Beverly
In 1947, shortly after becoming a teenager, Beverly was diagnosed with pulmonary TB, a disease that was considered potentially fatal at that time. She spent three years and five months at the Firland TB Sanatorium. She became engaged to another TB patient who sadly died soon after Beverly was released from Firland. Later in her life, when her children were little, she was afraid her TB had come back. She was devastated and thought, "What am I going to do? Who is going to raise my babies?" After taking x-rays, the doctor assured her that the TB had not returned. Beverly felt like she had a new lease on life.
In Beverly's words...
“I spent 3 years and 5 months getting a cure. Now 6 months and you’ll be fine. You won’t have to stop your activities, you can still live at home, and you’ll be just fine. ”
“I was diagnosed with TB in the summer of 1947. The doctor said to my mother and I, “Prepare yourself for a shock. Beverly has TB.” My mother just came apart. She apparently thought I was going to die. I just thought, “Oh well. What’s TB?”
I missed my friends. Their parents wouldn’t let them come to me see because TB was very contagious. They were afraid they would get TB. I had to visit my sister and brother outside the window. They had to stand out there, so they only came when the weather was good. Visiting days were Thursday and Sunday, and my mother who had rheumatoid arthritis rode the bus out there every Thursday. She had to take 3 buses to get there from Burien, and how she got up those steps I don’t know, but she was very faithful. On Sunday sometimes church friends would bring her. ”
Beverly, King County