Contaminated Water Chapter 62

Thursday, July 3, 1986

In the trailer park, I saw a paper on the bulletin board that read, “Looking for a babysitter.” They were siblings. A boy, 7, and a girl, 5. I found the guy who needed help with his kids.

It was from 5:4O am until 6:20 pm. I brought Jared with me to their trailer to babysit them. I feed them 3 meals a day. The kids were a nightmare! I lasted only 4 days, from June 30 to July 3. I got $75.00 for it. It was far less than we had agreed on, but I was just glad I didn’t have to see the kids again.

When I got paid, Richard went with me to the bank so I could cash the check. Then he took the money. I asked him if I could keep just enough to get some new shoes. He said he needed it for bills, or else we would have bounced checks.

Monday, July 7, 1986 – My 25th birthday.

Ed, Mom’s 4th husband, called to tell me he had moved to Salt Lake City with his wife and their 18-month-old son. I am excited to meet his new wife and their baby.

Since it was my birthday today, Richard took me to Dairy Queen to get an ice-cream cone.

Monday, July 14, 1986 – Richard turned 26 today.

I made Richard a cake and got him a present. It was a sweater that he had given me money to buy for him. He told me he needed it because the air conditioners at his work were always on.

In the evening, when Richard got home from work, we were invited to Richard’s parents’ house because his uncle was here from California.

When we got to his parents’ house, there were a lot of Richard’s family gathered. Richard was disappointed that none of them, not even his mom or dad, remembered that it was his birthday.

In the evening, when we got home, Mom called Richard to wish him a Happy Birthday.

Friday, July 18, 1986

Jared has been trying to walk. Today he took his first step!

Wednesday, July 23, 1986

Jared is getting good at walking. He is growing so fast. He has 4 teeth and so much personality! Jared is my world! I love him so much!

Thursday, July 31, 1986

They turned off our drinking water again, since they still had to do more maintenance on the pipes.

I was still taking Jared to the doctor so that he could get his gamma shots every two weeks.

Jared had seemed to be getting better, but now he is sick again with diarrhea. I still hadn’t connected it to our drinking water.

I told the doctor that Jared was still sick. The doctor said I needed to let the gamma shots work, and he would get better in time.

It was frustrating because he still had diarrhea. I am told the shot will work, but he still wasn’t getting better. I felt like it was two steps backwards and one step forward, and that Jared was never going to get better!

Saturday, August 9, 1986

We invited family over to celebrate Jared’s first birthday. Even though Jared is just a baby, I wanted to buy him something for his birthday.

Richard told me we didn’t have the money for that kind of stuff, so I sewed Jared an Elmo out of some red material that I had. I also sewed clothes from the rest of the fabric I had found. Everyone who had come to his birthday party had brought him a present. I was so grateful for everything they had given him.

Even though I could tell Jared wasn’t feeling well, he was still so good at his party. Jared looks like he is doing just fine for a one-year-old. His cheeks are chubby, so it’s hard to tell that he’s not eating much or gaining weight.

Friday, September 12, 1986

Every time I had a cold, I would get an ear infection. I would have to go to the doctor and get some medicine for the ear infection. This time, the doctor said it wasn’t normal to get an ear infection every time I had a cold. I told him it’s been that way for as long as I could remember.

The doctor sent me to an ear, nose, and throat specialist. The specialist took an X-ray of my face and looked up my nose. Then he asked me if I had ever broken my cheekbone. I recalled that when I was 13 years old, my brother had punched me in the face.

The doctor said he could tell that there had been trauma to my face. That was why every time I had a cold, the mucus would drain into my ear instead of my throat, and that’s what caused the ear infections.

The doctor tested my hearing. He said I had lost some of my hearing due to all the ear infections I had over the years.

The doctor said I would need surgery so that he could rebreak my cheekbone and put it back together the way it should be.

I had my surgery today. Richard took the day off work to watch Jared and drive me to and back from the hospital. When I woke up from surgery, I was in so much pain. I couldn’t believe they told me to go home.

I was in no shape to get up, but I had no choice since this was an in-and-out surgery. The doctor told Richard what they had done to my cheekbone, and that there was plastic in my nose and cheekbone to hold the bone in place in case I got my face bumped, then the bone would stay in place.

When I got into the car, I couldn’t sit up, so I lay half on the floor with my head on the seat. I felt every bump in the road! I asked Richard if he couldn’t drive carefully. He assured me that he was. But it still seemed to me that he was driving recklessly and that we were hitting every bump in the road and going fast around corners. Richard assured me that it just seemed that way since I was in pain.

Saturday, September 13, 1986

In the night, when I woke to use the bathroom, I didn’t turn on the light. I never did, and I always hurried to the bathroom, then ran back into bed because it was cold. Since it was dark, I didn’t see or hear that Richard had gotten up and was standing in the hall. It was as if he was waiting for me. The hall is narrow, so I ran right into him!

It felt like my nose and cheekbone, with all the plastic, got pushed into my brain. It was brutal! I felt like I was going to pass out.

Richard started to shake me violently back and forth. As he yelled, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Say something!” I couldn’t. I tried to get his hands off my shoulders so that he would stop shaking me. But he was too strong.

Everything went black, and I passed out. Richard put me on the bed. When I opened my eyes, he said, “You had me so worried!” I asked him why he had been standing in the hall. He told me it was because he was on the way to the bathroom. I asked why he couldn’t wait till I was done. He said that he didn’t know I was already in there. Our trailer was small, and it seemed odd to me that he didn’t know I had gone to the bathroom.

I asked him how come he had shaken me so hard. He told me it was because he loved me and was worried about me, then he said he panicked and wanted me to speak to tell him I was okay. Then he said it was my own fault for not turning on the light so I could see where I was going.

I thought there was no way he would deliberately stand in the hall, so I believed it was an accident.

That whole incident made the healing take longer. For the next 3 days, I stayed in bed. I didn’t take any of the painkillers that I had been sent home with because I was still nursing Jared. I had been told the pills were okay to take, but I was still afraid of what the medicine might do to him.

Wednesday, September 24, 1986

It’s been a little more than two weeks since the operation. I can breathe so much better now! It’s strange to breathe through my nose after breathing through my mouth for so many years.

Mom called me today and said she had picked up food from the church and made sure to get extra for us. When Richard came home from work, we went to Mom’s palace to pick it up. We didn’t stay long, since Jared isn’t doing well.

Jared has cried a lot today. I can tell he is in pain. I feel so helpless! I guess I just have to be patient for the shots to work.

Saturday, September 27, 1986

Richard and I took Jared to the doctor so that they could give him the gamma shot. I always look forward to him getting the shot, because it seems to slow the diarrhea and help Jared feel better for a few days.

When we were done at the doctor’s, I asked Richard if we could go to the used-clothing store so I could get some clothes, since everything I had was worn out. Maybe I could even find myself a pair of shoes.

Richard thought that was a great idea! He bought himself a lot of clothes. He told me I could only get a couple of things because I didn’t need to look nice since I was just at home every day, but that he needed to look nice since he had to go to work. He added that he loved me no matter how I was dressed. His reasoning sounded logical, so I didn’t protest.

Sunday, September 28, 1986

Richard has been called to teach 15–18-year-old boys at church. He loves his calling and makes sure to attend church every Sunday! Since Jared is doing better, I was able to go to church too.

Monday, September 29, 1986

Since the gamma shots are helping Jared feel better, I was able to clean up the trailer and work on a sweater that I am knitting.

Saturday, October 5, 1986

Richard and I brought Jared downtown so we could listen to General Conference. While we were there, I ran into Dave, my old fiancé. Dave was there with his dad, stepmom, his two half-sisters, his wife, and their 8-month-old daughter.

I didn’t get to meet his wife since she walked off when she realized who I was. I went to say hello to his dad, stepmom, and sisters. It’s been just over 3 and a half years since I last saw them. It was strange to see everyone. The last time I’d seen them was in Hawaii, when we had planned to get married. His sisters didn’t want to talk to me. They seemed mad at me. I tried to say hi to them, but they just looked at me and then walked off.

His stepmom was holding his 8-month-old daughter. She was so cute! His dad and stepmom said a quick hello and then left.

Dave and I talked for a little bit. We exchanged phone numbers and addresses and said that we should get together with our families for dinner soon.

I was embarrassed by the way Jared and I looked. But it was the best clothes that we had.

I thought I should have worn my red dress, but I don’t like wearing it because it was bought with money that should have gone to pay tithing.

It was strange to see Dave again. It was like seeing a family member, one I still cared a lot about.

Wednesday, October 15, 1986

I got a letter in the mail today from Dave. He wrote that his wife didn’t want him to have any contact with me, but he wanted me to know he still cared, so he included $100.00 in the letter. He wrote it was for whatever the baby and I needed. I didn’t want to tell Richard about the letter because I was afraid that he would take the money.

Thursday, October 16, 1986

I went downtown, and the first thing I did was to buy myself some new shoes! I spent every penny on things Jared and I both needed.

When Richard got home, he wanted to know where I had gotten my new shoes from. So, I told him. I thought he was going to get mad. Instead, he told me, I should see if I could get Dave to send me more money. I assured him I was not going to do that! Then he wanted to know if I had any money left over. I told him that with everything we had needed, there was no money left over.

Wednesday, November 26, 1986

Jared is getting sicker. The gamma shots are no longer working. I called the doctor to tell him. I was told the same thing as before. The gamma shots take time to work. I was so frustrated and felt helpless, because I knew there had to be a reason why Jared wasn’t getting better!

Thursday, November 27, 1986

We went to Mom’s place for Thanksgiving. Since Jared wasn’t feeling well, he cried a lot, so we didn’t stay long. Mom insisted that Jared just needed a good spanking. I wished she would keep her opinion to herself.

Jared was no longer nursing, and I couldn’t get him to drink water. I knew if he didn’t get help soon, there was no way he’d make it.

I called the hospital. They gave me a phone number for a specialist and told me to call her tomorrow.

It was a long night! I worried that Jared wouldn’t make it till morning.

First thing in the morning, I called the number I had been given. I let them know it was urgent. They told me to bring him in right away. Even Richard could tell that Jared was deathly ill, so he took the day off from work so that he could come with me.

When this Doctor saw him, she looked worried. She said that she couldn’t give him fluids in his veins because they were too weak. After looking him over, she said, “I don’t know how this kid is still alive!” She said he was infested with pericytes.

After telling her his history of illness, we discussed where he might be getting the pericytes from. The thought that it was coming from the trailer still never crossed our minds.

She wrote a prescription. She then gave me a syringe and told me for the next couple of days to force him to drink water. She told me it would be a while before he could eat again. His stomach couldn’t digest anything except water and breast milk.

The doctor then tested both Richard and me for pericytes. Richard was fine, but it turned out I had it too. I had been so preoccupied with taking care of Jared that I didn’t even realize I was sick too. The doctor wrote me a prescription.

When we got home, I tried to get Jared to drink, but he refused. I asked Richard to help me, but he didn’t want anything to do with it. I was on my own. I got the syringe and forced Jared to drink. Jared cried, “Nooo, mama.” I had never heard him say no before. It made me cry. I wish I could help him understand that I was doing it because I loved him and wanted him to get better.

Monday, December 1, 1986

The last few days have been rough. But I did what I could to make sure we both drank water.

The medicine Jared and I are taking seems to be working.

Saturday, December 6, 1986

Richard and I went to the mall with Jared. Richard showed me some pots and pans that he wanted to get me for Christmas. They were expensive! I told him that wasn’t what I wanted for Christmas, but I could pick out something else.
Richard said he had already bought my present and assured me that I would love it.

While we were at the mall, I saw parents take their kids to see Santa. Some of the kids were scared and crying. I thought to myself, those poor kids! I can’t believe their parents are putting them through that.

Just then, a man approached me and said he was a photographer from Deseret News and wanted to take a photo of Jared with Santa. I told him that Jared would be scared of Santa. The man said that was the kind of picture he was after. I told him there were plenty of kids who were scared that he could take a picture of. The man responded, “Yeah, but none of them are as cute as your child. His picture will be on the front page of the newspaper Monday morning!”

I was flattered! I brought Jared over to sit on Santa’s lap. Sure enough, Jared was terrified! I felt horrible, so I hurried and removed him. The man from the newspaper told me he didn’t get a good enough shot and asked me to put Jared back on Santa’s lap. I told him that I was sorry if he didn’t get the picture that he wanted, but I couldn’t put my son through that again.

Richard tried to talk me into putting Jared back. I already felt bad enough for having Jared go through it once. I just couldn’t do it again. The man said, “It’s okay, I think I can use one of the pictures that I took.”

Monday, December 8, 1986

I had been anxious to see if Jared’s picture was on the front page. But it wasn’t. Then I felt even worse about putting him on Santa’s lap.

Friday, December 12, 1986

Saturday, December 20, 1986

Jared has stopped nursing. I am worried because we both were sick again.

Monday, December 22, 1986

Richard took me to the mall so he could buy what he wanted for Christmas. I wanted to get Jared something, too. Richard told me that since Jared was so little, he didn’t know that it was Christmas, and if I wanted to give him something, I could just make him another stuffed animal.

Thursday, December 25, 1986

I was so disappointed when I opened my Christmas present. I got the box of very expensive pots and pans. None of what I needed or wanted! Richard seemed excited and acted as if I should be too.

I reminded him that when he showed them to me in the mall, I had told him that I didn’t want them. He said he must have misunderstood. Then he told me how much he loved me and how sorry he was for misunderstanding what I wanted for Christmas. I believed it was a misunderstanding, so I tried not to let it show just how disappointed I was.

Tuesday, January 6, 1987

Jared and I were getting better, but now we are both sick again. I went back to the doctor to let her know. She tested us and found that we still had pericytes. She asked if I had been careful about where we got our water. I assured her I was and that I brought the water from our trailer with us everywhere so we wouldn’t risk getting sick again.

The doctor then said it must be the medicine that wasn’t working, and wrote us a stronger prescription.

Wednesday, January 7, 1987

The new medicine is making me feel so sick! I thought if the pericytes didn’t kill us, the medicine would. But we have to keep taking it, so that we can get better once and for all!

I hate giving Jared the medicine. He always cries no and calls for his Daddy. I have to force it in him, and he doesn’t understand why I’m doing it. When Richard comes home from work, Jared wants nothing to do with me.

Friday, January 9, 1987

Jared and I are finally starting to get better! Now that Jared is feeling better, he is talking more, and it’s getting easier to understand what he wants. He is so cute. I just love being his mom!

Sunday, January 11, 1987

After church today, we were invited over to Ed Law’s house for dinner. His wife, Grace, is such a good cook!

Monday, January 12, 1987

Since we had been invited to dinner with Ed and his family, I wanted to return the favor by inviting them to our place for dinner on Friday. His wife, Grace, is so nice! We had a nice time talking on the phone, and she said they would love to come for dinner.

Friday, January 16, 1987

Ed, Grace, and their son came to dinner. We had such a nice evening together. Richard never ate anything. He said he was full from going out to eat with his coworkers. I asked him how we could afford it. He said it was his coworkers who had paid for it.

Saturday, January 17, 1987

Both Jared and I woke up with diarrhea. Then Grace called to let me know that she, Ed, and their son had diarrhea. We both realized it must be coming from our trailer!

Sunday, January 18, 1987

We stayed home from church today since Jared and I were sick. Richard never got sick. He said it was because he had made sure to drink bottled water. He said he didn’t like the taste of the water in our trailer. Richard then let Jared and me have some of the store-bought water that he had tucked away.

Monday, January 19, 1987

Richard stayed home to call the health department and ask them to test our water. When they came out, they found that the sewer was leaking into our water supply.

Jared first got sick in May of last year. No wonder he has been so sick, and that he and I couldn’t get better! After the water was tested, we were told we had 4 hours to get our belongings. I told him 4 hours wasn’t enough time to pack up all our things. He then said, “Sorry, ma’am, that’s all the time I can give you! If this isn’t enough time, you will just have to leave your stuff behind.”

He advised us to discard all wooden utensils and cutting boards, and to sterilise everything we used for eating and drinking. He also advised me to wash ALL our clothes in hot water and get rid of anything made out of material that couldn’t be washed.