The Peaks

By Jill Reed

In 1949, a son was born to Edna and Russell Peak. They were told he was "a mongoloid" and to put him in an institution, but they refused and took him home to raise, naming him David. Mongolism was a mystery when David was born and would not be discovered as Down Syndrome until many years later. Edna comes to believe sh

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jill Delee Reed
• Release date: Jul 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737634812

Jill Reed

Jill Delee Reed lives in Bigfork, Montana, is the mother of 10 children and has two grandsons. She has two dogs and absolutely hates snakes.

Book preview

1

January 30, 1949

RUSSELL WAITED. HE’D waited like this before, three times before, but this time just felt different – it was taking too long. He sure hoped Edna was alright. People had told him not to marry her. She’s crazy they said, She’ll never have children. But he married her anyway; he loved her. And now here they were, having their fourth baby!

He sat fumbling with his hat, holding it by the rim and turning it nervously around and around. He stood and paced, then sat back down. Russell glanced around, down the hall, and out the large windows trying to find something to occupy his mind. Hospitals were nerve-racking and they smelled funny; they were almost eerie. And he couldn’t help but notice how terrible the paint job was and the ugly, dull color that did nothing to help the dreary mood of a place most people didn’t want to be. Russell had spent years as a painter and he would have not only done a perfect, quality paint job, he would have convinced them to choose a better color.

It was killing him – all this waiting. He hated it. Hours passed. He tried whistling to ease his nerves. Russell would whistle all day long at his store while he worked making his fishing rods. Just a few months ago he finally made the jump from making rods in his garage in his spare time and opened his own shop. It took courage to quit his job as a painter; he was one of the best in Pasadena and with the economy in California there was always plenty of work for Russell to provide for his family. But Edna believed in him and encouraged him endlessly, You’re talented and a hard worker, she would tell him, You’ll never be satisfied doing what you truly love in that silly ol’ garage! His mind pictured all his finely hand-crafted glass fishing rods lined up neatly against the wall. He loved the feel of them forming in his hands and he loved the way they felt as he tested their flexibility. He spent every day except Sundays in his store: Russ Peak’s Glass Rods of Distinction. It was a great store and was the one thing that kept him from going crazy. He chuckled to himself at the thought.

His mind was instantly swept back to Edna and he wondered for the hundredth time if she was alright. And what about the baby? Dear God, let this one be a boy, his mind pleaded. He already had three daughters. The Peak name was going to become extinct. Unless...unless this one was a boy. This was it for Russell and Edna; four children – it was a miracle for sure! Dear God, what’s one more tiny miracle for me? Huh? I’ve never asked for much. But this…this is something I really, really want.

Russell’s silent prayer was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. He looked up, then stood when he realized it was Edna’s doctor walking toward him. Greeting him with a handshake Russell excitedly asked, How’s Edna? How’s the baby? Tell me Doc, I gotta know, is it a boy?

It’s a boy, Edna’s doctor said, but with no enthusiasm.

Russell sensed something was wrong, his voice quivered as he asked, Edna, is she…

The doctor quickly interrupted to put Russell’s mind at ease, She’s fine. Fine, Mr. Peak, she did terrific.

That’s GREAT then! Great… Russell’s voice trailed off as he noticed the grim expression still on Doctor Klein’s face. Why doesn’t Doctor Klein seem happy for me? The baby was a boy, and he knew how much Russell hoped for a boy; he had delivered the three girls.

Mr. Peak, sit down for a moment. Doctor Klein gently put his hand on Russell’s shoulder and motioned toward the chair, sitting himself down next to Russell. Leaning toward him and in a somewhat hushed tone, Doctor Klein said, Mr. Peak, I’m real sorry for this, but we think your boy is a mongoloid.

Russell stared blankly at Doctor Klein for a moment, letting his words sink in. A mongoloid? Russell could barely say the word. But isn’t that one of those retarded kids? I…I don’t understand, he stammered. Edna has problems for sure but how could this happen? Russell searched Doctor Klein’s face for answers. He felt confused and didn’t even know what questions to ask.

Russell, I’ve known you and Edna for a long time and I believe this can happen to anybody. It seems to be a random kind of thing. It doesn’t seem to be genetic, but we just don’t know much about it, Doctor Klein attempted to reassure Russell. He leaned in even closer to Russell and lowered his voice to a near whisper, All we know is that mongoloids are very difficult. They can’t function in society and they… There was a long pause as Dr. Klein looked straight at Russell before continuing, People don’t take this kind of baby home. You’ll be a lot better off to put him in an institution. That’s where they belong. Doctor Klein again put his hand on Russell’s shoulder as he stood, adding, A nurse will get the baby and transport it for you to make it easier on the both of you, then turned and walked down the hall.

Russell felt sick. He dropped his head down into his hands and rubbed his bald spot and squeezed his eyes shut. How could this be? His breathing became labored as his stomach seemed to tighten. It felt as if the hall were wrapping around him like a boa constrictor, squeezing tighter and tighter. He gasped for air as he remembered seeing a mongoloid several years ago in a department store. They looked funny, different, strange. They didn’t talk right and had such odd habits and behaviors. All three of his daughters were born just fine, what happened?

Suddenly the boa loosened its grip and Russell had a tremendous urge, no need to see Edna. She was so smart; she had graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota. She would be able to help him understand. He started to walk down the hall, his legs regaining desperate strength with every stride. He began to run, shouting out her name, EDNA! EDNA! A nurse pointed to a room just down the hall and to his left.

Russell tried to enter the room quietly but was far too strained to succeed. Once inside Russell first saw two other mothers in their beds and apologized for his sudden entrance into their room, I beg your pardon, I’m Edna’s husband, Russell, he said as he glanced further to his right to be sure he was in the right room.

There was his beautiful Edna, sitting up slightly in her bed and holding a very pink and very tiny baby in her arms. Her petite frame looked so small in the oversized hospital gown, and in spite of looking a bit tired, her dark brown eyes were amazingly bright. She smiled softly at him and he gripped his hat tightly as he walked slowly toward her.

Russell, you have a son now! she said.

Does she know? Russell wondered. Certainly Doctor Klein told her. But she didn’t seem to hold this baby any differently than she had held the girls.

Edna gazed down into the baby’s face and smiled at it as she adjusted the blue blanket he was tightly wrapped in. Russell stared at her, uncertain of what he should do. Then he noticed her tear-stained cheeks. She knew.

Hi Honey Girl, he said as he gently kissed Edna on the forehead and sat down on the edge of the bed. Doc said you did real good. He paused, hoping she would say something, but she simply looked deep into his eyes.

After an awkward moment, Edna asked, Darling, do you want to hold him?

Russell stood quickly, shocked by the proposal. He hadn’t even looked at it yet. He didn’t want to look at it.

With a shaky voice and without looking at the baby, Russell said, Doc says he’s a mongoloid, Edna. He…he says we should put him into one of those institutions. He says it’s the best thing – for all of us. Russell nervously pointed at the open doorway and added, There’s a nurse coming to get him for us. She’ll…she’s going to… Doc said the nurse will take him for us. Russell’s gaze fell to the floor and he nodded slightly as he said, Doctor Klein said it’s what we should do.

Oh Russell, since when have you done what people have told you to do? Edna said with an almost flirty twinkle in her eye.

She had a point. But he was way over his head with this. He had become accustomed to dealing with Edna’s problems; there were treatments that helped her and for the most part they had an ordinary life together. There would never be anything ordinary about their life together again if they took this…this strange baby home. It was retarded. He didn’t love it. He couldn’t love it. Why did God do this to me? Where is the son I prayed for – to carry on the Peak name? Am I being punished for something?

Edna’s voice broke through his thoughts, Russell darling, just come look at him. He’s so very cute.

Russell gazed down at the baby in Edna’s arms. His eyes glazed over, and he couldn’t see its face through the blurriness. He blinked to hold back the inevitable, but despite his best efforts, a tear fell onto the baby’s face. Russell pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his wet eyes.

Then Russell’s vision cleared. He stared down at a tiny pink face with dark hair, a button nose and sleepy eyes that seemed too far apart, but only slightly. A tiny hand suddenly poked up just past the blanket he was wrapped in. It was the tiniest, chubbiest hand he’d ever seen, and the pinky finger bent inward slightly. It was a unique feature, so cute on a hand so small.

Russell chuckled for a brief moment before a flood of emotions overtook him all at once; grief over the loss of the son he had hoped for, joy for the presence of the son he had before him. Russell sobbed for a moment, not even concerned about the other women in the room who were undoubtedly looking at him. He put his big, rough hands around the baby’s head and sobbed, My little son.

Edna reached up and gently stroked her husband’s drooping shoulders. I love you, she said soothingly, through her own tears.

Russell stood suddenly, sensing the presence of someone else near. An older, grey-haired nurse stood at the foot of Edna’s bed. She stared, coldly, at the baby in Edna’s arms. She spoke in a flat, unemotional voice, I was told to come for the child and take it for you. After staring at the two tear-stained parents she added, It’s better this way you know. These babies don’t belong in regular society, she said pointing at Russell and Edna’s baby boy.

Something sparked in Russell’s heart. We’re taking him home Edna, he stated matter-of-factly as he took his handkerchief and wiped his eyes thoroughly. Replacing the handkerchief in his pocket, he turned to the nurse and said, No child of Russ Peak’s is going to be in an institution, his piercing blue eyes stared straight at her and he let his words hang in the air. She stared back with indignation and parted her lips slightly as if to say something, but instead gave a small grimace and curtly walked out of the room.

Finding new strength and courage Russell turned to Edna and lovingly stroked her shoulder-length brown hair with his hand and began to think out loud: We’ll just have to figure this thing out. We’ll take him to another doctor and get another opinion; maybe they’re wrong, or maybe there are treatments. He shrugged his shoulders and continued, I’m sure we can manage to deal with his problems. It’s good the girls came first, they can help. Virginia is almost 11 now, she’s very responsible and smart, she’ll be a second mother on your bad days Edna. We’ll manage. We’ll manage, Russell repeated, trying to convince himself as well.

He sat down once again, this time allowing Edna to place the baby into his arms. He held the baby’s tiny hand and put his cheek against the baby’s cheek. Taking in a deep breath he became excited about the prospects of raising a boy and said, Awe, heck, maybe I can even teach him to make fishing rods and he can help me out at the store. Right? he said with a nervous laugh.

He and Edna sat and looked at their new baby for a long time. Russell finally handed the baby back to Edna and stood. We’ll name him David Russell, just like we had talked about if the baby turned out to be a boy.

2

May 1949

DAVID HAD A bad cough and Edna was getting worried. She looked at her baby boy lying in his crib in the corner of their bedroom. As she paced the floor, he began to cough wildly again, gagging himself and spitting up all over his freshly changed sleeper. She gently picked him up and stroked his tiny head, soothing him with her voice, Darling baby David…Mommy loves you. He began to cough again and that was it, she had had enough. Edna walked quickly to the telephone table and dialed the store phone number. Russell come home quickly, I need the car to take David to the doctor.

As she tried to drive calmly to the office of their family doctor, Edna looked over at three-and-a-half month-old David in his little basket. Why won’t that awful cough just please quit? She hated seeing her tiny baby so tortured. The funny thing about it was that baby Davie didn’t even seem to mind. He was so good natured. He would cough and cough and the person having fits about it all was Edna. After a fresh coughing spell he would look up at her with a red face and smile.

Doctor Peterson was alarmed as well after examining David and sent Edna and the baby to Doctor Shaw, a pediatrician in the valley. Doctor Shaw gave David a blood transfusion using Edna’s blood and 2000 units of penicillin. He also suspected an enlarged thymus, therefore ordering x-rays, which the x-rays confirmed, and Edna was told that David needed radiation therapy.

Mrs. Peak, has anyone ever said anything else about your baby’s health? Doctor Shaw asked as Edna redressed David.

Edna’s heart jumped, fearful of what he was referring to. She and Russell had come to believe over the last few months that their baby boy was perfectly normal. He was so alert and strong – certainly he was just fine and Doctor Klein had simply been mistaken.

Yes, when he was born, my doctor thought he might be a mongoloid, Edna hated having to admit.

Well, after examining David I would have to agree that it is a possibility. I think he shows definite signs of mongolism, Dr. Shaw said, trying to be as sensitive as possible.

Edna wanted to run as fast as she could out of the office. She didn’t want to address an issue that was only a possibility any way and leaving as quickly as possible would put an end to any further discussion. Edna finished dressing David and asked, Do I need to make another appointment to come back?

I would like David to have two radiation treatments each week for four consecutive weeks, Doctor Shaw said, then advised her to get another opinion from a Doctor Ryan regarding David’s other condition. She thanked him kindly and walked back into the waiting room. After making the necessary appointments she walked back to their Chrysler De Soto sedan, a lovely car she and Russell had given themselves for Christmas just before David was born. Their life was going so perfectly, why did these doctors have to ruin their happiness with all this talk about mongolism?

Driving home she felt in a daze. "What would she tell Russell? Of course she would inform him about the blood transfusion, the x-rays, the needed radiation treatments – all of which was going to cost quite a sum of money, but would relieve Russell’s worry over David’s cough. But should she tell him what Doctor Shaw had said at the end of the exam? Russell had become so hopeful. She had too. She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again. Maybe it would be better to spare Russell the worry, after all Doctor Shaw could be wrong. That’s what I’ll do, I’ll get another opinion from the other doctor and I’m sure it will all work out just fine in the end. Russell doesn’t need to know.

* * *

Edna looked at David in his little basket as she once again drove to another Doctor appointment. It had been two and a half months since she had taken him to Doctor Shaw and David had finished his radiation treatments. His cough still lingered and Edna thought it was peculiar it was lasting so long, a fact she didn’t want to admit simply because anything out of the ordinary could point to an abnormality. In the middle of David’s treatments, she had seen another doctor who said he didn’t think there was enough evidence of mongolism. It had given her hope! But today she was nervous. She was on her way to Doctor Ryan’s office who, apparently, knew a little more about mongolism than the other doctors who had seen David.

Edna was becoming adept at going through the motions at a physician’s office: check in at the front desk, wait. Follow the nurse to the examination room, undress David, wait. Let the doctor poke, prod, and stare and then wait nervously for him to say something. This time was no different so far.

Well Mrs. Peak…there is no doubt in my mind that your son is a mongoloid Doctor Ryan broke the silence in such an abrupt and matter-of-fact way. This took Edna a bit by surprise and his words hung in the air like damp laundry on the line to dry. She had heard similar words, but this time the words no doubt left her speechless. Her skin suddenly felt tight and she wanted to refute it, but before she could, Doctor Ryan continued, He shows all the clinical signs: a round face, almond-shaped eyes, small ears, heavy eyelids, protruding tongue, short bent pinky finger, one line across the palm, and a tendency to double-jointedness. Amid feeling overwhelmed, Edna was annoyed that Doctor Ryan would rattle off a list in such a way, like David was nothing more than a curiosity that fit a particular description. The very same list contained many of the things Edna found most endearing about David. I’d like my associate, Doctor Harvey, to take a look at David if that’s alright with you Mrs. Peak? Edna managed to nod and then regretted the permission as soon as he left the room. But then perhaps Doctor Harvey would disagree with Doctor Ryan’s opinion.

Edna could hear footsteps and then two men’s voices outside the closed door to the room where she and David sat waiting. She wondered if they were talking about David and if so, what were they saying? Was Doctor Ryan convincing Doctor Harvey that David was a mongoloid before Doctor Harvey could form his own opinion? Then Edna heard a female laugh. Why would someone laugh? Are they making fun of my son?