This is a newspaper article about Harriet from 1967.
COURAGE IS HARRIET SPARK'S MIDDLE NAME
Courage and determination! Harriet Sparks has both, combined with an insurmountably cheerful disposition,
On January 27, 1967, she submitted to the amputation of her left leg. Because she can never be fitted with an artificial limb, she must spend the remainder of her life in a wheel chair. Does she feel sorry for herself? Not at all, for she told us, "I'm just so happy anyway. My friends and family are so good to me and my husband is absolutely wonderful. What would be the use of giving up?"
Mrs. Sparks and her husband Jim are the parents of a daughter, Ida May Haug who lives next door to them, and of seven sons, Walter of Canada, Clarence (Bud) who died in 1962, Harry in California, who visited them this summer, Earl, South Beloit, Charles, Seattle, Wash., Bill, Milwaukie, Ore., Ted, present address unknown, but his mother is sure he'll walk in one day and ask, "What have you got to eat?"
They have 20 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. They lost 5 grandchildren four years ago when their home in Canada burned and their father, Walter, with a broken back, made an unsuccessful attempt to save them.
Since the birth of one of her children 46 years ago, Mrs. Sparks had endured the pain of a "bad leg", until the children last year requested that she consent to amputation, for they thought she had suffered long enough.
In spite of a diabetic condition, her recovery was so rapid, it amazed her doctors. She spent only twenty days in the hospital. She came home two weeks after the operation was performed.
"Some people complain about the care they get in the hospital," she said, "but, I've had wonderful care. It's a second home to me for I've been in the hospital seventeen times."
Mrs. Sparks, who is a Methodist, went on to say, "A Catholic priest, Father Collins of St. Thomas' church in Beloit did me MORE good!" His visits with her in the hospital will always remain the shining hours of what could have been for her a much more trying experience.
Mrs. Sparks does all her own work except for the laundry which is done by her daughter. She canned 200 quarts and froze more than 45 cartons of fruit and vegetables this summer.
"People wonder how I can scrub the floor. It's easy," she explained, "You just put the pail alongside the wheelchair, scrubbing one spot at a time." Jigsaw puzzle pieces and other articles dropped on the floor are retrieved with a long handled pancake turner.
"I 'bawled' the other day because I couldn't reach the top of the windows to wash them," she timidly confessed, "not that I felt sorry for myself. I was just mad that I couldn't do it!"
Utility shelves have been lowered for her convenience and often used objects moved to lower shelves for easy access from her wheelchair.
"I think idleness is what ails a lot of people. If you're busy you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself", is her philosophy.
She has made an "awful lot" of pillowcases with painted designs, as it's something to pass the time. She gives most of them away, but would sell them if anyone wanted to buy them. She irons and mends for others. She enjoys putting jigsaw puzzles together, plays a lot of canasta and solitaire and loves to have people come to see her.
This remarkable woman sees something good in every phase of life and is grateful for even the smallest kindness shown her.
She proudly pointed out the new apartment size gas stove which was the gift of her husband and sons on her 69th birthday Sept. 30, and the living room suite and rug, given by relatives for their 48th wedding anniversary June 24. Just as meaningful to her was the beautiful gloxinia plant, an anniversary gift from Father Collins.
This is the uplifting story of Mrs. James Sparks who says, " When I can't joke or have a little fun, then I'll give up!"
COURAGE IS HARRIET SPARK'S MIDDLE NAME
Courage and determination! Harriet Sparks has both, combined with an insurmountably cheerful disposition,
On January 27, 1967, she submitted to the amputation of her left leg. Because she can never be fitted with an artificial limb, she must spend the remainder of her life in a wheel chair. Does she feel sorry for herself? Not at all, for she told us, "I'm just so happy anyway. My friends and family are so good to me and my husband is absolutely wonderful. What would be the use of giving up?"
Mrs. Sparks and her husband Jim are the parents of a daughter, Ida May Haug who lives next door to them, and of seven sons, Walter of Canada, Clarence (Bud) who died in 1962, Harry in California, who visited them this summer, Earl, South Beloit, Charles, Seattle, Wash., Bill, Milwaukie, Ore., Ted, present address unknown, but his mother is sure he'll walk in one day and ask, "What have you got to eat?"
They have 20 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. They lost 5 grandchildren four years ago when their home in Canada burned and their father, Walter, with a broken back, made an unsuccessful attempt to save them.
Since the birth of one of her children 46 years ago, Mrs. Sparks had endured the pain of a "bad leg", until the children last year requested that she consent to amputation, for they thought she had suffered long enough.
In spite of a diabetic condition, her recovery was so rapid, it amazed her doctors. She spent only twenty days in the hospital. She came home two weeks after the operation was performed.
"Some people complain about the care they get in the hospital," she said, "but, I've had wonderful care. It's a second home to me for I've been in the hospital seventeen times."
Mrs. Sparks, who is a Methodist, went on to say, "A Catholic priest, Father Collins of St. Thomas' church in Beloit did me MORE good!" His visits with her in the hospital will always remain the shining hours of what could have been for her a much more trying experience.
Mrs. Sparks does all her own work except for the laundry which is done by her daughter. She canned 200 quarts and froze more than 45 cartons of fruit and vegetables this summer.
"People wonder how I can scrub the floor. It's easy," she explained, "You just put the pail alongside the wheelchair, scrubbing one spot at a time." Jigsaw puzzle pieces and other articles dropped on the floor are retrieved with a long handled pancake turner.
"I 'bawled' the other day because I couldn't reach the top of the windows to wash them," she timidly confessed, "not that I felt sorry for myself. I was just mad that I couldn't do it!"
Utility shelves have been lowered for her convenience and often used objects moved to lower shelves for easy access from her wheelchair.
"I think idleness is what ails a lot of people. If you're busy you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself", is her philosophy.
She has made an "awful lot" of pillowcases with painted designs, as it's something to pass the time. She gives most of them away, but would sell them if anyone wanted to buy them. She irons and mends for others. She enjoys putting jigsaw puzzles together, plays a lot of canasta and solitaire and loves to have people come to see her.
This remarkable woman sees something good in every phase of life and is grateful for even the smallest kindness shown her.
She proudly pointed out the new apartment size gas stove which was the gift of her husband and sons on her 69th birthday Sept. 30, and the living room suite and rug, given by relatives for their 48th wedding anniversary June 24. Just as meaningful to her was the beautiful gloxinia plant, an anniversary gift from Father Collins.
This is the uplifting story of Mrs. James Sparks who says, " When I can't joke or have a little fun, then I'll give up!"
This is a newspaper article about Harriet from 1967.
COURAGE IS HARRIET SPARK'S MIDDLE NAME
Courage and determination! Harriet Sparks has both, combined with an insurmountably cheerful disposition,
On January 27, 1967, she submitted to the amputation of her left leg. Because she can never be fitted with an artificial limb, she must spend the remainder of her life in a wheel chair. Does she feel sorry for herself? Not at all, for she told us, "I'm just so happy anyway. My friends and family are so good to me and my husband is absolutely wonderful. What would be the use of giving up?"
Mrs. Sparks and her husband Jim are the parents of a daughter, Ida May Haug who lives next door to them, and of seven sons, Walter of Canada, Clarence (Bud) who died in 1962, Harry in California, who visited them this summer, Earl, South Beloit, Charles, Seattle, Wash., Bill, Milwaukie, Ore., Ted, present address unknown, but his mother is sure he'll walk in one day and ask, "What have you got to eat?"
They have 20 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. They lost 5 grandchildren four years ago when their home in Canada burned and their father, Walter, with a broken back, made an unsuccessful attempt to save them.
Since the birth of one of her children 46 years ago, Mrs. Sparks had endured the pain of a "bad leg", until the children last year requested that she consent to amputation, for they thought she had suffered long enough.
In spite of a diabetic condition, her recovery was so rapid, it amazed her doctors. She spent only twenty days in the hospital. She came home two weeks after the operation was performed.
"Some people complain about the care they get in the hospital," she said, "but, I've had wonderful care. It's a second home to me for I've been in the hospital seventeen times."
Mrs. Sparks, who is a Methodist, went on to say, "A Catholic priest, Father Collins of St. Thomas' church in Beloit did me MORE good!" His visits with her in the hospital will always remain the shining hours of what could have been for her a much more trying experience.
Mrs. Sparks does all her own work except for the laundry which is done by her daughter. She canned 200 quarts and froze more than 45 cartons of fruit and vegetables this summer.
"People wonder how I can scrub the floor. It's easy," she explained, "You just put the pail alongside the wheelchair, scrubbing one spot at a time." Jigsaw puzzle pieces and other articles dropped on the floor are retrieved with a long handled pancake turner.
"I 'bawled' the other day because I couldn't reach the top of the windows to wash them," she timidly confessed, "not that I felt sorry for myself. I was just mad that I couldn't do it!"
Utility shelves have been lowered for her convenience and often used objects moved to lower shelves for easy access from her wheelchair.
"I think idleness is what ails a lot of people. If you're busy you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself", is her philosophy.
She has made an "awful lot" of pillowcases with painted designs, as it's something to pass the time. She gives most of them away, but would sell them if anyone wanted to buy them. She irons and mends for others. She enjoys putting jigsaw puzzles together, plays a lot of canasta and solitaire and loves to have people come to see her.
This remarkable woman sees something good in every phase of life and is grateful for even the smallest kindness shown her.
She proudly pointed out the new apartment size gas stove which was the gift of her husband and sons on her 69th birthday Sept. 30, and the living room suite and rug, given by relatives for their 48th wedding anniversary June 24. Just as meaningful to her was the beautiful gloxinia plant, an anniversary gift from Father Collins.
This is the uplifting story of Mrs. James Sparks who says, " When I can't joke or have a little fun, then I'll give up!"
COURAGE IS HARRIET SPARK'S MIDDLE NAME
Courage and determination! Harriet Sparks has both, combined with an insurmountably cheerful disposition,
On January 27, 1967, she submitted to the amputation of her left leg. Because she can never be fitted with an artificial limb, she must spend the remainder of her life in a wheel chair. Does she feel sorry for herself? Not at all, for she told us, "I'm just so happy anyway. My friends and family are so good to me and my husband is absolutely wonderful. What would be the use of giving up?"
Mrs. Sparks and her husband Jim are the parents of a daughter, Ida May Haug who lives next door to them, and of seven sons, Walter of Canada, Clarence (Bud) who died in 1962, Harry in California, who visited them this summer, Earl, South Beloit, Charles, Seattle, Wash., Bill, Milwaukie, Ore., Ted, present address unknown, but his mother is sure he'll walk in one day and ask, "What have you got to eat?"
They have 20 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. They lost 5 grandchildren four years ago when their home in Canada burned and their father, Walter, with a broken back, made an unsuccessful attempt to save them.
Since the birth of one of her children 46 years ago, Mrs. Sparks had endured the pain of a "bad leg", until the children last year requested that she consent to amputation, for they thought she had suffered long enough.
In spite of a diabetic condition, her recovery was so rapid, it amazed her doctors. She spent only twenty days in the hospital. She came home two weeks after the operation was performed.
"Some people complain about the care they get in the hospital," she said, "but, I've had wonderful care. It's a second home to me for I've been in the hospital seventeen times."
Mrs. Sparks, who is a Methodist, went on to say, "A Catholic priest, Father Collins of St. Thomas' church in Beloit did me MORE good!" His visits with her in the hospital will always remain the shining hours of what could have been for her a much more trying experience.
Mrs. Sparks does all her own work except for the laundry which is done by her daughter. She canned 200 quarts and froze more than 45 cartons of fruit and vegetables this summer.
"People wonder how I can scrub the floor. It's easy," she explained, "You just put the pail alongside the wheelchair, scrubbing one spot at a time." Jigsaw puzzle pieces and other articles dropped on the floor are retrieved with a long handled pancake turner.
"I 'bawled' the other day because I couldn't reach the top of the windows to wash them," she timidly confessed, "not that I felt sorry for myself. I was just mad that I couldn't do it!"
Utility shelves have been lowered for her convenience and often used objects moved to lower shelves for easy access from her wheelchair.
"I think idleness is what ails a lot of people. If you're busy you don't have time to feel sorry for yourself", is her philosophy.
She has made an "awful lot" of pillowcases with painted designs, as it's something to pass the time. She gives most of them away, but would sell them if anyone wanted to buy them. She irons and mends for others. She enjoys putting jigsaw puzzles together, plays a lot of canasta and solitaire and loves to have people come to see her.
This remarkable woman sees something good in every phase of life and is grateful for even the smallest kindness shown her.
She proudly pointed out the new apartment size gas stove which was the gift of her husband and sons on her 69th birthday Sept. 30, and the living room suite and rug, given by relatives for their 48th wedding anniversary June 24. Just as meaningful to her was the beautiful gloxinia plant, an anniversary gift from Father Collins.
This is the uplifting story of Mrs. James Sparks who says, " When I can't joke or have a little fun, then I'll give up!"
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