Mennonite Measles in Texas

[Judas Maccabeus]

In reading through this thread and have to smile a little. All the children in my family growing up, had the measles. I don't remember much of them, as I was very young. The only thing that stands out is being forced to stay in my darkened bedroom during that time. That was the worst part of having the measles. I am not opposed to measles vaccines, our children got them, but measles in otherwise healthy children didn't seem to have any lasting effects.

We drank raw milk, walked barefoot all summer, sometimes stepping in cow patties by mistake, swam in the creek that all the livestock up stream did their business in, and we rarely got sick. There were no hospitalizations, not many doctor visits, no ER visits, etc. We had a few times stitches were needed but, in that era, stitches were done in the doctor's office. We were immunized against serious diseases such as polio, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever etc. Autism and food allergies were unheard of. There was no such thing as allergies to peanuts, gluten, lactose, etc. As whole children are so much sicker than they were 50 to 75 years ago. And you have to wonder why. But I suppose that is a whole other topic.

Many of the children that now would be identified as “ Autistic “ would have been called “mentally retarded” and institutionalized,
Sometimes, “for the good or your other children.” I saw this drama play out in my best friends family. Very little support was available for keeping such a child at home.

For the record, the place in Maryland where many of these were sent was “Rosewood Institute,” they were there, but out of sight.

Many children that now survive, would have been dead in the 1950s. Measles actually DO kill people, people really get pneumonia. 40-50 years ago, when ventilators were rare, I am sure we lost more. Samoa had 5200 cases, 82 deaths. Blame what you will, with advanced ICU care the toll would have lower. But do you really want that? Risk filling up the pediatric ICUs, that is a narrow specialty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Samo ... s_outbreak

Measles? Yes I had them. Got a mild case, my younger brother was not so lucky, he was really sick. He got the dark room, the doctor decided I did not need that.

Diphtheria? Lost two uncles to that one, died before I was born.

I give thanks to God that we have what we have.

[barnhart]

...Many of the children that now would be identified as “ Autistic “ would have been called “mentally retarded” and institutionalized,
Sometimes, “for the good or your other children.” I saw this drama play out in my best friends family. Very little support was available for keeping such a child at home.

For the record, the place in Maryland where many of these were sent was “Rosewood Institute,” they were there, but out of sight.

Many children that now survive, would have been dead in the 1950s. Measles actually DO kill people, people really get pneumonia...

I give thanks to God that we have what we have.

I saw the tale end of that system, as a boy I went with our church into the State mental hospital to sing and pray with the inmates. As JM said the bulk of them had either Downs Syndrome or what would be called Autism today. On top of that they had been dehumanized, institutionalized and filed away like an unwelcome document. The results after decades of this was not pretty. That institution was shut down soon after so I only went there several times. This was not an era to pine after or think fondly of.

[Soloist]

I saw the tale end of that system, as a boy I went with our church into the State mental hospital to sing and pray with the inmates. As JM said the bulk of them had either Downs Syndrome or what would be called Autism today. On top of that they had been dehumanized, institutionalized and filed away like an unwelcome document. The results after decades of this was not pretty. That institution was shut down soon after so I only went there several times. This was not an era to pine after or think fondly of.

Two of my first two patients had been institutionalized for almost all their life. Finding one with a std should speak volumes already…

On the flip side, many vets who needed mental help/support were flat abandoned when we removed the institutions and civilians often were dumped on the streets.
It all sounds well and good to remove it, but they should’ve replaced it before removing it.

None of my two and eventual three patients though had anything to do with disease that landed them there… One was a serious doctor error, and the other two were genetic.

[Judas Maccabeus]

...Many of the children that now would be identified as “ Autistic “ would have been called “mentally retarded” and institutionalized,
Sometimes, “for the good or your other children.” I saw this drama play out in my best friends family. Very little support was available for keeping such a child at home.

For the record, the place in Maryland where many of these were sent was “Rosewood Institute,” they were there, but out of sight.

Many children that now survive, would have been dead in the 1950s. Measles actually DO kill people, people really get pneumonia...

I give thanks to God that we have what we have.

I saw the tale end of that system, as a boy I went with our church into the State mental hospital to sing and pray with the inmates. As JM said the bulk of them had either Downs Syndrome or what would be called Autism today. On top of that they had been dehumanized, institutionalized and filed away like an unwelcome document. The results after decades of this was not pretty. That institution was shut down soon after so I only went there several times. This was not an era to pine after or think fondly of.

I was just out of training when the whole "de-institutionalisation" push hit full force. People were discharged from these places with nothing, except their meager personal effects, a few dollars, a bottle of pills, and a paper with an address to get their behavioral health care in the community. Almost universally, they landed on the street, and sooner or later in an ER, with no clue how to care for themselves. It was really a sad time. It still is.

I was still picking up shifts, doing x-rays for the ER. They had a big time shortage then, and I actually had a radiographer's license, as well as my main one. It paid the bills, but was emotionally draining. The sights I saw cannot be unseen.

This problem has always existed. It is simply more visible now.

[JohnH]

It has taken decades but some places have rebuilt the infrastructure with group homes / halfway houses. We have a “drug diversion court” where one can escape a drug conviction in exchange for basically eternal probation. Basically you have to move into a group home, not be violent, and submit to drug tests. A lot of people who use drugs are actually self medicating for mental illness.

Likewise the group homes are usually funded via someone’s disability and other welfare going to a “payee”. The payee organizes a group home and pays the bills. The individual gets a small allowance.

[Soloist]

A medically fragile group home was my first job.

A patient with cerebral palsy, who can’t ambulate on their own or talk would die in a nursing home. When the institutions were shut down, this sort of patient needed a replacement.

[Judas Maccabeus]

A medically fragile group home was my first job.

A patient with cerebral palsy, who can’t ambulate on their own or talk would die in a nursing home. When the institutions were shut down, this sort of patient needed a replacement.

Unfortunately, such a replacement was not available for the flood of patients put out on the street in the early 80s.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Two of my first two patients had been institutionalized for almost all their life. Finding one with a std should speak volumes already…

I have no problem believing that. Having been in one of these places from time to time, the staff give me the creeps. Nothing specific I could put my finger on, but a weird vibe.

[Soloist]

A medically fragile group home was my first job.

A patient with cerebral palsy, who can’t ambulate on their own or talk would die in a nursing home. When the institutions were shut down, this sort of patient needed a replacement.

Unfortunately, such a replacement was not available for the flood of patients put out on the street in the early 80s.

Well, from what I understand, the Oregon facility wasn’t shut down until they had replacement options… I feel sorry for the other ones though…

[Jazman]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.
The one quibble I had with the author was when he talked about 'secular' science/medicine and how the menno community should be given it... the rigorous, good-faith study of God's creation, ie science/medicine isn't 'secular' even if the people doing it are unbelievers or even their intentions. The search for, the study of and the discovery of the mysteries and truths of creation are Holy, Sacred and righteous in a common grace way, no matter who's involved or what they think about it (ie doesn't matter if they think it's 'secular' - the truth they've discovered is God's truth whether they acknowledge that or not). I would prefer those truths be given to the plain menno community involved in the language/lingo of faith that they will feel comfortable with as it connects to their faith. Telling them that they should learn 'secular' science is probably not going to work...