.m.  Boy did my throat ever get sore all nite.  Teeth ached too.  Finally by a.m. nurse brought some aspergum and some hot water for my throat.  Boy for a good hot cup of coffee.  “

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 15, 1943 – Thursday

“Moved me in ward but I took a nervous spell and had to take me back by myself.  Too many flowers to breath.  Had to give me a shot in arm to quiet me.  Had another spell at night and another shot.  Wrote to Mother.  Don’t remember what I wrote now.  Received a bunch of cards from the “gang”.  Rec’d two yesterday.  I guess they were there before I I came out of the ether.  Jerrie brought me a beautiful bouquet.“

I think I would have a few nervous spells in order to go back to a private room!

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 14, 1943 – Wednesday

“Well a big day for me.  Clamped gas mask on me at 7:05 a.m. – two deep breaths and I went out.  Was on table until 9:30.  Harley & Jerrie came in but I wasn’t awake, woke up at 1 p.m.  They and Carl came back at 6:30 p.m.  Boy oh boy was I hot and hard to breathe.  However after getting rid of the ether (which they had to give me after the gas) I felt pretty well. Not much pain. Gave me pure oxygen every hour until 6 a.m. Thurs.  Fed me thru the arm.  Sure a long night.  Awake every hour. “

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 13, 1943 – Tuesday

“Well  had some more blood tests, also heart, lungs etc.  Dr told me my windpipe was shoved clear over to one side of my neck.  Entered hospital about 5 p.m.  Jerrie drove me out as Harley took bus back to work.  After my supper I was so tired I went to bed and to sleep.  Slept for about 2 hrs.   Then nurses came and worked me over some and gave me some capsules to make me sleep more.“

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 12, 1943 – Monday

“Boy did I ever have a lot to do getting ready.  Lots of shopping and boy the hospital will look good to me as I am already worn completely out.  Well all ready to leave in the a.m. “

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 11, 1943 – Sunday

“Well no more work for several weeks.  Am supposed to rest from now until Wed.  But I don’t rest a lot as I have a lot to do.  Harley worked today.  Not his Sunday to work but so busy was asked to work.  Carl came down.  Took me out to Jerrie’s for awhile.  Jerrie planning on going to St Helena with us Tues and stay over. “

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 7, 1943 – Wednesday

“Went to Dr.  Everything that is wrong is because of goiter.  Blood mostly white corpuscles.  Decided to have operation on Wed, July 14.  Go to hospital July 13.  Am really anxious to have it over.  Have swell doctor. “

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 4, 1943 – Sunday

“Worked today.  Had swell lunch at 6 p.m.  We made coffee and one girl brought home-made cinnamon buns.  Sure were good.  Sewed #4 Ensigns nearly all day.  Harley visited me at 8 p.m.  First time he had been in Flag Loft.  Found out it was first time he had seen a powered machine run. “

The flag loft on Mare Island employed 500 workers, 400 women doing their part by working 8 hours a day 6 days a week.  The U.S. Navy numbers its flags 1 through 12, one being the largest and 12 the smallest.    An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate citizenry. The ensign is the largest flag,  generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. 

Production facts for July 1943:
• 12,000 to 17,000 flags per week
• 800 to 900 National Ensigns
• 400 to 500 Union Jacks
• Signal flags
• Commissioning pennants, etc.

 

See this post for more information about my Grandmother’s diary.

July 1, 1943 – Thursday

” Went to Dr for complete examination.  Have felt bad lately.  I guess the goiter is mostly my trouble.  Blood tested mostly white corpuscles.  Came back and went to work.  Took a Wassermann test so have to go back next Wed to see how it comes out.“

Not sure why they were doing a Wassermann test…I did a little research on this test use during the 1940s  and found it was primarily used to determine syphilis.