Seward House
Badsey
Apr 30 /16
My dear May
Mother had a fairly good night but is very prostrate today. Mr Leslie has been and will look in again presently to give an injection of digitalis to stimulate the heart which in its present weak state can ill-afford the extra strain of this attack of bronchitis. He wishes us to get Mela as he would like a trained nurse in the house, we have therefore wired to her and I will write to Aunt Lizzie to explain why we have done so.
I expect you will like to come back instead of going to Eastbourne and if you write or wire to Aunt Lizzie she will quite understand. Hitherto I have looked after Mother at night but she is to have such frequent attention and feeding that the girls will each take a watch tonight and then when Mela comes we must arrange a timetable. It is very important that she should avoid anything like exertion and reserve all her strength in combatting this latest attack. I think the cough is easier but it leaves her absolutely weak. She is having various kinds of nourishment every two hours and manages to take it and the doctor wants her to have pretty well the same at night, Windows have to be kept open and the bronchitis kettle going. You can imagine the girls are very busy and they certainly are most careful nurses. I have no time to write more as other letters have to be written and we must post them in Evesham. Mr Leslie kindly sent the wire to Mela about 1 pm.
It is a very anxious time for us all but we must be brave and hope that all will go well.
Your loving Father
Julius Sladden
PS - We shall be glad to see you and I know you will want to come. Ethel and Betty are both splendid but of course with night work the strain of work will be heavier but I hope much that that extra care will do a great deal for her.
Much love.
