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By
Alex Pierce
Joanne Andersen
Joanne Andersen is a sweet woman, being born in 1937, growing up in a poor industrial
neighborhood named Pullman. she lived through multiple wars as she grew up, knew what loss
felt like early on, and didnt follow the normal American Dream. To have a family, and still be
moving around the country. To find her dream job while managing her life. She is strong. And
with the supportive family she had at the time, it sure did help her through the hard times she
faced. I like that he's my husband and my friend. Makes for a lasting relationship in anything,
Joannes life started when she was born in 1937 in Pullman, a neighborhood in Chicago
created by George Pullman. (1) Her father worked in the nearby paint factory while her mother
was a housewife. Being in an Italian family that immigrated to America, she grew up with her
father going to work in the neighborhood factory that was built in there and her mother being a
housewife. Early on, Joanne began to become familiar with her neighborhood, making friends,
going to school, even during the war going on in Europe at the time.
Before Joanne was born, her father was an immigrant. He had immigrated from Cesuna,
Italy at the age of 5 with his mother, older sister, and younger brother because his grandfather
had sent for them to come to America. He couldnt make a good living in America as it was hard
to find a good job as an immigrant in the early 1900s. When he was 12, his mother died from
Peritonitis, a breakage of the silk lining covering your organs usually from inflammation leading
Joannes mother was already born in America. In East Boston, her grandparents gave
birth to Joannes mother. The grandmother came to America with her sister to escape an abusive
husband and father. Later, she met Joannes grandfather on a return trip to America. (Andersen
Jan. 10) While Joanne was raised under both parents, She and her brother were sent to Sunday
School at a Methodist church. Her father was Catholic but hadnt practiced ever since his 8th
grade year. Her mother was a Protestant, however hadnt been practicing either. This went on
Joanne remembers that as a child, she was very fidgety. At her aunts wedding, Joanne
wasn't able to sit still and kept asking a lot of questions and made her aunt very frustrated. As for
being in the neighborhood she grew up in, not a whole lot happened. Although, when she was
nine, Joanne remembered running around, banging pots and pans together and shouting The war
is over! When WWII ended. She never knew what she was talking about, the meaning behind
those words and how powerful they were at the time, but she remembered it being so important
to her at the time to tell everyone about it. (Andersen Dec. 13)
She mentioned being desensitized to race throughout high school. because in her
community, every race family was there, with either parents working or not. she said it was from
this that the school was so diverse and she became used to the multiple races she encountered.
from there, she became very interested in Art and choir. to this day, I still sing and do paintings
and such. Somewhere along the way, however, she met who would later be her husband, Karl.
They didnt meet up much, especially after high school due to time constraints. However, they
When Joanne was 17, she had gone through tragedy. Her grandmother had died. Then,
While Joanne was 19, Her brother got electrocuted during a rainstorm while he was working.
(Andersen Dec. 13) This affected Joanne terribly. This was probably the only point I ever felt
depressed. (Andersen Dec. 13) Joanne was taking the death very hard, and soon after turned to
Ever since Joanne met, Karl, they never really started dating throughout High
School. When her brother died, Joanne and Karl had been dating for a while and Karl had been
able to be there for Joanne as she almost vented to him sometimes, and he would listen to her.
Karl was just he was really there for me. I mean, he was, like a lot. He [Karl] didnt ask me a lot
of questions, he didnt try to make me feel better, he just was there. (Andersen Jan. 13)
After her high school career was finished and she graduated, she wasn't able to go to
college because she couldn't afford it at the time. She was then faced with a big decision. When
Joanne was around 20, she was offered to tour around the country and sing with an orchestra.
She refused and got married. She doesn't necessarily regret the decision, however, she sometimes
gets those what if? Moments in her head. Soon after that, she eventually got a job working
as a secretary at IBM, while she took classes for college during the evening.
While working and with college, Joanne and her date were able to propose to each other.
And later, in 1959 in chicago, where they both grew up. Karl had a plan to be a minister, and so
after they started dating, she moved with him to Boston, Massachusetts. There, she would
While they lived in Boston, they had their first child, Mark. Along the way, had their
second child, Julie. Since during this time it was during the civil rights events, there were a lot of
racial segregation going on, and figures such as MLK Jr. rising up in fame and raising awareness
and trying to fight against racism. Joanne wanted to help out with that as much as she could. She
said that she wanted to go to selma. However, since Joanne later found out she couldnt, she just
As more years went by, Karl wanted to move to the midwest and found a one year
internship program while Joanne stayed at her Karls parents house with her children. When the
end of the year came around, they moved back to New England, in Maine, and Karl got a job as
an MMC worker, or Maine Medical Center. (3) Joanne then went into nursing school as she
didnt have the credits at the time for the degree she wanted. She chose SMCC, or the Southern
Maine Community College. She later had a third and last child, Karen.
In 1979, they moved to Florida. Joanne continued getting a degree. She tried nursing
again, but later went for counseling and became an undergraduate. Julie was graduating High
school. (Andersen Jan. 13) Joanne went for a Masters in Counseling in 1993. She was a
counselor for a few years, even while Joanne and her family moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Joanne
worked as counselor for the next twelve years living in Iowa. (Andersen Dec. 13) Of which, she
Although unknown exactly when, though in the 90s, Joanne was diagnosed with an
autoimmune condition. Unknown to Joanne at the time, all she could do, with her vast
knowledge in nursing, was to find information about what she had. However, She was not able to
Pierce 5
find what exactly she had. Meanwhile, she looked for treatments, but they were drugs, and the
treatment methods were very harmful and filled with side effects. Joanne was however able to be
met up with an Acupuncturist and a Massage Therapist to help out with her condition.
A: Uhm, Karl, from your point of view (K: Yes?), how was it handling your wife
being diagnosed with this condition and trying to figure out what was going on with her?
K: Well, it was troubling at first because we really didnt have any clear idea and where
we were living at the time in Florida, uh, we didnt have much access except to primary
conditions. Uh, some of the specialists we had werent willing to go along with her and to work
it out. So, we had to devise our own plan. And I think it was our treatment plan. We worked on it
together. But it was frustrating, and it was challenging at times. (Andersen Jan. 13)
Joanne had always showed an interest in Womens issues at the time. Which, during the
times, involved ensuring the equal pay. Since the second wave of Feminism had ended in 1979,
and the Equal Pay Act had been signed ten years prior, Joanne was still working towards
Womens issues of the time. She also worked as a volunteer in helping victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault. While working as a counselor and volunteer, she also took a little
interest in fashion designing. However, she didnt take off with it and kept with counseling.
Nearing 2000, She was becoming more and more interested in helping victims, and went
to work for an agency for families in crisis. Shed often work with families that were court
ordered her to examine cases of domestic violence around substance addiction, abuse, etc. She
did this for around 5 years. Joanne said it was very stressful work. Had to travel the country, and
Pierce 6
lots of it, too. She then moved to West Palm, Florida, where she did private practice helping
After working a few years with helping women change, Joanne moved back to Iowa,
where, after having a disinterest in private practice, went into work with an insurance company.
The name is unsure, however she worked by telephone with mental health services for said
company that was covered by medicare from the state. She often dealt with interviews with
nurses, clients from the ER or police, and perhaps police officers as well.
In 2006, Joanne retired from all full time work at around the age of 69. She remained
very active with her local church. Of where, Joanne and her pastor worked to write for a grant for
children that were involved with divorced parents. As well, since Iowa was one of few states
without a commission on the status of women at the time, and so Joanne started a program to
help remedy the situation. Later, she received a certificate for creating such a program. After
those two were done and underway, Joanne worked with young psychology. She managed to
form a chapter of people who met in others homes, which resulted in a section of the local
library being devoted to the C.G. Jung Society, which is a multi-institutional society within many
cities across the U.S. and in Zrich, Switzerland. (4) Their main goal is to help spread
psychological consciousness within individuals with C.G. Jungs main studies in Psychology.
After all three accomplishments Joanne made, she became fully retired from full pay
work. However, she does artwork with glass, paintings, etc. does quilting with other women once
a week, belongs to a book club, and works with a womens literacy group that presents papers
each month. Joanne has taken a higher interest in crossword puzzles, still active with her church
Pierce 7
and choir, and had the time to help make this biography happen. Yet, youd never know her full
story from her kind work shes done within Gorham, let alone her life, until you talk to her.
Well, truth be told, you can say that about anyone, really. And everyone has something
like this in their head. Maybe not the best of everyone, or maybe some contemplate having no
story. One thing is for sure, though: Everyones had to have done something with their lives.
Broad, I know. However, Its very enlightening that people live good lives despite going through
hardship.
Transcripts:
Age As Of Now: 79
Grew Up In Chicago.
Early Childhood: Lived In Community Called Pullman Started By George M. Pullman From
Oriented. Several Catholic Churches With Protestant. Market Hall In Chicago, Arcade.
Dancehall On Second Floor/Pub. Pharmacy/Candy Store. Loves To Roller Skate. Was A Good
Swimmer. In High School, Would Help The Swim Team Put On Synchronized Swim Shows. At
5 Or 6, Loved To Sing. Would Go To Relative's Houses To Sing For Some Money To Spend On
Candy Or Whatnot. Ever Since After Church Singing, To This Day, She Sings. In High School,
Got Involved With Singing And Talent Shows. Friend's Father Organized Talent Group During
The Korean War, So Veterans Would Come Back, And She And The Others In The Group
Would Sing/Entertain Veterans There. Sang With A Band. Took A Business Course In High
School With Lots Of Art Classes As Well. Italian Background. Wanted To Go To College, But
Couldn't. Worked For IBM Corp. As A Secretary. Continued Singing. Started Night Classes
Towards College. Her Husband And Her Knew Each Other. Would Double Date. Met More On
His Mailing Routine, And Soon After Started Dating. His Plan Was Going To The Ministry.
Secretary. Had a Kid While They Lived There. She Continued Her Aspiration In Arts. Hoping
To Get A Degree. Lived 3 Years And Had A Second Child. Got Involved With 60's Issues. Was
Planning On Going To Selma, But Had Little Room, So She Babysat A Couple's Children.
Moved Out To The Midwest. Her Husband Went To A One Year Internship While She Stayed
With His Parents With Kids. End Of Year: Moved Back To New England, He Became A MMC
Worker, She Went Into Nursing School. Didn't Have Enough Credits For College Degree.
SMCC Was Where She Went For The Nursing Program In Licensed Practical Nursing. Still
Interested In Music. She Was In A Quartet In Portland And Was Involved In Theatre. Really
Enjoyed Community Theatre. After College, Worked In A Nursing Program. Had A Third
Daughter. In 1979, They Moved To Florida, Continued In Getting A Degree. Tried Nursing, But
Went For Counselling And Got An Undergraduate. Daughter Graduated From High School.
Joanne Went For A Master's In Counseling In 93 And Was A Counselor For A Few Years, Till
She Moved To Des Moi, Idaho For 12 Years As A Counselor. Always Interested In
Women. Working For Equal Pay. Also Worked With Volunteer In Domestic Violence And Rape
Issues. Also Loved Fashion Designing. Made Lots Of Paper Dolls In Freshman Year. Never Had
Much Money. Father Was A Laborer In The Paint Factory. Mother Was A Housewife. Also
"I've Had A Good Life. I've Been Misfortunate, But Have A Husband, I Graduated From
First Child: Very Mechanical. Never Went To College. Vocational School. Lives In
First Daughter: Went To College For An Associates In And Went For Massaging
Couldn't Sit Still. Was 4. Aunt Getting Married. She Was A Flower Girl. Remembers
Sitting There And Fidgeting And Asking Mother Questions And Aunt Got Frustrated. She
Started Crying. Was Always Very Exciting As A Kid For Her. One Thing She Would Do Is
Listen To The Radio. "Tom Micks" "Lone Ranger" Saturday Mornings, A Program Would Read
Stories And She Would Listen To Them, Lying On The Floor With Her Brother. Brother Was 3
Yrs Older. She Was A Tom-Boy. Followed Her Brother. Wouldn't Complain. Usually Dragged
Her. Remembered Living Not Far From Calumet Lake. Took Bicycles To The Lake. Near Onion
Fields, Had This Rowboat, She Was Nervous About It. One Guy Got In The Boat Out Of 4. She
Finally Said Okay. Brother Took Hand, She Put One Foot In Boat and One On Land When The
Boat Was Pushing Off. And She Was Thinking How Her Mother And Father would Think.
Never Told Parents. Parents Were Appalled. Could Never Sit Still. Always Did Activities.
Houses Were Divided By Work Force. Remembers Picnics In The Summer. Father Immigrated
To Chicago From Cesuna, Italy With A Sister And An Older Brother. Worked For A While To
Send To Get More Relatives. Father Didn't Do Too Much And Was Almost Like A Hobo. More
Like A Migrant Worker. Ended Up In Detroit. Came Back To Chicago And Met Her Mother.
Grandmother Lived With Her As She Grew Up Till She Died While Joanne Was 17. Grandfather
Died From The Flu Epidemic In 1918. Brother Was With Her As She Went To Parties. High
School Won State Championship In Football Her Senior Year. Lived From WWII. Remembered
" I Don't Think I Ever Did Feel Depressed. I Had Good Parents And Friends." Had A
Strong Circle Of Friends. It Was During A Time Where Being Gay Was Awful. She Was
Influenced By Such Thinking. Kids Would Be Teased. Once She Met someone Who Knew They
Were Gay, Her Mindset Changed. Took Her A Long Time To Get Used to It. Been Very
Fortunate. Remember His Brother Enlisting In Navy, Got Injured And Got Exempted. He Went
Majorly Affected The Parents. Probably The Only Point Where She Did Become Depressed.
"Well, I Think I Told You I Didn't Go To College After High School." Worked For IBM
Secretary. Not Till After Kids Went To School She Went To College For Practical Nursing In
'71. Was 31. Worked As A Nurse For Almost 20 Years. Maine Med, Othropedic, Doctor's
Offices, Etc. From 1983-6 Went Back To School And Did Mostly Distant, From St. Leo College
In Florida. Satellite Campus. Got BA In '86 In Counseling. Youngest Went Off To College, So
She Decided On Working Full-Time In Directing Social Services In A Nursing Home From
'86-88. Then, Decided On Getting Masters In Counseling. Went to University Of Tampa. Got
Masters In Rehabilitation Counseling. Was Able To Sit For The State Exam To Become A
Licensed Mental Health Care Counseling In '93. "You Can See My Journey Was A Sertuicous
Journey." When She Got Degree, Went To Work For An Agency For Families In Crisis.
Working With Families In Homes. Provided Counseling For Primarily Around Addiction,
Abuse, Domestic Violence, Parenting. Clients Were Court Ordered, Half Of. Did That For
Around 5 Years. Very Stressful, Went Around The County. Lot Of Travel. When Moved To
West Palm Beach. Started Private Practice With Helping Women With Growing With Change.
Did That For A Few Years.West Palm To Iowa, Didnt Want To Do Private Practice Again. Went
To Work For Insurance Company, Telephone-Based For Mental Health Services Covered By
Medicare From State. Interviewed Nurses Or Clients From Police Or ER. Some Kind Of Contact
With Agency Required In 2000. In 2006, She Retired From Mental Health Services.Very Active
In The Local Church. Pastor And Her Wrote For A Grant For Children Involved In Divorce. One
Of The Few States Without A Commission On The Status Of Women At The Time. Got A
Certificate For Starting Such A Program. Another Thing Done Was Young Psychology. Formed
A Chapter That Met In People's Homes, Resulting In A Library Section Dedicated To The C.G.
Young Society. Now? Fully Retired From Full Pay Work. But Does Artwork With Glass,
Paintings, Etc. Does Quilting With Other Women Once A Week. Belongs To A Bookclub, And a
Women's Literary Group That Presents Papers Each Month. Loves Crossword Puzzles. Active In
Church And Choir, With Some Professional Singing Over The Years.
"Oh! Yes." "I Learned So Much Along The Way. It Gave Me An Understanding Of
People Who Don't Do It The Traditional Way. There Are Options Oftentimes In Life."
Do You Feel Happy With Your Life?
"I Do. Yes, I Do. I Have A Very Supportive Husband And He's Very Loving. I Don't Sit
Around. We Really Do Talk A Lot About Deep Things." She Finds This "Stimulating". "I Like
That He's My Husband And My Friend. Makes For a Lasting Relationship In Anything, Really."
When She Was Around 20, Was Doing Professional Singing In Chicago. Sang With
Orchestra. Was Going On The Road. Touring Country. Asked Her To Go As Lead. Said No And
Favored Marriage. Sometimes Thinks "What If?" Also Regretted Learned Another Language.
"Actually I Have. And I've Started One. I Did A Family Tree. As Far Back As I Can To
Without Ancestry.com." Interviewed Both Parents. Got A Lot OF Information About Her Own
Personal Family Origin. Hopes To Take A Memoir Writing Class. Has A Lot Of Pictures Of
Date: Unknown
Question #1:
Our oldest is a son named Mark. He is 56. Our middle daughter is julie and she is 54.
Our youngest who lives in Denver is Karen. She is 48. We were married in Chicago in 1959
Question #2:
My father was Catholic and went to catholic school until 8th grade. My mother was
Protestant. They did not practice their religion but sent my brother and me to the local church
which was Methodist. I attended Sunday school but my faith really became important to me
after my brother died. I searched for answers and struggled to understand his death. I was 19
when he died. From then on my faith became a source of comfort during a crisis and a way of
seeing the world as a good place. The biggest crisis of Course was my brothers death. It helped
me through the death of my parents and through the challenges I have had with my health over
My mother was born in America in east Boston Her mother came here as a young
woman trying to escape an abusive husband and father. She had a sister living in America. She
met my grandfather on the boat and married him later on a return trip.
My father came here as a 5 year old with his mother, older sister and younger brother
My grandfather was already here and had sent for them. He had come to America for a better
life. He was from a small village in the Italian alps (Cesuna) and opportunities to make a living
were not good in the early 1900's. My grandmother died from peritonitis when my father was
12.
Date: Jan. 13 2017
______________
Legend |
A = Me, Alex |
J = Joanne |
K = Karl |
---------------------
A: "So, like I said before. I kind of wanted to, Uhm, I guess look into how you two met up.
Cause we were able to talk a little bit about how you and your husband met in high school.
How'd that go after high school, you know. Into college years when you to were..."
J: "Okay, well I can start with that and you can add on (K: "Yea.") if you think of something. We
A: "Really?"
J: "Yes. And, Uh, it's kind of a funny story, actually. Because my last name started with 'V' for
Valenti."
K: "Mhmm"
A: "Yup."
A: *Chuckles*
J: So, there were about Thirty... Thirty Five (K: "Anyway, Yes.") in our class. He [Karl] was at
the far end, the first row. And I was at the back end, with the 'V's and the 'W's. And, you know,
before the teacher came in, we would be chatting, in class and stuff, and the guys were over
there, having fun and they were playing with spitballs. And, I don't know why he chose to do
this. But, for some reason, he [Karl] threw a spitball. All the way across the room. and it hit me...
A: "Oh... My...."
J: "*Chuckles* Well, of course, I was... Shocked."
A: *Chuckles*
J: "I mean, I knew him [Karl] from class. But I didn't really know him well. That was the only
contact I had with him. So, I didn't know what to do so I laughed and the gals along with me
were kinda laughing (K: "Laughed. [indescribable]. Move on.") and I was a little embarrassed.
A: "Yea."
K: "Mhmm."
J: "On the way out? I mean, it was after class and I Think you apologized on the way out. And
we kinda talked about it. He [Karl] was, sorta dating, if you could call it dating. We used to have
A: "Ohhh. Yup."
J: "And there would be dancing. He [Karl] was going with a very good friend of mine. (A:
*Chuckles*) Barbara. And, I was... not really dating but was kind of going with somebody. Uhm,
I think that was when I was going with... Ken. Your best friend, Ken. Or Robert Wood.
J: "Yea. And, so, uh, on the Friday night social, we were sitting around, you know, and we just
got together. So, we ended up double dating. to a couple different events during school. Uh, and
when the prom came in, the senior Prom, he [Karl] took Barbara, my best friend. and I went with
his best friend, Ken. And so we double dated for our Prom. So that's where it kinda was but we
K: "Yea."
J: "And then after high school, I did not go to college right away. (A: "Yes.") I went to work.
And, uh, since we both graduated mid-year, which was in January rather than June because they
had such large classes that they had to divide our class, he [Karl] went off to college in the fall.
But that first few months, from January to fall, Uhm, he worked. So, anyway, he was home over
the christmas holiday the following year, this was a year later after we graduate. And, he had
K: I had her mail route. I was delivering mail for the post office.
J: Yea. They used to hire on extra kids at christmas time to deliver mail.
A: Oh wow!
J: Yea. So, anyway, he had my mail route and I was off to church one Sunday, when they were
delivering on Sunday. And we started chatting, and he [Karl] asked me out on a date. So, we
started dating, and since he was going back to college, he asked me if I would write to him and i
said Sure. So, I started writing to him, and then he invited me to college, to one of their big
K: Well, the dance that we went to was a dance for the whole campus. (J: The first was one,
yes.) Yea.
J: And so I went to that dance, and we would continue to write to each other. Then, the
following summer, he [Karl] was home, and we started dating again. We went to, like, uh, stock
car races and things like that. And then, that summer, my brother died.
A: Mmmmm
J: I think I told you in the note he was electrocuted. And it was just a terrible shock to my
whole family, Karl was just he was really there for me. I mean, he was, like a lot. He [Karl]
didnt ask me a lot of questions, he didnt try to make me feel better, he just was there. He
would come over- He was working. And after work, he [Karl] would come over and we would
go for a walk or we would sit on the from porch steps. And he would just sit there with me. If I
wanted to talk, I would talk. But otherwise, he would sit with me.
A: Huh
J: And, you know, that was a way for me to get through some of the difficult times. And he
was also contemplating going into the ministry at that time. Although I dont know if you had
definitely made up your mind at the time. *Gestures to Karl* So, Uhm, I think I talked about my
music and how I was still singing at the time. And so, during that fall, and into the next winter,
uhm, I did a lot of gigs with the weekend trio that I sang with. But, I would also go up to college
for him [Karl], for dances. And, Uhm, I dont know. What else can you add?
J: Yea. It really developed out of a friendship. I mean, I thought, you know, there were lots of,
you know, sort of, jock guys in school that gals were looking to go out with and be boyfriend
with, girlfriend with, you know. And I always thought that was cool. I was considered to be
rather popular in school. But, uh, Karl was more, I woulda thought, Intellectual. Kind of a
serious guy. Not somebody at the time I wouldve taken seriously. Just a Nice thought. But, after
going through that experience with him, I realized that nice guys have a lot more than just being
nice, theres an underlying ability to interact with people at a different level, you know,
empathetic and, uh, listen, and care about people. So, that opened my eyes to that experience.
And I said Hey, hes a pretty nice guy. I think ill keep him.
A: *Chuckles*
J: So, we started a serious relationship and we were engaged during his senior year. In. Uh.
No, wait! Your junior-junior year (K: End of my junior year.) right! In his junior year, uh, we
got engaged in March. And we were married the after he graduated from college. And, uhm, I
took some college courses after work when I was working, but I didnt go to college right away.
A: Yup.
J: So my experience with going to college was much later by taking a course here and a course
there and then I took a nursing practical nursing course. And worked as a nurse for a while.
And then, later, when our kids were Uh Well, the two older ones were grown and the
youngest one was still home. I wanted to finish my college degree so I started taking classes right
through the year that I was working and finished my undergraduate in 1986 I think.
like The year she graduated from college I applied for taking a masters degree. And I got my
masters degree in Counseling. So, my education was pretty peaceful all the way along, but I
never doubted that I wanted to finish college. And that I wanted to do something professionally
with a good degree. In order to do counseling, you had to have a masters degree, which I did do
that. So, uh, I would say there were probably times when we didnt have a lot of money, our
family managed to get by on his [Karls] salary and what little I could earn. Uh, we took
vacations every year but we always took very cheap vacations *chuckles*
K: Because we usually came home to family. If we were in New England, our family was in the
Midwest.
J: And then my parents moved to Florida. And so, we would drive. We would take everybody in
the car. And along the way we would eat, wed eat McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken.
*chuckles* you know, and stay with my parents. And, but wed always have a lot of fun. We
always laughed a lot, we played games in the car, like How many Volkswagens could you
count? and wed count out all the cars that were red, or wed sing. We always sang. My family
always loves singing songs. But, that was pretty much our vacations. Cause we never took a real
vacation other than family until Well, one of our commissioners owned a camp up on old lake
and they let us have it for a week. So, we would sometimes go up to their camp and have the
camp for a week. but that was the extent of our travel because we go to Florida. And I didnt
know I did have some health issues that started probably in the 90s. And that was a struggle
Because I didnt know at the time what the problem was. I kept having to go to the doctors to
try to figure out what the problem was and finally I was diagnosed with an autoimmune
K: Research.
J: Looking up on whatever I could find information on it. It was just around the time that
computers were starting to get popular but there wasnt a lot out there. And learned that I wanted
to not go with some of the medications that would be uh recommended cause they were
pretty toxic. So I got hooked up with an acupuncturist and a massage therapist and I did a lot of
things looking into spirituality and self-care. And trying to find ways to deal with this without
having to get into heave-duty medication. So, that was a struggle and we did a lot of talking
about that.
A: Uhm, Karl, from your point of view (K: Yes?), how was it handling your wife being
diagnosed with this condition and trying to figure out what was going on with her?
K: Well, it was troubling at first because we really didnt have any clear idea and where we
were living at the time in Florida, uh, we didnt have much access except to primary conditions.
Uh, some of the specialists we had werent willing to go along with her and to work it out. So,
we had to devise our own plan. And I think it was out treatment plan. We worked on it together.
(TBC)
Works cited:
Puthi, Sandhya, Michael F. Picco, Elizabeth Rajan, and Kenneth G. Berge. "Peritonitis." Mayo
Williams, Don. "The Jung Page - Home." The Jung Page - Home. The Jung Center, 01 Jan.