Interview with Ruahini Crofts

Interview with Ruahini Crofts about her experiences as a tuberculosis (TB) patient in the early 1950s. Mentions her father had died of TB when she was four. Talks about having a month-old baby when she was diagnosed and admitted to Coronation Hospital in Christchurch. Comments that the treatment was bed rest, injections of streptomycin and big pills that were hard to swallow. Refers to Dr John McLeod, Dr Enticott and Dr MacIntyre. Mentions an older Maori woman in the next bed, and the number of Maori women in the ward. Talks about nurses and patients who helped her morale, and about occupatinal therapy. Refers to her family travelling by buses from Tuahiwi to visit, but not seeing her baby for ten months. Discusses contagion, visitors, staff and volunteer helpers at the sanatorium. Refers to the privilege of getting "block leave" - being allowed to get up and go to the toilet when they wanted to. Mentions a Maori cook who collected puha and cooked boil ups for Maori patients. Comments on patients smoking secretively, mainly once they were mobile. Mentions relationships and marriages breaking up when the more mobile patients in the "upper san" got into relationships together. Talks about having relapses after the birth of her next two daughters, and "eating her way out" of hospital. Refers to having a new operation during her third period in Coronation Hospital. Describes how she was well for two years after her son was born, but then had a relapse, was sent by her priest to Hanmer Hospital where she deteriorated and was rushed back to Christchurch Hospital. Reflects on how her experiences have made her realise she is not invincible, and led her to take very good care of her family and herself. Discusses the role of the extended family in bringing up her children when she was in hospital. Talks about her later life and careers, and her children and grandchildren.

Interviewer(s) - Sue McCauley

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-012731 - OHC-012732

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) - printed. 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 interview(s).

Physical Description: Textual file - Microsoft word

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-4271, OHDL-000903.

Search dates: 1950 - 2002

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-008455 - OHLC-008456

Both printed and digital versions of the transcript are available