Ora Carpenter Omerza history, 15th installment

The year following his death was very hard for me. All my children lived him Mesa and they wanted me to sell our house and move to Mesa. Finally I made up my mind that that was the thing to do, so in Aug 1982 we sold the house and I went to Mesa. John helped me get a house at 915 S. Daley. I wasn’t able to move in until the last of Dec. I spent some time with Bertha in Thatcher and some of the time with Madge. It was good being close to the children and grandchildren but it took awhile before I could make the house feel like home. Bertha visited with me often and then in the fall of 1984 Bertha came to live with me as she had been called to work in the Temple. It has been a good arrangement. I have enjoyed her so much. She was anxious for me to work in the Temple too so in June 1985 I was set apart as an ordinance worker. Its wonderful work and I enjoyed it so much.

We were enjoying each others company and our work in the Temple, then on Feb. 18, 1986 I suffered a stroke. It affected my whole left side. I could neither walk or use my left hand. What a blow. I felt I was rendered completely helpless. I was in the hospital for 5 weeks. With the help they gave me there and with the love and encouragement I received from my children and grandchildren and other family members I gradually began to get the use of my left side. When I came from the hospital I needed complete care. That was very hard for me not to be able to do anything for myself.

The way back was very hard. I took therapy treatments at the hospital three times a week for 2 months. It was very slow and discouraging even quite painful at times but with the help of my children and other family members to encourage me I began to show some improvement.

We were very fortunate to have a friend of Madges to come live with us when I came from the hospital. She is Rosa Cordon and she has helped so much. Nothing is too much for her. She has helped so much with my therapy. She is a very devout member of the church and is from Guatemala. By having her here, Bertha was able to go back to her work in the Temple.

In the summer of 1984, we decided to publish a history of our Grandfather Carpenter, Erastus Snow. We contacted all the grandchildren and got histories and pictures. It took two years to complete but we felt it is a very worth while book. Even though I’m not completely recovered from the stroke, I feel I have been blessed many times. I was given a priesthood blessing by my sons just before I went to the hospital. The family and friends had a fast for me which was a great blessing. While in the hospital I had fluid on my lungs. I was in a panic. I called Jay and Ted and they came immediately. I felt so much better after the blessing.

Aug 24, 1986:

I haven’t been feeling too well lately but this was a good day. It was Sunday. I needed to renew my Temple recommend and I got an interview with the Bishop and went in immediately to the Stake Presidents office and got it signed. I felt good about the day because I did everything I had planned. Now I’m all set for a recommend for another year. Hopefully I’ll be much better by next year. I’m improving but it just takes time and patience. I have lost so much weight. I feel so weak all the time. But I’m eating better so I’ll soon be stronger. I guess I am learning a little more patience. I realize I have been very short with people about patience. Maybe that’s why I had to suffer this. I hope I learned my lesson. I would hate to have another lesson. Rosa has been so much help to me spiritually. Madge came yesterday. She always lifts my spirits.

Aug15, 1986:

This hasn’t been a very good day, but it’s late afternoon and I’m feeling better.