Rose says: Ann is doing a Giveaway, so be sure to read to the bottom to see how to enter to win a copy of this great book!
The Blessings of Modern Medicine by Ann H. Gabhart
This year my husband had some emergency health issues that included a hospital stay and many doctor visits. While he had a problem that could be life threatening if not promptly treated, I was sure that as soon as the right doctors were brought on his case, he was going to be all right. Even though he was very sick for a week or so, he did rebound and recover completely.
We complain about our health system. We complain about insurance coverage. We get bothered by all the specialists who keep you making rounds of several doctors instead of only one. We tire of signing all the privacy forms and filling out our medical histories. But if we look into the past back to the 1700s and 1800s, we know how fortunate we are to have all those doctors.
My current release, River to Redemption, is set during the 1833 cholera epidemic. I merely had to scratch the surface researching cholera epidemics to understand why the news of a cholera death brought full scale panic to a town. Other diseases such as yellow fever or influenza took their full share of victims, but something about how cholera swept through an area killing so many in a short time struck fear in people’s heart. A person could be fine in the morning and die before nightfall once the cholera hit. Doctors died along with their patients. No treatments worked and in fact, some of the medications tried surely did more harm than good.
At the time, people thought cholera could be caused by “bad air” since it always came in the summertime when piles of discarded or rotting vegetables were around. Not until the 1850s was the true cause, contaminated drinking water, suspected. So, citizens in any area that was hit by cholera would flee their towns to get away from the “bad air.” That often served to quickly spread the infectious disease to other areas.
Dr. George B. Wood, a doctor at that time wrote this about cholera. “No barriers are sufficient to obstruct its progress. It crosses mountains, deserts, and oceans. Opposing winds do not check it. All classes of persons, male and female, young and old, the robust and the feeble, are exposed to its assault; and even those whom it has once visited are not always subsequently exempt; yet as a general rule it selects its victims preferably from among those already pressed down by the various miseries of life and leaves the rich and prosperous to their sunshine and their fears.”
It is believed more that 150,000 Americans died during the cholera pandemics between 1832 and 1849, including fifty-five victims in the small Kentucky town of Springfield. But occasionally a person would be immune to the disease. My book, River to Redemption, was inspired by the actions of a slave who lived in Springfield during the cholera epidemic. When all, who had the resources to do so, deserted the town, this man was ordered to stay behind and take care of his master’s hotel business. Louis did more than that. He did what he could for the sick and if they died, he gave them a proper burial. Twelve years later when his owner died and Louis was to be sold, the town came together to reward him for what he did in 1833 by buying his freedom. I invented a town full of people to write a story about how that might have happened.
In a starred review for River to Redemption, the reviewer writes, “Gabhart’s (These Healing Hills, 2017) moving and beautifully written story of faith in action [is] based on true events stemming from the 1833 cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky…”
I do hope readers will find hope and inspiration in my story. But I also hope all of us will pause for a moment to be thankful for modern medicine that combines knowledgeable doctors and medical research to come up with cures and treatments to keep us living longer and healthier lives.
Rose here to remind you to leave a comment if you’d like to be entered for Ann’s giveaway on July 6, 2018. Don’t you just love the cover and the story?
Bio: ANN H. GABHART, the bestselling author of over thirty novels, has been called a 
storyteller. That’s not a bad thing for somebody who grew up dreaming of being a writer. Ann’s historical novels, including her popular Shaker series, have Kentucky backgrounds. Recently she headed to the Appalachian Mountains for These Healing Hills while her new release, River to Redemption, was inspired by a true story that happened in a small Kentucky town. Ann also writes about family life, love and sometimes mystery (as A.H. Gabhart). She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren and enjoy life out on their Kentucky farm. To find out more about Ann’s books and to check out her blog, One Writer’s Journal, visit www.annhgabhart.com. You can also join in the conversation on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart or Twitter @AnnHGabhart.
I would love to read this as it sounds so very interesting, plus Ann is such a wonderful author.
Thank you so much, Lucy. I hope you will like the story when you get a chance to read River to Redemption.
I can’t wait to read this latest book by Ann H. Gabhart…..the background for the story, and the beautiful cover already have me hooked!
Revell Books did do a great job with the cover. I love it too, Marji. I do hope you’ll like the story.
I really enjoyed These Healing Hills and I am looking forward to reading River To Redemption. Ann has a wonderful way of bringing her stories to life.
Thank you so much, Carol. I’m glad you enjoyed my mountain story and hope you will enjoy River to Redemption too. I appreciate your kind words.
I want to be entered in the giveaway for River to Redemption.
Good luck in the drawing, Donna.
There is so many things to be thankful for, and Ann and her inspirational books are among them.
That’s such a sweet thing for you to tell me, Janice. Thank you so much. I’m thankful for readers like you.
I’m really glad we have more modern medicine practices and available health care. Those people had so little of it back then. It’s hard to imagine how bad it really was.
I think you’re right, Connie. It is hard to think about the fear and worry the news of a cholera epidemic would cause. While cholera is the jumping off place of my story, my characters don’t have to worry about another epidemic until after my story ends. It did come back to Springfield in 1849, I think, with more deaths.
Yes, I also liked These Healing Hills. I am hoping this book is released soon so I can read it, too.
The book should be out in three days, Birdie. Seems forever to wait for that book to hit the shelves sometimes, but the July 4th week is a good time to celebrate a new book. I’m glad you enjoying These Healing Hills.
I have enjoyed all of the books I have read by Ann and also enjoy her posts on Facebook. The cover alone makes me want to read this new one.
Joan, looks like you comment did finally come through. Thank you so much for reading my stories and joining in the conversation on my Facebook page. Revell Books did a great job with this cover. Looks great.
This sounds like a great read! Looking forward to reading it and learning more about cholera.
Always fun to hear from you, Ola. I do hope you’ll like my River to Redemption characters.
I loved These Healing Hills, looking forward to reading your new book . I enjoy all of your books Ann , You are a wonderful story teller as well as so inspiring.
Thank you so much, Nancy. I appreciate your kind words and I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed reading my stories. I loved These Healing HIlls too. I’m looking forward to going back to the mountains for another story soon.
Rose, a couple of people have tried to leave comments and weren’t able to get things to work. I said I’d add their names to the drawing. They are Joan Kurth and Darlene Puckett. If they happen to win the drawing, I’ll try to contact them for you.
I just read the excerpt from River to Redemption and was immediately drawn in to the times. There was a Cemetery behind the house I grew up in and it was said that all who were buried there died of cholera. This book is a must have!
That’s interesting about the cemetery, Juanita. Actually the first two preachers of our over 200 year old church died of cholera.
Glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Hi Ann, when I read that your new book was inspired by the cholera epidemic I knew that I needed to read it. Like Juanita, I also have a cemetery near by that holds the remains of many people in our area that died of cholera. Their ages ranged from infant to elderly and many share the same last name so you know that they were probably from the same family. I am especially intrigued by Louis’s story and I love his interaction with Adria. Thanks for your giveaway!
I do hope you will enjoy the story, Connie. Louis’s story and the town’s response is inspiring. I guess so. It inspired my book. :) It’s interesting about the cemeteries. I hadn’t thought about how there might be family cemeteries that were filled too quickly because of the cholera epidemic. Imagine the sadness of whoever had to bury their family members while wondering if they might be next.
Sounds good! I’d love to win this one. ?
Good luck in the drawing. You have a fun internet name.
Downloaded ebook. Can’the put it down. I didn’the realize that cholera contributed to so many deaths. Sure glad we have safe guards in place today the pretty much takes care of these type of illness from happening.. I am enjoyin this book like all of your books. Keep up the great work.
How fun, Norma, that you downloaded the book and are already reading it. Hope you grabbed my other books that were on cheap e-book sale this month too. I am really thankful for good medicines that keep us healthy longer.
Can’t wait tonread this Ann
I can’t wait for you to read it too, Beth. Always fun to hear from readers after they read my stories.