Blood All Over The Bed

Anchorage, in 1962, was pretty frontierish, but beautiful. I fell in love with the city and surroundings. In a very short time, I found a bank teller job at the bank on Elmendorf Air Force Base. Loving the outdoors, we did camping, fishing and sight seeing. In 1963, I became pregnant with our first child. Pregnancy was easy for me. I felt good and continued to work, but in February my doctors visit confirmed that the baby was breech and not showing any signs of turning. I was put in the hospital for observation on March 10th, so I could be monitored. This was to see if I could have a child naturally, or by C-section. March 17th the baby decided he would meet this world feet first.

The decision to do a C-section was made quickly. We were very blessed with a perfect 7 lb. 3 oz. boy, Shannon Duane (had to be an Irish name of course). Back in those days C- section patients were kept in the hospital for a week. Well, being different, I acquired an infection in the incision and had to stay longer. Finally, the good Lord decided it was time for me to take my baby and go home. However, at 5:36 pm the Great Alaska Earthquake shook things up pretty badly. It was classified at 9.3 on the Richter scale. The 7 story hospital sustained a lot of damage, but not a patient, nor baby was injured. I was scared to death, afraid I would fall and break open my incision, I did fall several times, but was not injured.

Life settled into a busy family life of baby care and working to restore community. I went back to work in a month at the bank. Many wives returned to families in lower 48 (USA). I did not want to leave and found a retired nurse to take care of Shannon. In 1967, I went to work in the airline business as an airport ticket agent. In order to work at the airport, part of the uniform was 2 inch heels. My feet were always hurting, probably from concrete floors with very thin carpet on them.

I became pregnant again in 1970 with 2nd son, Chad Eric, another perfect little boy 7 lbs 8 oz. Since I had first child C-section, the doctor decided to do this pregnancy the same way. However, Chad was in the normal position for birth. Delivery by C-section went very well. As you can see the births were 7 years apart. Yes, I had gained weight. From age 23 to 30 I had gained probably 40 Lbs. When I was pregnant, both times, I was working and gained the normal weight, but after each pregnancy I could not lose that gain. I was always fighting to lose weight . (my height 5″ 2″) Tried all the fad diets. I would lose and gain.

In 1972, Gary and I separated. We were divorced in 1974. The break-up was very difficult for me, as far as mentally, felt I was a failure as wife/mother . I continued to work and take care of the boys, but the one thing that had been lacking in my life the previous 15 years was God. This continued into my single Mom life. Busy with two active boys, working and keeping a house, I took the easy way, or so I thought. I did not include God in it except for occasional prayers.

Except for my weight problem and swelling achie feet, I did not have any major health problems. Gary remained a big part of the boys lives. Our oldest son, Shannon, lived with his father from age 12 to adult. With both parents living in Anchorage it made it easy to be involved with their growing up.

In June of 1978, at a garage sale, I met my second husband, Tony. We were married in Las Vegas February 24, 1979. Tony was from Texas and worked at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, his work shift would vary two weeks on two weeks off, or 30 days on, two weeks off. Life was still very hectic, and we decided I would work part time and see if, at age 39, we could have a baby. He did not have any children of his own. I became pregnant but miscarried twice, OB/GYN doctor advised at my age/weight (180) should not try again.

1984-1990 I was property manager for Boomfield Company. I managed 12 buildings meeting with the tenants and relaying their concerns to the owners. This was a lot of walking up and down stairs.

1990 I went back to work full time, Customer Service Teacher/Computer Trainer teaching classes of new employees for airport customer service. I worked in the airline industry 40 years. I was on my feet long hours including in the early years (60-70′s). In my late 30′s early 40′s I started having swelling in my feet/ankles. They became very painful. My OB/GYN Doctors blamed my weight and really checked no further. In 1990, at age 49 I was diagnosed with adult onset type 2 diabetes. I was able to control it with diet and pills, but my feet and ankles just kept getting worse. I could not walk easily. My weight and the fact I was on my feet all the time was blamed for my discomfort. while working, still in airline industry. In 2003 pain/swelling was to the point I could hardly walk. Diabetic doctor sent me twice to a pulmanologist who said my blood flow to feet was perfect, last time I saw him was August 2003. Diabetic doctor was very perplexed as to the problem and why the pain was increasing. Walking was very difficult. First part of October 2003, I woke one morning with blood all over the bed and a hole in bottom of my left foot.

Continuation of Bonnie’s story.

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