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I grew up next door to my grandma and two aunts, in a very close family.
when I was 5, my aunt, who was in her twenties, disappeared and no one would explain.
she spent the next three and a half years in the Chicago tuberculosis sanitarium.
My grandmothers brother was the only one in the family with a car, and in the early fifties he drove the family from the far south side to the distant north side to stand outside the iron gates and visit her from a safe distance.
when she was released, I remember my grandma explaining we were never to touch her towels, her dishes, etc. she slept with windows open, even on the coldest nights.
for at least five years, our family had to undergo frequent chest xrays And other tests. Two of my sisters and I have all developed thyroid cancer.
we never talked about that time, but when she was much older she angrily mentioned that she was incorrectly diagnosed.
I bring this up became the question of the government and shelter in place, which is nothing compared to my aunts experience.
I was also shocked to discover my youngest sister, who is ten years younger than I, knew nothing about this.
in 1974 the sanitarium shut down. I was watching the news, and when that building was shown, I burst into tears. I remembered standing outside the gates for a glimpse of my dear aunt.
when I was 5, my aunt, who was in her twenties, disappeared and no one would explain.
she spent the next three and a half years in the Chicago tuberculosis sanitarium.
My grandmothers brother was the only one in the family with a car, and in the early fifties he drove the family from the far south side to the distant north side to stand outside the iron gates and visit her from a safe distance.
when she was released, I remember my grandma explaining we were never to touch her towels, her dishes, etc. she slept with windows open, even on the coldest nights.
for at least five years, our family had to undergo frequent chest xrays And other tests. Two of my sisters and I have all developed thyroid cancer.
we never talked about that time, but when she was much older she angrily mentioned that she was incorrectly diagnosed.
I bring this up became the question of the government and shelter in place, which is nothing compared to my aunts experience.
I was also shocked to discover my youngest sister, who is ten years younger than I, knew nothing about this.
in 1974 the sanitarium shut down. I was watching the news, and when that building was shown, I burst into tears. I remembered standing outside the gates for a glimpse of my dear aunt.
