1989. Daughter memories © Bruce Goodman 5 November 2020

It was a tragedy when Diana and Mansell’s seven-year-old daughter, Destiny, died. It had been a medical mistake. Destiny had gone in “for a little operation” and the surgeon had left a sponge inside her when he sewed up. Destiny died. Diana and Mansell were, of course, heart-broken. “We have to sue the doctor,” declared Mansell. “We have to sue the hospital. We have to sue the Health Board. We have to sue…” “I think we should remember little Destiny and the happy times,” said Diana. “To sue would simply extend our grieving forever.” ”It’s not the money,” said Mansell. “It’s the principle. We don’t want this happening again.” “I think we can rest assured that it won’t happen again, whether we sue or not,” said Diana. “I would prefer to remember Destiny the happy way she was.” But Mansell went on and on. He wouldn’t let the topic drop. Whenever Destiny’s name was mentioned he went on about the irresponsibility of the doctors and the nurses and the hospitals. It was impossible for Diana to ever share memories of their daughter with her husband without a diatribe. It lasted a lifetime. Contact Author Back to Still More Stories Index Next Story Previous Story