Pneumonia, pleurisy, and the old prune picker.

When I was 6 or 7 years old I got pneumonia. It was a big deal in my young life. I was in the hospital in Pomona, California several nights. I can remember waking up and I think my sister Donna was by my bedside. When I returned home to recover, I remember Donna serving me ice cream. Ice cream was a big deal.

When I was in the McKinley Home for Boys (age 8 or 9) I got pneumonia again. I was taken to the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. It was a huge place. When I returned to McKinley I was in the school  clinic for awhile. I will always remember, with horror, the large spoon of castor oil I had to take every afternoon.

That is not me in the picture (I think) but that is a picture of the McKinley clinic.

At various times I have had revisitations of pneumonia/pleurisy. I can remember once that the doctor placed a wide band of tape around the right side of my chest so as to reduce the pain of breathing.

In later years when I have a pleurisy bout I have to sit up all night with a painful cough. It usually lasts for several nights. My last bout before this one was in April, 2011. I did not note the length of the bout. This time was a three night bout. I stayed in bed last night but barely. I am still getting well.

I wish that I had not ever got pneumonia. In a way it has been with me since that first time I got it eighty some years ago.