My brother was eight years old when I was born December 17, 1943. My parents had already lost their second child, a still-born daughters. This most likely happened because my mother was RH-negative and my father RH-positive. A few years later, when I was born, someone must have learned more about the Rh-positive/negative situation, because I received a blood transfusion that may be the reason I lived. Years later, my parents told me that a blood donation had come from Lawrence Fitzwater, a member of Hagerstown Church of the Brethren, who was the music director there from 1945-1949.

I have no memory of my dedication, but I am sure Paul Robinson dedicated me, since he was the pastor at HCoB from 1940 to 1959. The dress in the photo may be what I wore that day. Mother had saved two of my baby dresses, both of which I used to dress one of the  dolls which I turned over to my daughters, clothes and all.

The Fitzwater story cannot end yet. In 2014, Lawrence’s son David contacted me for information about Camp Peniel. He wanted to write an article about the camp, which years before that had been closed and turned over to the government. I knew nothing of the history except for the years I was there, but I contacted Jim Replogle, whose father played a role in establishing the camp. Jim sent me a 79- page document that his father had written and published in 1982. I sent “Look to the Hills, A Study of the beginnings of Brethren Camping in Maryland”  to David, but unfortunately for him, someone else  was already working on that project. I did scroll through  the PDF and found numerous people I knew. One was my Aunt Freda Coffma.

NOTE: Although the document is 79 pages, the text is double-spaced and does not fill all pages.
Click here if you’d like to read it.