She had to take care of her flu stricken husband while caring for a newborn.

Glenwood, Philadelphia.

My grandparents were living on Glenwood Ave in Philadelphia’s Ward 32 at the time of the epidemic.  My grandmother. Veronica Fischer had to take care of my flu stricken grandfather, Maximillian, during the influenza epidemic in 1918-19, when she gave birth on November 12, 1918, (the day after the armistice) and thus caring for a newborn (my mother.)  With the armistice, came celebration – people ventured out into the streets without surgical masks. This included my grandmother’s doctor, whom they couldn’t find when she went into labor because he was out celebrating!  I am not sure when my grandfather fell ill during the epidemic, but my mother has told me that he was not allowed near her while he was sick.

Thankfully, they all survived the epidemic.  

Contributes by Meg Halvey Gingell, Granddaughter of Veronica and Maximillian.