DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

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Eve Drewelowe's journals, volumes II-III, 1950s

Page 139

coma, when Dr Rivers strode purposefully but somewhat gravely into the room, attended by [Shick?]. I had more than an inkling of the purpose of the visit and could undoubtedly have helped them out. However I did not rise to the occasion but remained silent. 
"You either see us too often or not at all." Dr Rivers opened the conversation as he eased himself into what seemed a miniture rocker for his length, as far away from the bed as the room would allow, Without hemming or hawing, he came directly to the point. "Dr Gray," he stated, will be on duty here in the morning. I should like to make arrangements to send you up to surgery then. You call your husband this evening. Meanwhile we shall make tenative arrangements." As a matter of fact, I think the plans had already been made and were complete except just going through the formalities of informing me and listing me for surgery. The case, by this time, had completely been given over to Dr Gray and he had been thoroughly informed upon all aspects of it. 
"I would have noone else touch my stomach except Gray," I could make audible answer and paused. "It is certainly the right idea to push me right through, the absolute correct way to handle me. All right let us go ahead with the plans, Since there is no alternative the better!" I decided. "As for calling Van, I see no point in obsetting him," I objected. "It would be kinder to have him know after it is all over. If he must be called, however, you do so Dr Schick."
Van had been wholly unprepared all these weeks, and had been given to understand, or at least he had assumed that I was at St Mary's on the same ulcer regimen as in previous times. I hated to have his illusion dispelled and tried to avoid striking the blow myself. With a final appeal then to Dr Shick, since there was no getting out of it I asked, "If it were your wife who was in a like perdicament; what would you like to have her do? Would you perfer to have her call you or telegraph?"
"There is a certain amount of hazard in every operation" he very consolingly, reassuringly stated. "I would perfer by all means to have

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coma, when Dr Rivers strode purposefully but somewhat gravely into the room, attended by [Shick?]. I had more than an inkling of the purpose of the visit and could undoubtedly have helped them out. However I did not rise to the occasion but remained silent. "You either see us too often or not at all." Dr Rivers opened the conversation as he eased himself into what seemed a miniture rocker for his length, as far away from the bed as the room would allow, Without hemming or hawing, he came directly to the point. "Dr Gray," he stated, will be on duty here in the morning. I should like to make arrangements to send you up to surgery then. You call your husband this evening. Meanwhile we shall make tenative arrangements." As a matter of fact, I think the plans had already been made and were complete except just going through the formalities of informing me and listing me for surgery. The case, by this time, had completely been given over to Dr Gray and he had been thoroughly informed upon all aspects of it. "I would have noone else touch my stomach except Gray," I could make audible answer and paused. "It is certainly the right idea to push me right through, the absolute correct way to handle me. All right let us go ahead with the plans, Since there is no alternative the better!" I decided. "As for calling Van, I see no point in obsetting him," I objected. "It would be kinder to have him know after it is all over. If he must be called, however, you do so Dr Schick." Van had been wholly unprepared all these weeks, and had been given to understand, or at least he had assumed that I was at St Mary's on the same ulcer regimen as in previous times. I hated to have his illusion dispelled and tried to avoid striking the blow myself. With a final appeal then to Dr Shick, since there was no getting out of it I asked, "If it were your wife who was in a like perdicament; what would you like to have her do? Would you perfer to have her call you or telegraph?" "There is a certain amount of hazard in every operation" he very consolingly, reassuringly stated. "I would perfer by all means to have