Seventeen Sisters by Barbara Barlow

Author:Barbara Barlow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781311451101
Publisher: Barbara Barlow
Published: 2015-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

Kate’s daughters. Top row, left to right: Loni, Becky, Wanda, Ruthie, Marie. Bottom row, left to right: Fran, Mother Kate, Arlene.

Chapter 11

Alice Faye

1944

I was born on August 27, 1944, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dad and all of his family lived at 1538 South 400 East. The night I was born Dad was having a birthday party downstairs. I am Vio Fraser’s fifth baby. The doctor, an elderly woman we called Grandma Ogden—and who delivered many babies of polygamist families—was downstairs at the party. She knew Mom was in labor, and when she went upstairs to check, Mom was so close to having me that Grandma Ogden said she didn’t even have time to put on the little white cap she wore when she delivered babies.

I was born with a cyst on my left breast. When she removed it, Grandma Ogden said it was one-eighth of an inch away from my milk gland. I was blessed to be able to nurse all of my babies.

That wasn’t the end of my health challenges. When I was eight months old, Aunt Maurine was taking care of me while Mom was working. When she handed me a toy, she noticed I would reach out for it only with my left hand. As she tried to get me to take it with my right hand, she realized I wasn’t using my right hand at all. Mom took me to a chiropractor that said I must have had polio at some time. Later I found out that it was more likely a stroke that I had suffered while still in my mother’s womb. It left me with a paralysis on my right side.

Because my right leg was shorter than my left walking was very difficult for me. A doctor convinced my parents that a surgery could be done to stretch the ligaments in my calf and behind my knee. Then they would put me in a brace, which would help me walk better.

So at five years old, from before Thanksgiving until after Christmas, I was at the Shriner’s Hospital. My parents dropped me off during the week assuring me they would come and see me on the weekend. I was scared but reassured I would see them soon.

As it turned out Mama’s sister died and they went to the funeral on Saturday instead of coming to see me. The visiting hours were very strict. I was sure they had left me because they didn’t want me anymore.

I was a very picky eater and when food was brought in I only ate the dessert. A nurse came in, “Why didn’t you eat?” she asked sternly.

“I don’t like it.”

She slapped my mouth saying, “You do not eat dessert unless you eat the rest of your food.” Then she started forcing food into my mouth.

A few days later the friend of my sister-in-law, who worked in the hospital came in to see me. The food tray was sitting there with food untouched. “Why aren’t you eating?” she asked.

“I don’t like it.

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