Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 4): Emergency Appendectomy

Me, 1964

I remember only pieces of that particular day, some of them being blurred images and faint voices. Apparently, Dad was off from work because he was busy doing household chores. I can remember him folding the laundry and ironing his white work shirts. Mom was working at the processing plant. Frank Jr. and I were busy playing and doing what kids normally do while trying to stay out of Dad's way.

I had a tummy ache. I remember telling Dad that my tummy hurts real bad. He told me to go lie down for a little while and see if it would feel better. I followed his instructions and laid down in my bed.  I couldn't be still though. I remember wallowing in the bed, my legs rubbing the bed sheets and my hands rubbing my tummy. I got out of bed moments later and went to the bathroom. I remember straining and feeling as if I had to urinate, but I couldn't. The stomach pain only got worse. I again whined to Dad about my tummy hurting. That is all I remember until I awakened in the hospital.

I recall being on a long skinny bed and a lady in white standing next to me. I was scared to death! I picked up my head looking for Mom and Dad and felt a little more secure when I saw them standing at the foot of the bed. Mom looked scared but she told me that I was going to be okay and that I needed to do what the lady in the white dress told me to do. The lady in white had a mask in her hand. She told me she was going to put the mask on my face and I would start feeling sleepy. I again looked at Mom as I felt the mask being put over my nose and mouth. I drifted quickly off to sleep.

I awakened in a large white room with a big bright light shining down on me. I looked around and saw several people standing near me. I don't remember who all the faces were but I recall blurred images of my Mom and Dad, Daddy Charles and Uncle Shelby. I put my hand on my tummy and felt something there, something that felt odd to me. Mom told me it was a big bandage and I shouldn't pull on it. She might have tried to explain what had happened to me but I don't remember. I remember the lady in white coming back into my room and placing something in my mouth and telling me to hold it under my tongue real tight. I didn't understand why I was there nor what was going on. I only knew that I was in a strange place and not at home. I told Mom my tummy was sore and felt funny then the lady in white brought me some medicine for it.

Later that evening I remember my Granny coming to see me. She was going to spend the night with me in the hospital. I was glad to hear that. I would have Granny all to myself. I remember how she and I laid in my bed and I colored some pictures in the new coloring books that someone had given me. I remember her reading a story to me. She also asked the lady in white to bring me some jello or ice cream.

This is all I remember of the whole incident. I found out later, when I was old enough to understand, that I had suffered from a ruptured appendix and had to have immediate surgery. When the surgeon removed my appendix, he also had to remove a small portion of my colon because the infection had spread. Dad said that I was running a high fever and apparently had passed out so he rushed me to the emergency room. I can only imagine the fear he faced at those moments. It could have been a fatal situation. Thank heavens for the quick actions of the physicians and the surgeon...and to God for watching over me.

Sunday's Obituary: Susan Cordelia McCain Stogner

Mrs. Susan Stogner of Improve Buried Sunday

Funeral services were held Sunday, November 19, for Mrs. Susan Cordelia Stogner at the Carson Springs Baptist Church with the Reverend Jimmy Stewart officiating.  Mrs. Stogner died November 17 after an illness that extended over several months.  

Born March 25, 1878, Mrs. Stogner was the daughter of Ned and Ann Turnage McCain and a lifetime resident of the Improve community.  Her husband, T.E. Stogner, preceded her in death seven years ago.  

Interment was in the Carson Springs Cemetery with Denver McKenzie, Leonard Sorrell, James Stogner, Alton Stogner, Clyde Stogner and Felder Stogner acting as pallbearers.

Mrs. Stogner is survived by three daughters, Mrs Delhie Sorrell, Sandy Hook, Mrs. Stella Sorrell, Tylertown, and Mrs. Elva Schillings, Rio, La.  Four sons, Preston, Floyd and Levi Stogner, all of Sandy Hook, and Lewis Stogner, Foxworth; three brothers, two sisters, 28 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren also survive.  

Ginn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Copy of article courtesy of Bill Reagan.  I'm not sure which newspaper or the date this was published, but she died November 17, 1950.  Susan Cordelia McCain was my great grandmother.  I was thrilled to receive a copy of her obituary and even more happy to realize that her first name was Susan ;)  She was called "Cordelia" by her family, so her first name was rarely used.  

A photo of her tombstone may be viewed here.  Her tombstone is also listed on Find A Grave, here.

Sentimental Sundays: Granny's Front Porch

On the front porch with Granny-

Watching her lazily swing back and forth,

Her floral cotton dress dotted with

Spots of dark perspiration,

Her tosseled hair dampened with

The sweat of summer's dew.

Silly giggles echo

From my summer time friend and I,

As we throw pebbles from the gravel driveway

At buzzing bumble bees

Trying to steal sweet nectar from Granny's flowers.

Our dirty bare feet

Rush us to grab a fishing net

Just in the nick of time,

To greet hummingbirds that flock

Around Granny's pink crepe myrtles.

Mischievous laughter from silly girls

As we watch the scarlet wings flutter by

Lightening quick, too fast for untrained hands.

Then suddenly Granny's annoyed threats

Thunder above our loud laughter, and

Capture our brief childish attention,

And we watch her lazily swing

Back and forth, holding

A thin wooden twig, swooshing it

Over the hem of her floral cotton dress

As if to frighten us with the threat of lashes

Upon our tanned little legs.

We nearly believe her, 

And we sit quietly for a moment,

Which seems like forever

Exchanging playful glances and

Whispering silly nothings,

Sweeping the dusty wooden porch

With our dirty summer feet,

While we watch the return 

Of hummingbirds and bumble bees

Shamelessly steal the

Sweet nectar from Granny's flowers.

In Loving Memory of my Granny,

Susie Johnson

Originally written by Susan Bourgoyne,

July 7, 2010

Family Socials- Children of Thomas Edward & Susan Cordelia McCain Stogner

Children of Thomas Edward Stogner 

& Susan Cordelia McCain:

The Men:  Preston Jefferson "Press", 

Lewis Edward, Levi and Floyd

The Women:  Stella Mae, Delhia and Evie

My grandfather, Lewis Edward Stogner

Back row:  Lewis Edward Stogner, George Ellis Sorrell,  

Levi Stogner & Lawson Schilling

Front row:  Vella Duncan Stogner, Delhia Stogner Sorrell, 

Stella Mae Stogner, Ozzie Kennedy Stogner & Evie Stogner Schilling

Photos: Courtesy of Bill Reagan

Favorite Photos: A Mother's Love

A Tender Moment

There is no love like a mother's love,

no stronger bond on earth...

like the precious bond

that comes from God

to a mother, when she gives birth.

My daughter, Crissy 

with her newborn son Matthew

Photo from my archives, 2004

Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons: Part 13, Everyday Miracles

As Mom aged, she thought a lot about the important things in her life.  I can remember Mom being a fanatic about having a clean house when we were growing up.  She worked herself down doing housework, laundry, cooking and still maintained a full time job after her children all started school.  I've often wondered where she acquired the energy to keep up with everything.  As children, my siblings and I were expected to keep our bedrooms orderly and participate in household chores.  As Mom grew older, however, she didn't worry as much about everything being in perfect order.  She realized there were more important things.

As we grew up and married our life would change.  We would have nice homes  nice cars  children who would go to school  come home and play.  No working until dark.  Good food.

Alton is the father of two sons.  Gertie has two daughters and a son.  Elton has three daughters and a son.  Myself the mother of two beautiful daughters and two sons.  But the love between my sister and my two brothers is still there and will always be.

Our mother died on June 18, 1974   she was fifty six years old but had a hundred years of work and hardship on her.  I guess that was the greatess [sic] loss that her children had ever known.

Time to enjoy things.  Not having to worry about dusting  washing  cleaning and cooking.  Your value changes     Your outlook on life is not what you can have, but what you have had.

Sometimes we are too busy raking fall leaves to see the real beauty of them.  To watch a small humming bird feed.  Flying so fast that you can hardly see its little wings.  To see a red bird sitting on a feeder feeding its mate.  The calling of a dove  this is life going on, in a world that we are all a part of.  This is a part of my life that is a everyday miracle.

Because I can see and hear this.  There are a lot of people that can never hear or see this   not because of being deaf or blind but because they are too busy with every days life and care.  To [sic] busy to take time to see real life   to [sic] busy making money to buy things with   that will not matter when life is gone.

I have seen a lot of people die in my time.  A lot of people that didn't have time to see life.  To see a reflection of a mountain in a beautiful lake.  I have seen this.  I have been to the highest mountains peak  have seen the ocean laugh as it greets the sand on the beaches with the roar of giant waves.

I have seen the great redwood trees that reached for the sun and heavens.  To walk among these gaint [sic] trees makes you feel God's hands in the sun that comes streaming through the gaint [sic] branches.

God's laughter in the crash of a gaint [sic] ocean wave.  But most of all God's peace in the clear cool air of a mountain breezes.  In our memories of life there is a lot of things that can never be bought or taken away.

I have always told my childrens [sic] it is not what life can do for you but what you can do with life.

While reading this part of Mom's memoirs, I reflected back to the times she and I have sat on her porch and enjoyed watching the birds feed.  During spring, she placed three or four hummingbird feeders out and before long she had broods of the little birds fighting for their places on the feeders.  I also thought of how much joy Mom had while on her vacations.  She thoroughly enjoyed traveling and seeing new places.  

Here are just a few snapshots of her while on her trips:

The West Coast

The West Coast

The Northwestern United States

Disneyworld in Florida (Mom & her friend Irene)

Beaches of the East Coast

Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons: Part 12, Circle of Friends

There is nothing like a good friend.  Mom had plenty of them- whether related or not, she cared deeply about her circle of friends.  She enjoyed their conversation and the time spent with them.  She wrote lovingly about them in her memoirs:

I have had the good fortune of having a lot of good friends in my lifetime.  Two very special ones has a very special place in my heart.  Carol and Daisy.  

Carol's friendship has no boundary she accepts me as is.  Mistakes and all.  Daisy and I go back a long way together.  We have traveled a lot together and we have shared a lot of good times and a lot of special memories that no one can never take away.

In May of 1997 my sister a cousin and myself wented [sic] to Wyoming to see another cousin Pearl.  Elaine and Gertie had never seen the great Rocky Mountains that reached up to touch the blue skies.  Snow that looked liked [sic] the angel wings.

Or a waterfall that roars down the mountain into a beautiful stream of water.  To walk among the Indian Cliff dwelling were [sic] a very great and powerful people lived.  The frist [sic] real American people who has had their lands, God and honor taken from them.  Have been lied to cheated and killed for their way of life.  As we walked through their homes listen to their music you can feel their pain.

Have I losted [sic] my zest for life?  Why no.  I'm like a large dead oak tree standing in the middle of a field.

I might not have any pretty leaves lefted [sic] or new branches.  But when a stroam [sic] comes through I don't have to worry about those new branches or new leaves getting blown off.  I have old limbs and no leavs [sic] to lose.  But I still have things to do.

God made a lot of beautiful things and I intent [sic] to see most of them.  Who knows I might live long enough to see one of my daughters learn how to make dumplings or cook a big Christmas dinner without me being there.

This part of Mom's memoirs stirs up emotions within me.  Once her health started failing, Mom didn't have many years left to travel and see all the things she wanted to.  Yes, she was fortunate to have seen a lot of beautiful places, but there was so much more she wanted to do.  It's just that her tired and aged body wouldn't cooperate with her plans.  For years she had talked about wishing to go to Alaska.  That is one place she didn't get to see.  

As far as me or Sandy learning how to make dumplings, no- that has not worked out either.  I have tried and failed miserably.  I chose to leave that to someone else.  I have learned to cook a big Christmas dinner without Mom being there, but only because I have been forced to.  

I'm grateful that Mom had devoted friends who shared so much in her life.  She had great memories of their travels together, their fun and laughter and also of the times they held each other up when life was tough.  

Here are just a few photos of Mom and those she was honored to call her Friends:

Faithful friends- Mom & Carol

Friends for life- Mom & Daisy (they were cousins too!)

Showing off their catch of the day ;)

Their big trip to Wyoming

Elaine, Pearl, Mom & Gertie