Replacement Child - A Memoir The year - 1953
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In his heart, my father wasn’t at all sure they should have another child.  He missed his little girl terribly—was bitter about her death. He blamed himself for not being there to protect his family. He replayed his revised scene in his mind a thousand times: my mother rushing out of the apartment with Linda rolled in the quilt while he ran back to push the beam off of Donna, lifting her up over the flames and smoke, carrying her down the steep stairway just before it collapsed.
There could be no replacement for Donna. He didn’t want one. And he thought Linda would need their undivided attention for many years.
But, he wanted his wife back. He needed her smiling again. If a new baby would do it, he would comply.
My father chose the Blumenkrantz Hotel in Lakewood because he knew how much his wife loved the ocean, and because it was an affordable way to get away to the beach for a few days. They needed a change of scenery.  Different surroundings to shift their perspective, lift their spirits—their souls—from the oppressive daily grind.