Don’t Have Your Baby in the Dory! The Story of Nurse Myra Bennett

by H. Gordon Green, Albert Taylor (Illustrator)

“It’s tempting Providence, it is!” he kept saying. “Sail this here ship on Friday the thirteenth? With all them blinkin’ mines still loose in the sea? It’s only askin’ for trouble, that’s all!”

This was the warning given to Nurse Myra Grimsley in 1921 prior to her departure from England to her new assignment in Newfoundland. In May of that year, she arrived in the small fishing hamlet of Daniel’s Harbour, which remained her home for the rest of her life. Here she became the only medical help along 200 miles of storm-swept coast and an invaluable member of this spread-out community. Half a century later, Myra Bennett was still nursing and enjoying the “unexpected” adventures of her profession.

Myra Bennett (1890–1990) has received numerous awards and titles of distinction for her work, including a doctorate of science, Member of the Order of the British Empire, and Member of the Order of Canada. Her life story has been documented for print and television and adapted for the stage.

Genres: Nonfiction

178 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Lucyloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. A quick read, but interesting! This book is not good for you if you are squeamish about injuries, or descriptions of hurts/medical procedures. But the story of Myra is both impressive and awe-inspiring (if occasionally terrifying).

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myra Bennett was born in England (1890). At the age of 31, Myra accepted a position as a nurse in Newfoundland Canada. She covered 200 miles on the western side of the Great Northern Peninsula coastline. Her career as a nurse was remarkable, in fact she received many significant awards and honours. She was Honoured with the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal and awarded a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

A co-worker recommended this biography. Myra's ability to make quick common sense decisions during life or death events with using limited supplies, tools, and medicine astounding.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems a little mean spirited to only give 3 stars to such an earnest (if amateurish) book about such an almost saintly subject, but it’s just not that great a book. I could be wrong, but it seemed to me that whole paragraphs were repeated verbatim. On the positive side, it’s an interesting portrayal of life in remote, almost inaccessible, fishing villages in the early 1900’s. Unfortunately I never felt transported to that time. According to the book, nurse Bennett extracted three or four thousand teeth over her 50 or so year career. What was it like to live in a period when extraction was the only dental care available? I think THAT might have made a good story!

[Karen Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy read. I cannot imagine working as a nurse in 1926 in harsh conditions with few resources. Myra Bennett proved to be very resourceful working for $75/month and often spending her own money to help her patients. I cringed at the thought of trudging through mud to get to the home of someone who was I'll or in labor, or extracting teeth due to the lack of dentists. Myra Bennett was a problem solver and very dedicated to the nursing profession. An easy summer read!

[RoseMary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice bit of Newfie history

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

a poorly written story of a great lady

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I learned a lot about the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and I found this nurse to be such an inspiration! Highly recommend.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story that kept me wanting to hear more about Myra's nursing experiences.
Reminded me of the book Creatures of the Rock about the veterinarian's adventures. Engaging and entertaining!

[Jerry Cranford · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Many things — commentaries on history, Newfoundland society, the meeting of cultures foreign to one another — contribute to the richness of Green’s narrative. To sum up, ‘Don’t Have Your Baby in the Dory’ is a book we are fortunate to have, about a woman whose contribution to our history is indelible." -- Western Star

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

an enthralling account of an extraordinary life