Fall, 1918. The Great Flu was spreading across the United States. The last of the lazy-warm summer days began to fade in Iowa. On a homestead outside Sac City, a farmer named Martin was the first in his family to become ill. 1/12

But the sun came out — Martin started to recover and went back to work. Simply put, there was too much to do during harvest. 2/12

Even so, Mabel, Martin's wife, and their three children were beset by the illness. Forrest, only six months old, wasn’t doing well at all. Care was difficult to find. 3/12

Mabel’s mother Emma was brave and clever and determined to care for the family. She’d already lost three children in years past, and she despaired the loss of Mabel. 4/12

Emma realized the outlook was bleak. Martin had relapsed and could hardly breathe. Burial arrangements were tentatively made for the family of five. 5/12

Martin didn’t recover. He died in the night. Mabel was delirious, unaware what happened. Her oldest daughter Mildred saw men with kerchiefs coming to take her father away. 6/12

Meanwhile, Emma made mustard plasters for Mabel and the children and nourished baby Forrest with sugared water, hoping it would be enough. Little else could be done. 7/12

It worked! Forrest and his siblings recovered and Mabel too. She’d eventually fall in love again. In 1920, she married Cecil, a WWI veteran with a big heart for his new family. 8/12

Forrest would grow up to be a strong young man. He’d meet Vera, the love of his life, at a dance at the Electric Park Ballroom. He’d go on to serve in WWII as a medic and save the lives of several fellow soldiers. 9/12

Eventually, Forrest would return to the States, build a career as a carpenter, and raise his own family. And then one day in the late 20th century, he would become a grandparent. #truestory 10/12

And how do I know this is a true story? You might have guessed by now — he was my grandfather. I wouldn’t even be here if not for Emma and the care she gave him. 11/12

What to take away from this story: what you do today could change the lives of people years and years in the future. Stay home, take care of each other, and keep hope near. 12/12
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