Susie wished again that her mother hadn’t dug in her heels against seeing medical doctors—it had been that way for as long as she could remember, even after Polly’s struggle with her thyroid years ago. Yet Polly’s first visit to the highly recommended doctor in Landisville had changed her life for the better, teaching all of them a valuable lesson—or so Susie had thought.

Why wasn’t that enough for Mamma? Susie recalled how exhausted and weak Polly had been at the time, her hair thinning as rapidly as she’d gained weight. That is, until the doctor had prescribed thyroid medication. The difference between then and now was so apparent.

The teakettle whistled, and Susie dismissed her thoughts. “Help is on the way,” she murmured softly.

As her mother often did when her asthma flared up, she leaned over the cup and inhaled the steam slowly, deeply, while the tea brewed. There had been times that Susie had even put a towel over Mamma’s head to contain the steam.

“This is just what I needed,” Mamma murmured, glancing at her. “Denki.”

A temporary remedy at best, Susie thought, wishing for a bishop-approved way to keep the nasty allergens outdoors or to filter them out of the house. Just something . . . anything to help Mamma breathe easy again.

CHAPTER
23

Due to Mamma’s lingering poor health, Susie, Mamma, and Britta skipped going to Saturday market the next day. Susie looked in on her upstairs frequently and felt at a loss to know what to do. Observing how fitfully her mother was sleeping, she thought, Maybe I should just slip away to the stable and place a call to Allen and Sarah without Mamma knowing.

Tiptoeing out of the room, Susie decided she must alert her brother without delay. He needed to know how bad Mamma’s asthma had become.

A soft light trickled through the stable windows as Susie hurried to the wall phone beyond the horse stalls. Quickly, she dialed the number for her brother’s barn phone.

On the third ring, Sarah answered. “Oh, Susie! It’s wunnerbaar to hear your voice! I was about to call you and leave a message.”

“Hope everyone’s all right there.”

“Oh jah, we’re fine.” Sarah went on to say she’d been meaning to catch up on things back home. Then she asked, “How’s your Mamma? Haven’t heard a peep from her in a while.”

Susie was relieved she’d asked. “Honestly, she’s not doin’ so well, but she would say not to worry . . . that she has some gut days mixed in with the bad.”

“I’m sorry to hear she’s ailin’ again.”

“She drinks a fair amount of tea, but that only does so much, as ya know,” Susie said. “Mamma tries other natural remedies, too, especially that syrup she likes, but I think she needs a doctor.”