My aunt

I have an aunt that is one week younger than I.  My dad's little sister.  She has Down Syndrome.  It took longer for her to walk and she still does not talk real well.  Back in them days many Down Syndrome children did not live pass the age of 12.  Sharon was in the hospital a couple of times.  Times are really different now.  Back then they could not go to school.  Now they go to school and have surgery.  Praise God!  My uncle Don and I went to the same country school for a couple of years.  Grandma sent Sharon to school and Don and I watched over her.  Sharon and I was 7 years old, and in the second grade.  I had gone to a different school in the first grade.  My grandma lived until I was in my 30's.  I asked Sharon the day of the funeral if she wanted to come and live with me, and she said yes.  My husband told me that she could live with us.  My grandma had made arrangements for my uncle to take care of her.  She has really lived a very good life and loved her home and friends.  Right now they think she may have congestive heart failure.  I would really appreciate any prayers.

 

My mother loved to tell the story about Sharon and I.  One day mom and grandma went to town while we were in school.  We walked home with other kids on the country road.  Mom and grandma got home late.  My grandma was so worried about Sharon being alone by herself; so they stopped there first.  Sharon was in the kitchen cooking herself some eggs and toast.  lol  When they got to my house I was cryin' my head off!

 

Sharon and I were the only little ones until we were 9 years old.  We got all the toys at Christmas time.  lol  We did not get real close until we were around the age of 11 years old.  We went to visit a lot of weekends when we moved to Oklahoma; 40 miles away.  We would spend the night at my grandma's.  Sharon would know when we were coming so she would buy the 16 oz. bottles of Pepsi and potato chips.  We would eat them in bed!  lol  Mom always told the story about my Aunt Betty's son Jimmy being there one weekend when we came to visit.  We really got into trouble because Sharon had saved the Pepsi and potato chips just for her and I.  lol  Sharon said they were not going to be shared!!  lol

 

I was never around other kids much being an only child.  One time my aunt stayed with grandma and grandpa for a while.  My little cousin Sandra was about 2 years old.  That would have made me about 11.  Grandma had an old record player that Sharon and I got to play with.  I remember the song ShaBoom (I guess that is the name of it).  It went "Shaboom, shaboom. lalalalala shamboom shaboom."  Sharon and I would sit Sandra on the dresser and sing and act silly.  Sandra learned to say "Saboom, saboom".  Kids are so cute at the age of 2 and 3 years old.  She was a cute little girl.

 

Grandma and I didn't really get close until I was around the age 15 to 18.  My dad wasn't quite 21 when I was born; and grandma was still raising Sharon and teenagers.  When I got older I would stay a week with Sharon and grandma in the summer.  I would tell grandma to wake me up early in the morning; but she would always let me sleep.  She said I needed my rest.  lol  I did a lot of the house work for mom since she worked.  Grandpa was always in the field working or outside.  My grandpa was real quiet.  I remember asking grandma if she thought grandpa would take Sharon and I to get some pop.  She said to go ask him.  Boy did I not want to ask him that!  (Laughing now!!)  He said he would.  We went to this little spot in the road about 3 miles from their house and it was closed!  Ugh!  Sharon and I was so disappointed... especially me since I had been living in town close to a store!  lol  Grandpa said he had to get some feed so he would just drive over to the next little town.  We were so happy.  lol  Later I learned in life that grandpa was concerned about everyone but just didn't let them know it!!  lol  The thing I remember the most was him letting Sharon and I comb his hair while he was sitting in his chair.  We were around the age of 5.  Funny what a person can remember from childhood.  My grandpa passed away at the age of 63 with amassive heart attack.

 

This is a picture of my grandma when she was in her 60's.  She got 80 acres of Indian land when she was 16.  She had it until the day she died at the age of 69.  The last few years that my mother was alive she would tell me, "The older you get, the more you look like your grandma."  I will have to find a picture of Sharon and I.

 

 

I just got this email from my aunt today; thought you might want to read it:

 

I went up to see Sharon today, she is amazing, she was dressed and as soon as I drove up and she saw me, she went to get her purse and was ready to go eat and shop, lol, she has lost so much weight,  but has been going to work shop every day, the care taker said she goes to bed at 10 p.m. every night and gets up at 4:30 every morning.  The doctor said on a scale of 1-4 she is a 3 with her heart failure.  They are running test on Sept. 4th and then her regular doctor and a cardiologist out of Joplin, will talk to Don about her treatment.  When she got sick, they took her to the hospital and did not notify her regular doctor, and he is very angry because he was not notified, she could have died, because of their incompetence, Don is furious and may bring charges against the hospital or Class Limited, ( her caretakers),  anyway she was happy to see me and got to go shopping at Wal Mart where she used to work, everyone knows her , and then when we went to the new Chinese Rest. she saw people from her church and work shop.  She loves Parson's because that is her home town, and where all her friends are, that is why Don won't move her here  to Coffeyville because it would really upset her, she is so independent, she reminds me of Grandma Sarah, daddy's mom, Sharon is just like her, a little woman with a lot of spunk and a fighting spirit, she puts us all to shame, because even with her handicap she has never quit trying, she learned to write her name and signs her pay checks, until her bad health she lived in her own apartment with assistance, and loved the fact that she had her own keys toher place and could lock all her "stuff " up and no one could bother her things, lol,  Will keep you posted, love you

 

Well this is a long entry!  My aunt will be reading this entry.  Wishing all of you a blessed weekend.  All are in my prayers.  God Bless, Janie

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