Janet Wickens (nee Ottewell) Personal Memories
Former Heatherwood patient recalls their experiences at a dearly loved hospital.
Janet Wickens contacted us:-
Dear Secretary,
I am writing about my late sister Alison Ottewell who was an inpatient at Heatherwood for about 18 months in the mid 1950s. She was 6 years of age and had bed rest for the treatment of Perthes Disease. Our parents died recently and I found several photos of Alison and the hospital and asked if we would like to see them.
Alison Ottewell
These pictures of me and my late sister Alison Ottewell.
I think she was aged 6 -7,I was 3-4.
The nurse was very special to her. When Alison went home,the photo of us in the car she wanted and we went back to see the nurse as Alison was worried about her being without Alison.
Alison made a great bed with hospital corners!!!
The photo of me and Alison outside is with my Mum and Nanna.
We were only able to visit once a week,on a Sunday. We lived in Epsom and needed to take 2 trains to Ascot. I used to be able to be in bed with her on one Sunday per month. I was only able to see her once a month, but Mum and Dad saw her weekly. I used to sit outside the ward.
In the ward Alison was in,there were children in iron lungs. Alison had Perthes disease and was given bed rest for 18 months. When she came home she had a calliper.
Age 8
At the age of 8 she developed cancer of the lymph glands and died. Still miss her to this day.
****
I hope these will be of use to your website
Jan Wickens nee Ottewell
Ps I have since remembered Alison doing basket weaving, in her bed!
Below some pictures which exist of happier times:-
Webmaster writes:- “Thankyou Jan for sharing these lovely memories and pictures with us and our visitors.”
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