Othello’s main industry was the Railroad. Employees and their families could travel by train on a pass, which meant no transportation expense. Few families owned an automobile in those days, so the trains were a valuable assets.
At times we had a doctor in residence, but most of the time we didn’t. By train, Ellensburg, Washington, had the closest medical facilities for us. If there were any major problems, serious illnesses or necessary surgeries, nearly everyone in town took the train to Ellensburg, to take advantage of these facilities.
I remember one such trip well. I had mixed feelings about it. The prospect of going someplace was exciting, but this time I felt some anxiety too.
My mother, my Aunt Marie, and Mrs. O’Leary, or neighbor, decided six of us needed our tonsils out. Just how or why this decision was made, at that time, I never knew. But when I think about it now, I believe in those days tonsillectomies were often done on children as a preventive measure for future problems. So perhaps our situation was an example of how people, living under the same conditions, worked together to take care of what they considered a common need.
The six of us ranged in age from three to thirteen. I was eight years old. I don’t remember any one of us saying we didn’t want to go, though , as it got closer to time, I know I would rather have stayed home. Those of us old enough to understand the situation, referred to the trip as “the tonsillectomy run.”
On a summer day in 1934, at two in the morning, six sleep-eyed children, 4 boys and two girls, various sizes and shapes, with three mothers in attendance, met at our train depot to catch the train. Later, my Dad, using one of his favorite sayings, said, “we were a sight for sore eyes.”
We arrived in Ellensburg about 5 a.m. Two taxis took us directly to the clinic.? The clinic doors opened as we drove up.? They were waiting for us.? Somehow knowing that added to my anxiety.? Why, I don’t know.? Perhaps because everything looked so quiet and unfamiliar at that early morning hour.
The surgeries started at 6:30 a.m. The time sticks in my mind because Dr. Hicks stopped in to tell us when he wanted to start. He had a vest on under his open, white doctor’s topper, that jumped right out at you. It was black with red polka dots, about the side of a quarter.
When he realized we were all eyeing it, he explained,
“It’s rodeo time here and this is my rodeo vest.” Then he went on his way.
I knew about the Ellensburg Rodeo, but had never been there. I thought if you could wear a vest like that it must be a lot of fun.
Danny O’Leary was the oldest and my cousin Jack was next, then me, and then my other cousins, Bobbie, Dickie and Patsy. Mom took each of us, in that order, one by one, down the hall and into the operating room. Dr. Hicks allowed her to stay with us while we had our operations.
Mrs. O’Leary waited in the recovery room, ready to look after us after we left the operating room. Aunt Marie stayed behind with the rest, keeping everyone occupied until it was their turn.
These ladies knew exactly what they were doing, and believe me, we children knew it. We didn’t question anything. We were really quite sedate.
As we waited Aunt Marie read to us. She also told us about some guinea-pigs in the clinic. Bobbie and I were the only ones that found this bit of information interesting. We immediately wanted to see them and she said,
“Maybe later.”
Soon, it came my turn to go. As Mom and I walked down the hall, she told me to be calm and strong. She said,
If you don’t cry and allow yourself to become upset, it’ll be much easier for you. I’ll be there holding your hand all the time.”
What a strange new world, the operating room – all those instruments – everything so white and cold.? I began to shiver as they put the ether mask over my face.? At that point, I wasn’t to sure about “calm and strong.”? Then I felt mom’s reassuring hands, one up by my shoulder and the other holding my left hand.
I decided to think about guinea pigs, and tried to imagine what one would look like.? As the ether began to take effect, I heard a buzzing sound.? It got louder and louder.? Big red dots, on a wide strip of Black ribbon, came zooming down a hill at me.? They didn’t worry me because they seemed to pass right through me.? Then the anesthetic must have taken over, because I don’t remember anything more.? Mom told me later that I was so docile taking the ether, that Dr. Hicks leaned near to check on me. Aha! There, inches from my face was the black and red polka dot vest.
After awhile, I woke up enough to recognize Bobbie laying on the cot next to me.? Then I realized all three mothers were in the room with us and I knew we were through with our operations.
Suddenly Bobbie said, “We want to see those guinea-pigs.” He certainly sounded calm and strong to me.
Believe it or not, my mother helped Bobbie and me get up, and she walked us down another hall to see those guinea-pigs. All I remember about that excursion, was the walk down the hall and something fuzzy in a little cage.
The tonsillectomies had been completed easily by noon.? Later that afternoon Dr. Hicks and his rodeo vest came back, checked us over, and released us.? Our mothers took us to the nearby hotel where everybody rested some.? Then, we children had jello and ice cream for dinner in the hotel room.
Early the next morning we boarded the train to return home. Another “sight for sore eyes” for Daddy when he met us. Soon, all of us were back in our own beds. The day had been a long one for everyone concerned. We all took it in stride, including our hardy mothers.
The whole process took approximately thirty hours, and went exactly as planned.? Not one of us had any complications from our surgery, and all recuperated nicely at home.? At that time, none of this was considered to be an unusual occurrence.
I was sixteen years old before I had the opportunity to see another guinea-pig.? This time I took a good look.