July 12, 1988 Orem, Utah
Dearest Johnny; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
It's Tuesday morning - yesterday, Daddy, Jimmy & I spent most of the day in the Park City - Oakley area looking at Mountain Cabins. The closest Real Estate office for the Oakley area is in Park City so we went there - it's about 20 miles from Oakley. When we started back, we got on the wrong road and almost ended up in Evanston, Wyoming - we kept talking about how smart the Weinerts and Bob Mellors were to get on the right road last Saturday when they drove up. We had only intended to be gone until about noon (we left at 9 a.m.) but we didn't get home until about 3 o'clock and we had to go to dinner with our study group friends at 4:30 so we had to hurry. That little Jimmy was just a doll - he slept a lot and was just never fussy - I don't think it was a very fun day for him but we'll make up for it today!!!
This has been a frustrating weekend - especially for the Woolley family. I know you all know about little Jessie but I want to record it for my journal so I'll write about her accident. Saturday afternoon about 4 o'clock she was playing around the new playhouse their builder is building for them and somehow she got behind the builder who was putting nails in with a pressure gun. They still don't know what went in her eye but something did and the ophthalmologist said it went in with the force of a missile because it went into an area of skin that is some of the toughest of the entire body. Ann & Rons' friend, Ann Killpack Tinker, is a nurse and she just happened to be visiting with them - she examined her eye and could see immediately that it was hurt really bad and told them to take her to the emergency room of the hospital. By the time the doctor got there, her eye had filled with so much blood they knew surgery was necessary but she had eaten some cookies and the anesthesiologist wouldn't sedate her until about 10 o'clock. Daddy & I went to their home to stay with the other children and when Ron came in a little after midnight he was a sight I will never forget. The concern that was in his face is just unexplainable - the doctor had to repair some damage to the iris of the eye and told them there would be a piece missing like from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock or about one-third of the iris. They still don't know the extent of further damage and they are just anxiously waiting and hoping for the best - the doctor checks her twice a day and until the eye is more clear from the blood they won't be able to examine her like they need to. There is the possibility there is damage to the cornea and the lens - they can do a lot to help that so we are all praying there isn't damage to the optic nerve.
The Weinerts came down Sunday afternoon to get LeeAnna & Russell and we are caring for Jimmy during the day - Claire is going to help Jeannie with the children up in that area. Annie is staying with Jessie during the day and Ron is there at night - she is frightened and also in a lot of pain. They have no idea how long she will be in the hospital - Daddy went in to see her yesterday and he said she looked so "chipper" and was making the most of it. When I saw Annie on Sunday I just wanted to cry. I know what excellent care she and Ron give their children and they want them to have every opportunity in the world and then to have a freak accident happen is just hard to explain. I also know that Jessie is going to come out of this with flying colors and with her confidence and talents it will just be a matter of weeks before she is her normal self again. The doctor explained to them that with brown eyes that little piece taken out of the iris is not nearly as noticeable as with blue eyes - isn't that interesting? Susanna has been at the hospital a lot reading to Jessie and she is "holding the fort down" at home. I know the Woolleys appreciate the concern of the Bob & Roy Mellors too - they have called to talk to them!!
We're SO thrilled that Bob & Claire are enjoying Utah - they say they just love it!!! Bob loves his work and the people he is going to be working with have surely done a lot to make them feel at home already. I know it will take them awhile to get settled into their new home but there isn't any hurry and Bob will have more time to help than he ever has before.
Roy & Patrice - we tried to call you most of the day on Sunday and we loved talking to you when we finally got you. We look at little Katie and try to imagine how much she and Emily look alike - we just know that little Emily makes your home so wonderful and complete and you will have more fun with her each day. Do you have good reliable baby sitters?
Daddy & I went down for the Mellor reunion breakfast - we left here about 6 o'clock and got there when it first started for a change - we're usually late!!!! It was really good and Daddy's kind of food - sausage, ham, bacon, pancakes & eggs!!! We didn't stay very long and then we went to Manti to check on Carol and Elly - Elly looks fabulous and so does Carol - we had heard they weren't doing very well. They were expecting some Koreans whom they had met in Hawaii - they were going to Manti for the pageant and were staying with them.
We met the Weinerts and the Bob Mellors up in Oakley on Saturday afternoon and the people who own the cabin we are looking at were there to show it to us. Daddy & I just love it - our family thinks it is over-priced - at $30,000.00!!! It has a darling "outhouse" and there isn't a bath or shower but I know we could take baths in a tub - that's what they have been doing for ten years. It compares in price very favorably to others up there.
I'm about out of space and I have a dental appointment in a few minutes (my false tooth in front is loose) so I'll quit. We love you all so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!!! Let us know how we can help you.