Grace General Hospital - Our Days of Grace Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Multiple births were a bad omen. This I dis¬ covered only after losing one apparently healthy twin a few days after delivery. Noting my dismay, my faithful Congolese midwife informed me that the heathen Bampendes never allow both babies to live, even if we should manage to send a pair home alive the village grannies would soon do away with one. This is why I especially prize my colored picture of a pair of beautiful, curly topped, chocolate colored, year old babies. Their mother came to us some time before the babies were due. Each morn¬ ing she listened to the Bible teaching of our old evangelist. Before many days she accepted the Christ of the Christian faith as her Saviour and Guide and she gave up her old fear-filled pagan worship of evil spirits. When her babies were born she believed that God had given them to her and she wanted both to live. Fearing the old village grannies, she remained with us for several months. Her return to the village created quite a stir. The babies were fatter and lovelier than any others. Surely these could not bring ill fortune to the clan. Thus reasoned the grannies and permitted both to live. These babies are a living picture of what can be done by the grace of God through missionary work in any heathen land. All three phases of missionary work were necessary to make their well being possible. Education was needed to give them a healthy diet and clean bodies. Medical aid gave them prophylactic treatment to guard them from the many diseases surrounding them. Evangelism changed their mothers belief in a heathen religion to a living Christian faith thus making their very existence possible. In spite of the present chaos in the land of Congo there remain many living examples of the fruit of Christian Missions. dfdaniioba — T Cosplta! and d fitrsingf CZTo njc This year the ninth annual Manitoba Hospital and Nursing Conference was held in the Royal Alexandra Hotel from October 18-20. During these three days many meetings, discussions and reports were heard. Tuesday morning Dr. Medovy spoke on the theme “Impressions on the Canadian Conference on Children.” He drew our attention to the neglected pre-schooler. Mental health was also discussed with emphasis on the individual approach. The afternoon session was devoted to the role of the Public Health Nurse in teaching parents the recognition and prevention of fire hazards. The latter are only examples of many sessions held during this conference. There were also many interesting exhibits to attract the interest of the attending delegates. I thoroughly enjoyed the one day I was fortunately able to spend at the conference; and hope that some of you who read this will have the opportunity of attending in the future. ELEANOR ENNS TWO A.M. IN THE HOSPITAL Outside this place of suffering and tears, A city sleeps in silence undismayed, Unknowing of a thousand lashing fears, By which the hours of dark are coldly flayed; The night lights gleam, and busy streets are still; No sign of life or movement is revealed Where lucid frost in beauty claims the hill, And distant shadows pattern snowy field. Within this place, the tide of life sweeps on: From birth to death, through tragic interlude. There is no rest, and footsteps until dawn Will beat upon my brain in tumult rude. The quarter hour: Dear God help me to sleep Forgetful of how slowly minutes creep. We cannot lift the veil which hides the future, We cannot see the path which must be trod. We only know the Way of Faith leads upward And ends at last in Light and Love and God. We cannot tell how many rugged mountains Or shadowed valleys we shall have to cross, We only know, the Lord our hand enfolding And leading us, the way will not be lost. The way before us all unknown, but ever trusting In Him Who lived this life and knows the way, We surely know His word and presence always Will courage give and strength for each new day. 73

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DEDICATED TO THE GIRLS IN THE HOSPITAL IN SEPTEMBER: Said one little germ to another one day I think we should all get together And plan an attack without delay To show other germs that we’re clever. Pneumonia supporters—they gathered with haste A decision they made right away — “Why should the nurses we escape? So it’s off to the Grace without delay.” Before very long they had picked their prey They attacked her with such a great hurry — Then ’twas on to the second and then to the third The numbers soon grew in a flurry. But the doctors and internes and nurses of course Said, “This attack must come to an end Sharpen the needles and get out the pills We’ll soon get those girls on the mend.” I forgot to mention one wee little fact That the nurses taken ill too Were admitted to hospital without hesitation But did that only add to their woe!! Now they were punctured from the right and the left By the kids from their very own class With bedrest enforced they were tossed back and forth While the bed was made for inspection to pass. They were examined of course from head to toe And x-rays were taken with glee The lab made their visits right on the dot And took their blood for free. For nurses this treatment was just too much Their antibodies went right to work And before too long, they were up and about And you’d swear they hadn’t a quirk. So pneumonia supporters they had to retreat The girls at the Grace were too strong For their spirit and zest for work and play Could not hold them down for long. —R. Beattie, ’62 I’d rather be a “could-be” If I could not be an “are,” For a “could-be” is a “may-be,” With a chance of touching par. I’d rather be a “has-been” Than a “might-have-been” by far; For a “might-have-been” has never been, But a “has” was once an “are.” QUALITIES OF A NURSE Memory of an Elephant. Strength of a Horse. Endurance of a Camel. Meekness of a Lamb. Tread of a Cat. Dignity of a Peacock. Agility of a Monkey. Faithfulness of a Dog. Patience of a Cow. AND a Ladylike Demeanor. SPEAKING OF CLOSETS Probies: Simple and sweet. Juniors: Tidy and neat. Intermediates: “Fair” could fit it. Seniors: Cyclone hit it. C77,e by Edgar A. Guest That cap the nurse on duty wears Is costlier than the bonnets gay Worn by wives of millionaires Regardless of the price they pay. ’Tis something she herself can make, A bit of linen, trimmed and turned The right to sit (for mercy’s sake) Was with three years of training earned. That uniform of spotless white Was costlier than a lady’s gown, ’Twas bought with care by day and night For those with illness stricken down. The royal robes show royal birth But every nurse’s simple pin Is emblematic of her worth; A symbol she has toiled to win. Oh, gracious spirit, love imbued, That can such tender care accord, Perhaps it is, that gratitude Must always be your best reward. Now out of gratitude appears This tribute, done in simple verse Unto the dedicated years Of all who choose to be a nurse. 75