Anne Donatelli

Anne Donnatelli...... oh, the surge of memories...

.... wow....we go way back. When I was preparing to have my first child, I took Lamaz classes, (or a version of) and Anne was there. I believe that is when I met her. I LOVED her! She demonstrated a woman in labor...as a piece of bacon frying in a skillet...slowly getting hotter and writhing.... I think of that often.

She was around when I lost my first daughter, and was immeasurable comfort to me. She has been around while I raised my 3 kids and gave me advice while we both watched my kids grow. She is a wonderful and positive woman. 

She was there when I took my oldest boy to the hospital with a concussion from a bicycle accident. Her presence was felt when I took him due a bad horse bite (where he lost part of his ear lobe) She was nearby when I took him when he was in Junior High with a broken collar bone, and again, nearby when I met my 17 year old son at the hospital with a severely broken leg (from a motorcycle accident)

I always knew she was there, the 1^st time I took my daughter for her first of 5 broken arms...as a 2 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 11 year old, and the final time of 14. (all but 1 were falls off a horse) (don't try to catch yourself with your hand, your wrist might break) At 3, Katie was bit on the face by a neighbor's dog in our own yard (while we lived in town) and Anne was a comfort while we were in the hospital for stitches. (the injury later required more intensive surgery and is not noticeable now)

My youngest wasn't in as often as his older siblings, but a nail up the knee, a rock to the head and some tummy aches, leading to additional trips to Boise, and Anne was in some way, a part of it all.

I met Anne's daughter while working in the HS. Another great young woman. She should be very proud. I believe there is a son, but I"ve not met him. My daughter's 1st son had a bit of jaundice and we had him in the hospital for a day under lights....and who was there to help us? Anne Donnatelli to the rescue. She and I had a talk about the years past....and we both got a bit choked up. She said to me "You're going to make me cry"  Here we were, starting a new generation of "owies" together. 

The ties to my family have become even stronger. Anne was the nurse who played a bit part of comforting my daughter in law, Jessica Miller. How poetic is that? It's so perfect, I couldn't have thought of a better way of bringing us all together. I've mentioned Jess before, my Miracle Daughter in Law. Jess grew up with Cancer, and has added a wonderful element to our family. I love knowing that Anne was there for her during those hard times.

This is part of what being in a small town is about. I have loved raising kids here in this town, knowing that there were people out there who loved and cared for them, just for the loving and caring for them.

Anne was Dr. Wakelee Bledsoe's nurse a lot thru the years..... ahhhhhh.... more memories .... Wakelee was also both my kids, my sister's kids, most of my friends' children...and also cared for Jessica. Both of these are great women, that I'm honored to know.

Take care, both of you, and we're all praying for you Wakelee

I bet lots of you have similar stories, wanna share?

Jessie Miller:  Mother, Mother in Law of, Aunt, and Friend of so many you've cared for.