Webb, Mitchell - Catching Grasshoppers

  Catching Grasshoppers Remembering Mitchell Webb

“Dear Cousin, I visited your grave today …I never met you, but I feel close to you and wanted to let you know your life touched our family., I want to share your name and your story with the world to honor your memory.”
Charles Mitchell Webb was my cousin. I remember my Granny Hazel walking through Bethel Cemetery and lingering at his grave. She would always ensure he had a special rose. Each time my mom spotted me watching Granny decorate his grave she would tell me about the day before… The day he was in the field catching grasshoppers. She could years later see him running and playing in that field with a jar collecting the bugs. If I recall Mom’s story correctly, he was staying with them while his mom was in the hospital, around the time one of his siblings was being born. Per mom’s memory she thought he wore himself out playing in that field but the next morning the family awoke to a fright. Stricken July 26,1953 with Polio.
A very painful disease…sudden paralysis…agonizing treatments, isolation, rehabilitation, and recovery could take years. A newspaper read “Polio outbreak in 1952 became the worst epidemic in nations history 58,000 diagnosis were reported that year of those 3,200 died and 21,000 left with disabling paralysis.” An infectious disease with spinal and respiratory problems. The Iron Lung was developed to help treat patients whose lung muscles were paralyzed, and they could no longer breathe well on their own. A large cylinder of metal surrounding the body. The isolation and conditions of this treatment could also easily be seen as a type of torture device. Can you imagine? Not to mention laying still for lengthy periods of time in this contraption but what about the simplest of nose itches or a twig of hair aggravating you becoming such a terrible torture. Being in the hospitals your family in quarantine…
Mark Twain said, “History never repeats itself, but it rhymes,” Polio and most recent Covid…Two epidemics separated by a century yet terribly similar and both frightening. In the name of safety during Covid our lives halted. Survival mode of social distancing, masks…our loved ones were in the hospital, and we were not allowed to visit for fear. Most people were touched by Covid. We lost loved ones and felt fear as many suffered. Just as vaccines were researched for Covid and vaccines came to aid with Polio. I gave my elderly neighbor a ride down near the mall to get her Covid vaccination she shared that there had been a similar drive thru for polio. She said it was an oral option and they had put it in a sugar cube the family drove by and got a sugar cube in hopes to keep them safe. Though Covid was a new diagnosis and different type of disease it was also similar and held the same feelings…the same fears as my little cousin and family experienced years before.
Everyone has spoken of Mitchells smiles and despite all odds his fight to survive. Looking through some old newspaper clippings I smile seeing his sweet smile encouraging a friend in the hospital. I read of his pure determination using his feet to help him in his recovery…I am proud of this cousin of mine. Sadly, though on April 14, 1965, at the early age of 15 Mitchell passed from this Earth. His death certificate listing complications of polio. Just as my mom always remembered him running and playing the day before he was stricken with the disease, I envision him just like those grasshoppers that day. Active bouncy running into Heaven pain free no more struggles full of life and chirpier than ever before. Though his life was short here on Earth he touched us. His parents, my mom, Grandmother, and his siblings… his brother Gene Webb carved a beautiful memorial to him… and now his story also touches you as we remember and honor his memory.









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