I so enjoyed the series about Cap and Billie Peterson’s life at Tait Lake. They were extraordinary and unique people — always so willing and capable of helping others.
Billie loved nature and was very learned about northern forests, animals, trees, plants and weeds. For several summers (around 1964) she taught a nature-study class to young people in the Lutsen area. My oldest daughter was a lucky student in this free summer program.
Billie was a brilliant nurse. Her years at Chicago Children’s Hospital became Cook County’s good fortune, as she served effectively as a nurse there. On Dec. 27, 1960 my only son (who had been born on Nov. 27) was brought back to life numerous times as she succeeded in getting him to breathe again. At the hospital, she personally devised, with a small glass funnel, a way to give him a limited amount of oxygen and did so by placing this funnel over his nose and mouth, intermittently, and thus resuscitating him over and over.
Today, that boy she saved is near 50 years old. Of course, I’m a grateful mother. Thank you for pioneers like Billie and Cap Peterson.
Janet Nelson Hennessy
Gordon, Wis.
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