[May 19, 1943-jlt]

Wednesday afternoon

Cabarrus County General Hospital

Concord, NC

Dear Ruel,

I know you are worrying yourself sick about Johnnie and I. I was so excited after seeing the doctor the other morning that I'm sure I didn't write a very encouraging letter. I feel a little better about it now, but it was hard to leave Johnnie at home. I am here for tonight and will have an operation in the morning.

Dr. Monroe is a specialist in women's diseases. He frightened me after he made the examination. Dr. Patterson had told me there was a growth in my left side. This doctor says I have a large mass, and it is almost in the middle. He doesn't know exactly what it is but thinks it is an ovarian cyst or tumor as did Dr. Patterson. It must be growing fast. I'll know all about it in the morning when they operate.

I received the letter this morning that you wrote Saturday. The one you mailed Sunday got here Tuesday. I wonder if Hiram and Evelyn ever got home? Perhaps he got a furlough and was not shipped as soon as he thought. I surely hope he did get there. We are thinking perhaps Harding may get home within the next week or two. He will finish at Douglas, Georgia in that time.

I don't know exactly how to express the way I feel about this operation. I feel that there is every possibility of coming through it all right. If I should not make it, you will know that the Ruler of Our Destiny has decided it is time for me to enter into another life. I know that you will put your best effort into helping Johnnie become the kind of person we hope he will be. If he takes after his Dad I will feel that he is about the best that there is. You have succeeded in making two years of my life very happy. You have really been a sport about trying to get along with such an eccentric person as me.

If I get along all right with the operation you need not come up here. Perhaps you can see about getting gas to come up here after us in a week or two. However I think we will be able to travel on the train before long. You will come of course if I'm very serious.

Johnnie was doing all right when I left. I had to shed a few tears as I kissed him goodbye. He was kicking and playing. Mama and Pop are going to take good care of him. I won't worry about that. I wish now that he could be where you are though.

I'll be thinking about you.

Lots of love,

Mavis