The Needle That Changed Grandma's Hand Forever episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 9, 2026 · 7 MIN

The Needle That Changed Grandma's Hand Forever

from Our American Stories · host iHeartPodcasts

On this episode of Our American Stories, during the Great Depression, a simple sewing accident turned into a month-long ordeal for Joy Neal Kidney's grandmother. A broken needle lodged in her hand led to multiple trips to the doctor, surgery, and weeks of recovery at a time when money was scarce, transportation was limited, and even getting medical care was a challenge.Joy Neal Kidney shares the story of one small family mishap that reveals what everyday life in rural America was really like during the Great Depression. Be sure to check out her book Leora's Dexter Stories for more great family history like this. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 9, 2026

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