Northwest Texas Chapter Charters

An inspirational story sharing Melba "Bandy" Masters’ experience with MG and the founding of the Northwest Texas Chapter.

Everett E. Masters and his wife Melba Bandy Masters, the first person in the South Plains area diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis founded the Northwest Texas Chapter of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. In essence, our history begins as far back as 1933 when this lovely couple met. Everett tells the story of his wife's fight with MG in a simple narration entitled “Melba's Story". The following is a summary "Melba's Story".

Melba and Everett married six months after they met in spite of his telling her early on that he was not the “marrying kind” and for her to not get serious. In reading “Melba's Story” you have no doubt that this chapter was founded also as a result of the strong religious faith of this couple. Everett expressed that from the very beginning of their relationship he “was impressed with Melba's great love for the Lord.... and her desire to serve God in all things”.

The Master's had two sons, Wesley in 1937 and Jesse in 1940 just before World War II began. Though many of Everett's family joined the armed forces, he was left behind on the farm to “produce food and fiber for our war needs.” He states that Melba helped with the farm work and both boys were driving tractors before they were old enough to go to school. Melba was also working with their church organizing a ladies' group and served as an officer of this group on the district level, concentrating in the area of children's work. It was during this very busy time of her life that Melba began having weak spells.

The doctors in numerous hospitals throughout Texas would put Melba through their clinics and then call Everett into their office and say, “Mr. Masters, there is nothing wrong with your wife. She only thinks she is ill.” They brought Melba back to Hale Center where Dr. Chalmer diagnosed her with Myasthenia Gravis. At the age of 36, Melba was told she would have six months at the most to live. Since the government was sending Dr. Chalmer back into the service, Melba was sent to Scott and White Clinic in Temple to start her on a medication that might help her. The doctor there also confirmed that Melba would die in a very short time.

After several weeks in Temple, the Masters returned to Hale Center and started seeing Dr. Foster who had replaced Dr. Chalmer. Dr. Foster had treated other MG patients and said he would do all he could for Melba. The disease continued to progress and they were having to use twice as much medicine as they had at first. They once again were facing the reality that Melba had a short time to live. At this time, the boys were 13 and 10 years old, and Everett wrote “Melba began to pray and ask God to let her remain with her family until her boys were grown...She promised that if He would let her remain until then, that she would not complain of the pain or the inconvenience. And I promised God that I would take care of Melba, and not let her become a burden to society.”

Over the years Melba would go to wherever the new drugs were that promised hope for her disease. Everett learned how to administer the drugs and they would return home. One drug that seemed safer and was helping Melba better than any they had tried, was discontinued because it was experimental and not produced in this country.

During this time, the Masters learned about the National MG Foundation which was organized in 1952. After learning about the National MG Foundation, the Masters began work on setting up the Northwest Texas Chapter at Hale Center. They received their charter in 1956. They learned of other MG patients through their efforts and set up a “drug bank” at the Hi-Plains Hospital in Hale Center that was providing medicine for patients in about four states. Melba enjoyed corresponding with these patients whenever possible.

Everett writes, "We were living one day at a time, and enjoying every bit of it. It was so wonderful, living with a person so dedicated to the Lord. She was so sweet and considerate of others. There was never a day went by, that she did not thank God for Dr. Foster and myself, because she believed both of us were being led by God in caring for her. Of course, I received far more than I gave during those years. It was such an opportunity for me.”

Melba lived to see her sons reach maturity. Wesley married in 1959 and their first grandchild was born the following year. Jesse was engaged to be married and both boys were attending Texas Tech University. I don't know how else to end Melba's story without just quoting how it was stated by Everett.

“Living became so difficult for Melba that every breath was an effort, for she was getting so tired, in spite of the new medicine that we had gone to Indianapolis to receive from Dr. J. E. Tether. Melba was no longer able to continue the long struggle for life against MG, and on the morning of February 16, 1961, she passed away quietly, at the hospital in Hale Center, attended by our Dr. Foster and several of the nurses we had learned to love so well during the ten years they had cared for her.”

Everett Masters continued to be involved with Myasthenia Gravis work in the Texas Panhandle and also at the national level. In 1962, Everett started "The Melba Bandy Masters Memorial Clinic" in memory of his wife. The Masters family set up a grant to support the MG clinic which has been held annually since that date. Dr. J. E. Tether, the doctor who had gotten Melba the last new medicine that she tried, came from Indianapolis to Hale Center for almost 30 years to conduct the Melba Bandy Masters Memorial Clinic. Dr. Tether retired in 1989 and passed away January 21, 1997. Everett, 90 years of age, continued to serve as a Trustee on the Board of the Northwest Texas Chapter. until his passing in 2003.

Everett Masters Recipient of Natioanal Founder's Award

The prestigious Founder's Award was given to Everett E. Masters, Hale Center, Texas, in recognition of his outstanding and unusual achievement in the conquest of myasthenia gravis, because he displays the same characteristics of initiative, courage and fortitude as the MG Foundation founder, Jane Ellsworth.

Mr. Masters was nominated by his chapter, The Northwest Texas Chapter, because he demonstrated such initiative and persistence in dealing with the activities and accomplishments while organizing the Northwest Texas Chapter in 1956, and remains one of its most loyal supporters. This award was made during the Awards Banquets at the National Annual MG Meeting, April 8, 1989, held in the doubletree Inn, Atlanta, Georgia.  "Everett Masters Honored - Founder's Award"  Reprint from the Chapter Newsletter, Spring 1989 by Jenne McVicker, Editor

Yes, the NWTC is rich with History...what a privilege it is to be a part of a Chapter founded by such a special couple. They both will continue to be an inspiration to many MG patients and their families and friends in the years to come. May we strive together to carry on the good work Melba and Everett began.