A Love Poem to My Mother
When I hear thundersnow and see its deep-blue swale, I think of you.
When you heard it, and saw its depths, did you think of me?
We shared the cradle of the iron lung for many months, so I wonder,
were you saddened when they delivered me to breathe on my own?
You had to stay entwined in that apparatus that kept us both alive.
You said you could see Chicago’s Outer Drive from the 10th floor window,
and that it was alluring, if you’d had the strength. Years later you told me
you’d dreamed of this as an escape, as a way we could have left together—
had you the strength.
N. B. Wesley Memorial Hospital Chicago, established in 1911, was a significant healthcare institution in Chicago. By 1946, it was known for providing a range of medical services and was affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Wesley Memorial Hospital was known for its specialized care for polio patients. The hospital utilized various treatment methods, including physical therapy and respiratory support, to aid recovery.
The hospital’s work during this period is part of the larger history of polio treatment in the United States, which eventually led to the development of effective vaccines in the 1950s.
This piece is dedicated to Marie Kartholl Cassidy, RIP September 11, 1975
Jean Cassidy September, 2025
