––––––––
By the next morning, Hannah Miller began showing signs of improvement. While Sarah breathed a silent sigh of relief that one of her patients was on the mend, she still struggled with anger at the girl for giving in to her desire to see a boy when she was sick. Sarah also felt anger at the girl’s mother for not asserting her parental authority and making her stay at home when she was obviously ill.
Sarah felt herself growing more and more angry at the duo, especially when she and Emily found it necessary to shuffle families among their bedrooms yet again – three other families were now showing signs of flu. Even worse, a stomach bug, showing that it would be virulent, began racing through the families held captive by the stubborn blizzard inside the Beiler home.
“Emily, you’ve been up all night, taking care of sick families. Go, lie down so you don’t get sick yourself. I’ll take over,” whispered Sarah to her friend and nursing counterpart.
“Denki, Sarah. It’s been a busy night. I am very tired. Let me know if you need any help and I’ll get up,” Emily said.
“Nee, don’t worry. Miriam will help me. Sleep is more important for you. Now, go!” Sarah ordered with a smile.
Sarah and Miriam bustled from room to room upstairs, both wearing face masks as they took care of their patients. Sarah gave Miriam instructions on taking care of the patients, then ran downstairs to give instructions to two healthy women who had volunteered to make soup and heavier fare for dinner and supper. Seeing Joseph coming back in with several of the men, she sent him a silent question: What is the weather like outside?
Joseph motioned with his head to the downstairs hallway.
“It’s slowing down considerably. The wind has almost completely died down, but it’s still snowing. We are praying that this will end sometime tonight or tomorrow,” he told Sarah.
“Good. Three more families have the flu – and now, we have stomach flu making the rounds. I just sent Emily Fisher to bed and Miriam is helping me out. How are you and the men feeling?”
“I feel fine. I did notice that one of the men was sniffling and coughing, so I sent him inside – Aaron Lapp, Joshua’s father. You might want to check on him,” Joseph said.
“Ach, no. Not another one! Denki, Joseph. I will check him out and give him something for fever. Two women are making more chicken soup in the kitchen. I’ll have them separate out more broth for those who can’t handle solid food,” Sarah mused.
After checking Aaron Lapp, she concluded that he was, indeed, coming down with flu. She gave him cool water and a painkiller for the fever and body aches, and then sent him to lie down in a corner of the quilting room.
That night, Emily had just come downstairs from her day of sleep. The healthy men came back inside after taking care of the livestock, reporting that the storm’s intensity seemed to have worn itself out.
Sarah and Emily smiled at each other – maybe this nightmare would end soon!
***
The next morning, Emily and Sarah looked to the back door as the men stomped snow off their boots and tramped into the house.
“Well? Is it cloudy, snowing or has the storm moved on?” Sarah asked, holding her breath. Inside, she was saying a fervent prayer that God would have mercy on them and send the storm elsewhere.
“Sunny, Sarah. We saw the sunlight as we looked – the storm is over!” Joseph said with a broad grin showing through his beard and mustache.
“Do you think it’s safe sending everyone home? We still have several sick families here. This flu won’t end until it has no victims living in such close quarters.”
“Let us talk to Bishop Stolzfus and see what he advises,” said Joseph.
“Okay. Breakfast will be ready in less than ten minutes,” Sarah said.
“Denki.”
Joseph and Samuel, the self-appointed leaders of the storm-isolated group, sought out the bishop.
“Bishop, it’s clear now. My wife tells me that this flu won’t stop until we’re no longer isolated in one large bunch. Do you think it advisable to send everyone home, sick or healthy?” asked Joseph.
“Let’s go back outside and talk,” said the bishop. Once outdoors, he made sure his coat was snug around his neck and torso. Standing in the snow-filled yard, he gazed around, turning a full 360 degrees so he could assess the horizon surrounding Ephrata.
“Ach, look to the east – do you see that far-off bank of clouds? Another storm is coming in, but, if we make good time, eat breakfast and help the Beilers clean up, then hitch the horses to our buggies and get home before noon, we should all get home before the next storm hits. Ya, we need to do this. Tell the women so they can get the families ready. Follow Sarah’s and Emily’s instructions on bundling up the sick ones so they don’t get worse by being outdoors, if possible. Let’s tell them,” he instructed, with a new spring in his step.
While the women were serving breakfast to those healthy enough to eat, the bishop, Joseph and Samuel broke the good news to Sarah and Emily.
“We’re sending everyone home today. It has to be today, because we saw a new bank of storm clouds in the distance. If you have any suggestions for sick families to get home without getting any sicker, we need them,” Joseph said.
“Thank you, Lord! First, feed everyone, even those who are sick. If they can only handle chicken broth and dry toast, so be it. They must be bundled up, with their mouths covered up so the cold air doesn’t irritate their airways. As soon as they get home, they must remove coats, hoods, gloves and scarves so their fevers don’t go too high. We’ll start spreading the word. All of you, sit down and eat, now,” Emily said with a grin on her tired, plump face.
Three hours later, everyone had eaten. Healthy community members helped straighten the mess inside the Beiler home – furniture was put back into place, sheets and blankets were stripped from beds and pillows and windows were opened upstairs so the fresh air could sweep out the germs. Emily, Samuel and Joseph volunteered to stay and help wipe down the house and all hard surfaces.
“Nee, don’t worry!” Sarah said. “You don’t want to get caught in the next storm!”
“Sarah, more hands make lighter work. We will finish in plenty of time to get home before the storm hits. We are staying,” Emily said firmly. “Now, let’s eat breakfast before it’s all gone.”
“I will be having a little talk with the Millers about exposing everyone to this kind of illness. Adam Zook could have died if we hadn’t been able to get him to the hospital!” Sarah said. After breakfast and making the announcement that the weather was clear enough for everyone to leave, Sarah carried out her promise. Spotting Hannah and Mary, she motioned with a finger to a quiet spot in the full house.
“Hannah, I know what it is to like a boy. However, you knew you were sick – and you still chose to come to service, exposing everyone to your ‘cold.’ We had to assign families to rooms and bed the men and older boys downstairs, because it was too dangerous to go home. As a result, the flu took its opportunity to move from victim to victim – and it very nearly killed Adam Zook. I don’t think you know this, so please accept it as educational only. Flu can kill people with lung conditions. We thank God that we could get him to the hospital for treatment, but by then, he already had pneumonia. If he had gone without specialized medical treatment for much longer – he would have died. Now, this is where I want you to think of the good of the community and selflessness. Was seeing Joshua Lapp worth that?”
Hannah’s eyes welled with tears as she shook her head.
“Nee, Mrs. Beiler. I am so sorry! I promise you, the next time I feel so bad, I will let mamm know, and I will stay at home.”
“Denki. And you, Mary – you are the mamm, not your daughter’s best friend. It is up to you to be the parent and guide her when you know she is doing wrong or making a mistake. Had Emily and I not been blessed with nursing training, little Adam would have died. I know just how bad a ‘simple illness’ like flu can get. It is nothing to discount. I trust you will remember this the next time one of your children falls ill?” Sarah asked pointedly.
“ . . .Ya, Sarah. Thank you. I did suspect that she was more seriously ill than she was admitting to,” Mary said softly.
Two hours later, the house was blessedly empty. As promised, the Fishers stayed to help clean the house and barn. Sarah, Emily and Miriam tackled the house while Joseph, Samuel and John handled the barn. Sarah sent the Fishers home with extra chicken soup and fresh-baked bread, as thanks for all their help.
After the house was finally empty, Miriam collapsed onto the sofa in the living room.
“Ahh! It is heaven not to be tripping over children, blankets, legs and feet! Not to be cleaning up illness or taking temperatures . . . not to have to wear a face mask!” she said.
“Yes, it is! Now, help me freeze all that extra food. I sent some home with every one, but we still have so much left!” Sarah said.
“Gladly.” Miriam helped Sarah finish getting the large house straightened, cleaned and sanitized.
“Now, I can’t say we killed every flu germ in here, but we’ve given it our best,” Sarah mused, rubbing her hands over her arms.
“Mamm, can we close windows yet? It is cold!”
“Give the cold temperatures a little more time to kill the bugs in here,” Sarah instructed. “Cover yourself with a heavy shawl.”
Finally, Sarah was satisfied with the cleaning and disinfection efforts she, Miriam and Emily had made. She and Miriam went from room to room, closing and locking windows against the cold air.