I have a distant cousin who was totally destroyed by measles. According to her mom, she was 6 years old and a very bright kid, very eager to learn. Her siblings recovered, but she didn’t. I mean, she recovered as far as surviving, but she’s in her late 50s now with the mental capacity of a toddler.
Her family lived in a one room shack deep in Appalachia from the 50s through the 80s. Going to the doctor wasn’t something they did unless they were dying. They managed to get her to the hospital once it became clear she likely wasn’t going to make it.
I met her in the early 2000s and different family members take turns caring for her. She talks but it’s mostly just going with what a person says. “Sheila, I heard you were a millionaire!” “Yeah, yeah. I got millions dollars. Yeah.” “Can I get a few thousand?” “Sure, yeah, sure, a few thousand. Yep. Mmhmmm.”
Her brother used to mess with her at the store her mom worked at. “Hey Shiela, you hate that ugly bastard that just walked in here don’t you?” “Yep. Mmhmm. I hate that ugly bastard.” “Awww Sheila, you hate me and think I’m ugly?” “Noooooooo. Nuh uh. Nooooo!” “Yes you do, now tell him!” “Yep, mmhmm, I do.”
And the followup, “I’m blind because measles, and that’s ok!”
I have a distant cousin who was totally destroyed by measles. According to her mom, she was 6 years old and a very bright kid, very eager to learn. Her siblings recovered, but she didn’t. I mean, she recovered as far as surviving, but she’s in her late 50s now with the mental capacity of a toddler.
Her family lived in a one room shack deep in Appalachia from the 50s through the 80s. Going to the doctor wasn’t something they did unless they were dying. They managed to get her to the hospital once it became clear she likely wasn’t going to make it.
I met her in the early 2000s and different family members take turns caring for her. She talks but it’s mostly just going with what a person says. “Sheila, I heard you were a millionaire!” “Yeah, yeah. I got millions dollars. Yeah.” “Can I get a few thousand?” “Sure, yeah, sure, a few thousand. Yep. Mmhmmm.”
Her brother used to mess with her at the store her mom worked at. “Hey Shiela, you hate that ugly bastard that just walked in here don’t you?” “Yep. Mmhmm. I hate that ugly bastard.” “Awww Sheila, you hate me and think I’m ugly?” “Noooooooo. Nuh uh. Nooooo!” “Yes you do, now tell him!” “Yep, mmhmm, I do.”
I hate that happened to her.
That’s so very sad.