The Doctor and the Pigs

On January 2, 1925, Martha Ann Call lay on her bed in a small farmhouse in Wendell, Idaho. She was expecting her fifth child. It was cold outside as well as in the house. The two oldest daughters Thella and Barbara were sent to get firewood while the two youngest children, Richard, and Melba, were in bed with her trying to keep warm. Her husband, Ambrose, and the family doctor were in the next room talking about important matters of the day, pigs. The conversation was being enjoyed so much by both of them that they were not paying attention to the patient.


Ann tried to get their attention as she loudly yelled, “Doctor, the baby is coming!”


The doctor did something he shouldn’t have done. He discounted her warning while at the same time trying to reassure her that all is well. “Now Mrs. Call, relax! You still have some time before the baby will come.” Then he and Ambrose went back to their engrossing discussion about pigs.


A moment later, Ann called once again this time with more vigor to the doctor, but she received the same answer. She tried a few more times to get his attention but to no avail.


In desperation she got more forceful, including Ambrose in her warning. “If something happens to this baby, I will never forgive either one of you!” This got their attention, particularly Ambrose’s. The talk of pigs was immediately forgotten, and they rushed to Ann’s aid. They were shocked and surprised to see a little baby girl lying there on the bed.


One look at this little girl and the doctor knew he needed to act quickly if he was going to save her life. He asked the family for two pans, one filled with cool water and the other with warm water and he alternated putting her in cool water and then warm water, over and over until she responded, and he knew that she would be all right.


This little girl survived the pigs and lived for seventy-nine years. Her name is Lois Call Cazier, yup she is my mother, and my three sisters, and I (as well as our dad) are grateful the doctor quit talking about pigs and attended to this little girl and her mother.


This story illustrates the importance of listening to our spouses and our children as an  important way to show them that they are important to us and that we love and RESPECT them.


Happy failing forward!


Calvert Cazier



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