SOME OF MUM'S REMEMBERANCES FROM HER YOUTH

I finally got mum to agree to write about some memories from her youth (amazing that she can remember that far back -- ok mum sorry about that!!)  I am going to pass the puter over to her -- let it rip mum:

Cookie's mum here-- OK you are forgiven for your comment about my age -- this particular memory is from when I was 17.  I belonged to a Zionist youth organization -- Habonim (which means The Builders).  I had gone on my second hiking/camping holiday to France and was having a pretty good time (aside from my tent flooding one night when in rained very heavily and some other minor problems).  Anyway, a couple of days before we were due to leave Brittany, one of the boys in the group tripped over a guy wire to a tent and dislocated his knee.  At the same time, I stood up and felt something in my right groin "rip"  (I should mention that I had had a right groin hernia repair when I was about 5 or 6, so didn't think it could be that.)  Anyway, because of the two incidents, the camp leader (Henry) called in a local doctor.  It was kinda amusing/embarrassing for me.  You have to remember that this was in 1959 and a "coed" camp was considered quite "forward" and it was assumed that we were sleeping coed too!!!!  Anyway, when the doctor came, he realized that we were a group of Jewish kids and he "confided" in me that he was Jewish too, but given that it was not too long after WWII, no one in the village knew -- Apparently that was common in the small towns in France and most of Europe at that time still.  But that was not the funny/embarrassing part -- because of the pains I was having he started asking questions.  (I did not realize it at the time but I had the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.)  First of all he asked how many times I had been pregnant -- I answered "none".  Then he asked me about having intercourse -- when I again answered "none" and he looked amaze and asked if I was sure!!!  Again you have to remember this was in 1957 -- France was far more free and easy than England, but still......  Anyway because of Melvin's dislocate knee, it was decided to take both of us to the local hospital.  The "ambulance" was a converted Citroen with barely enough room in the back.  I ended up sitting (or rather lying) on Henry's lap and he was holding on to Melvin's leg to make sure it would not be jolted around.  This turned out to be a wise decision on his part!!!  We were up in the mountains and the road twisted and turned and I swear the driver was a drunken/frustrated race car driver!!!!!  Anyway we got to the hospital ok.  When we got there, I was "examined" by several (I presume) doctors who poked and prodded me until I threw up.  Henry was translating for me.  Anyway they decided to keep me in the hospital.  While we were in the elevator going up -- the person who was with us started asking Henry if they knew what was wrong.  I looked at Henry and told him that if this guy even considered touching me I would scream bloody murder!!!!  Of course Henry translated a little bit differently!  I was taken to a ward with 3 other women -- I assumed it was an ob/gyn ward, but because no one spoke English and I did not speak that much French, I had no way of making sure!  There were no curtains, and turned out that the bedpans were on the bedside tables and the women used them and put them back and eventually they would be emptied.  The following morning, as I customary in Europe, the doctor came around with his entourage of Matron, Sisters (this happened to be a catholic hospital) and nurses.  When they came to me -- again remember there were no curtains or screens -- the doctor started to do an internal exam and they realized I had a tampon (I was close to the end of my period).  Matron very disgustedly pulled it out and threw it away.  There was a bit of conversation between them which I did not understand!!!!  I made sure that they knew that I had a congenital hole in my heart cos I knew that if I had anything serious I needed antibiotics.  The entourage finally left.  Shortly after two nurses brought up my rucksack which had been delivered to the hospital.  A couple of hours later, they told me to get dressed and come with them.  My rucksack was not too heavy, but I was still kinda weak and had not really eaten anything, but I had to carry my rucksack down by myself.  They took me to the Hospital administrator's office -- apparently someone from the camp was coming to escort me (and Melvin) to Paris.  While waiting for Ezra, the administrator brought his teenage son,, who was learning English in school into supposedly help interpret.  Well, between his high school English and my high school French, we did not get far!!!  Finally, Ezra showed up.  Long and short, they gave us some lunch (which I promptly threw up) and we finally made it to the train.  When we got there and the French porter realized that I could not really walk (I did not have shoes, just some heavy socks) he wanted to carry me to the compartment.  Ezra finally convinced the porter that was not necessary and we got settled on the train.

I don't remember how long the train trip was, but I was VERY glad when we finally reached Paris.  We were staying at a youth hostel.  That night we all went to the Folies Begere.  About halfway through I was starting to feel really ill.  There was another couple who were going back to the hostel early and I went with them.  I had a very rough night and the following morning it was decided to take me to the British Military Hospital.  Henry came with me again.  To cut a long story shorter I passed out when I was having x-rays done so they decided to keep me in.  It was nice to hear English being spoken again.  The ward I was in was much nicer than the French hospital.  I also discovered that the food was excellent and was like a French restaurant!!!!  Anyway the doctor was a Major in the british army and one day when he came around he sent everyone out of the room and started asking me the same questions the French doctor asked me about pregnancy, etc -- but he had the decency to be embarrassed about it and at the end more or let let out a sigh that my answers were all negative.  I ended up being there 3 weeks and they did some exploratory surgery (I think they expected to have to do a D and C).  At the end of this they told me that right ovary had twisted and ruptured and was putting pressure on my bowels and bladder.  They wrote to the hospital in the UK and they could not get me back soon enough.  Turns out when I had had some tests there  a year earlier but because I was a single girl of 16 they would not do anything, but "wait and "see!!  I was getting injections of major doses of antibiotics too.  Melvin had been able to fly home, but I was unable to so I was stuck there.  The rest of the camp had gone back to London leaving me on my own.  The almoner came up a couple of time to ask about insurance and payment.  I was writing to Ezra and finally insisted they send the insurance info to the hospital.  I got a chatty letter from him and in the midst of it he casually mentioned that because I had not been "injured"  by something at the camp I was not covered!!!!  I was really upset and crying my eyes out.  When the Major came in, he asked why I was so upset, and I told him.  Again, he sent everyone out of the room and told me not to worry because there was a fund for UK citizens like me and that I should ignore any monetary demands from the hospital.   WHEW what a relief.

As I said I was there for 3 weeks and then transferred to London for surgery.  I will tell the rest of the story in a day or two.

Back to Cookie

Cookie here -- wow mum what a trip yo had.  I am exhausted from this much.  Am going back to my nap.

ttfn an toodle pip
Cookie