When Mom was born, she had a birth mark on the inside of her thigh. Nothing was thought of it until she was old enough to start crawling, moving around. Her diaper would irritate the birth mark, which concerns led her heading for the Mayo Clinic. 
The Mayo Clinic decided that 'Raw Radium' would do the trick, and set up for her to have a the patch applied to her inner thigh, covering the birth mark - and was to be left on for 8 minutes. Well, somehow - the patch was left on there for '8 hours'. Which in turn did a number on her. From that moment on, she had to have several surgeries to remove what damage the radium had and was doing. I believe, her last surgery she was 11 or 12. She then carried the scar of half her inner thigh having been removed. She spent alot of time thru-out those years indoors, as Grandma wouldnt let her out to play due to her injury. So, she learned alot; cooking, sewing and most of all the close relationship with her Mother. Wisdom as well as the well rounded mannorism that Grandma had, Mom learned alot not to mention enlightened on some family issues & history. I can only imagine the conversations that went between the two for so many years, as Mom could only sit and watch the kids outside at play ~ until Grandma involved her, keeping her busy as I mention'd the cooking but most of all 'quilting'.  I think that was the most memoriable moment of her life, as she spoke of it quite often.    [will continue, as I can, this is hard]