Glad it isn't 1957

I love these pictures.  So thankful for the few pictures that I do have of me and my family members.  The first one is a picture of me propped up in the corner of the couch.  Saucy couch mom!!!  I am such a product of mid-century modern.  Below is my beautiful mother.  Thanks for giving me life mom!!! It has been a great one.  I love this picture with Ilo Leslie and Inez.  It is one of my only pictures with grandparents and I really adore looking at it.  My grandma is staring right into my eyes and I don't know if my grandpa is singing, whistling or blowing me a kiss, but I love it.  I love to hear my mom tell me stories of my birth.  I am sure I have repeated it to you kids many times.  What you may not know is that when my mom got home from the hospital the family was struck with a devastating case of the flu.  My dad was very sick - bed-ridden along with Terri and Clark.  When my mom got home from the hospital she said she was hit pretty hard and was very very sick.  Her mom, Inez,  wanted to come and take care of the family, but my mom insisted that she not come in because it was so contagious and so incredibly debilitating.  My grandma came and left food on the porch, but didn't come in.  My mom said the entire family stayed right down in bed.  Mom couldn't nurse, lost her milk - yes folks, I am a formula-fed baby.  My mom was friends with her pediatrician and he made a house call.  He said that the family had a very base case of the flu, but that they would live, but they just needed to stay right down.  How bad was the flu that year?  1.5 million people died worldwide and 69,800 people died in the United States. What my mom remembers, besides being really sick, is that General Conference, which was held just a few days after I was born was cancelled because of that flu. I did a little research and found a news article that verified that fact and the announcement from the First Presidency (see below).  The one and only time that Conference was cancelled - and I was in the middle of the action.  I like the part of the letter about life being so precious.  Who knows what kind of miracles occurred in our home in Salt Lake City in October 1957 to preserve me and my family.  I am looking forward to Conference not being cancelled and the "uplifting, inspiring experience" that we can have over the next few days.

To all members of the Church,
"With deep regret the First Presidency of the Church, with the concurrence of the Council of Twelve Apostles, announces that out of regard for the health of the people, the semiannual conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, scheduled for Oct. 4, 5 and 6, 1957, together with all meetings planned in connection therein, will not be held . . .
"We have consulted will all public agencies available to us which are concerned in the problems of health, and whose opinion on the extent and effects of the epidemic influenza we regard as helpful in reaching a decision."
 "Life is so precious the Lord expects us to do all within our power to conserve it.
"We are sure our people will understand the reluctance we feel in foregoing the uplifting, inspiring experiences of a general conference of the Church and that they will accord with the decision we have prayerfully reached."