Arizona House of Miracles and Smiles

The Arizona Convalescent Home for Crippled Children, modern in every respect, and completely equipped, was dedicated in July, 1942. It was built at a cost of $120,000. This institution, statewide in its scope, is truly proving a shrine of hope and haven for crippled children.

THERE are more smiles per number of faces in the wards and patio of the Arizona Convalescent Home for Crippled Children out at 1825 E. Garfield, Phoenix, than any other place I know. In a short tour around the Home I saw forty childlish faces and each one radiating all the joy which the quick, nimble, and responsive muscles could portray. Yes, smiles, from children whose legs are propped up in stiff unmovable fashion in wheel chairs, children lying in beds with braces on legs or feet and the feet coupled together with braces for straightening of limbs, children lying in almost fixed positions with a surgical harness to repair bent spines, children rolling across gymnasium floors with great effort to bring bodies back to normalcy-all smiling in sheer joy because some day the crooked little legs and backs will be straight and they will run and jump and play like other children. That is the picture of miracles that I saw being performed by the knowledge of medical and surgical science, the art of skilled technicians, the wisdom of trained dieticians, the instruction of especially prepared teachers, the care of kind and knowing nurses, and the love and personal concern of all the staff for each child entrusted to their care.

The Home as it is today is an act in the drama of miracles to which there was a long, tedious and suffering prologue of disappointment, struggle and final victory. It is a tenuous dream become firm reality, a hope become actuality, and the faith become triumphant opportunity. The story of the beginning of the movement and organization which has brought into being this wonder house of love and healing is one of the grandest chapters in the history of progress of care for the underprivileged child that has ever been enacted. One can not appreciate the accomplishment of today unmindful of the work of the past twelve years of the Arizona Society for Crippled Children and its associated organizations.

In 1918 a little woman came from the Chicago Visiting Nurse Association to become Health Supervisor of the schools in Miami, Arizona. Because of her training and experience in the mid-west metropolis she became much concerned about a group of children who she believed needed to be found and given medical care. Children who at the time were being rather generally ignored as being beyond the vale of help the children with marked physical handicaps such as club feet, cleft pallets, spinal deformities, etc. On her new job in Miami she searched for two years to find her first crippled child in Arizona. This child was a little twelve year old boy, an orphan, with club feet whose hands and elbows were hardened and calloused by his propelling himself about with them over the rocky hillsides of that area. Finally, permission was obtained from an older brother to take the child for treatment and R. D. Kennedy of Miami operated. The success of the operation probably is described best by this incident. In 1938 a fine young man appeared at Dr. Kennedy's office and spoke to the doctor in these words, "I do not expect you to remember me, but I shall never forgot you. I am with the club feet on whom you operated eighteen years ago." The boy was working and living a normal productive life. This may be recalled as the probable beginning of the fine institution of which Arizona can now be justly proud. The little nurse with the desire to serve these most needful of children is Miss Ruth E. Wendell, R. N. For three years she stayed in Miami and then returned to Chicago, but in 1929 Arizona beckoned to her and so she came back to spend her sabbatical leave, and with her came Miss Helen M. Bishop, also of ChiLife at the convalescent home is not all treatment, and many hours of play go hand in hand with corrective measures in restoring these children to healthier lives, stronger bodies and happier years to come.

Chicago. While in Phoenix they heard through Mr. T. C. Couvellier, Executive Secretary of the Arizona Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, that the Phoenix Rotary Club under the leadership of Mr P. G. Spillsbury had raised a sum of money for the purpose of making a survey as to crippled children in Arizona and the available facilities for their medical care. Here was the opportunity that only a few years before Ruth Wendell has visioned. They went to see Mr. Spillsbury and found that $1,440.00 was available for the survey. So the survey, which was to take six months, was begun, and with it the beginnings of a growing concern for crippled children by Arizonans that has brought into being a unique institution described by Dr. Edith P. Sappington, U. S. Children's Bureau, at the dedication in these words, "It is the only such institution of public medical care in the entire West (eleven western states and the Territories of Hawaii and Alaska) and perhaps even in the nation supported by public funds and operated directly under federal and state supervision." The survey of 1929, made jointly by Miss Wendell and Helen M. Bishop, revealed 687 cripples under the age of twenty-one in Arizona. The definition for the basis of the survey was, "cripples shall be considered persons whose muscular movements are restricted by disease, accident or congenital deformity." The limitations of time and funds made it practical to survey only the larger communities of the state, but this indicated a percentage approximating those of urban areas where studies had been made by social workers. Certain other facts were evident. Most crippling effects had occurred during the pre-school age. Second, that while doctors and hospitals were willing and doing all they were prepared to do, still a staggering number of cases had had no medical treatment. Also, causes were studied in 512 selected cases and it was discovered that 128 cases came from infantile paralysis; 68 from tuberculosis; 71 from accidents; 59 from spastic paralysis; 104 from congenital deformities; 11 from cerebro-spinal meningitis; and 71 cases were classified as "other" or "unknown." The following facts were established by the survey: (1) the presence of a relatively large number of crippled children in Arizona and the causes for the crippling conditions; (2) that available facilities were not commensurate with the need; and (3) that much must be Two victims of infantile paralysis enjoying the school library. Excellent recoveries are expected for both of these boys who are receiving benefit of the Kenny Method of treatment, a new treatment.

done educationally to have all children so handicapped brought under some medical care. Today there are no cases needing immediate care that are not under treatment. With these facts in hand the Arizona Society for Crippled Children, which had been organized for the survey, began a task of pioneering effort, educational work, and, as far as possible, surgical and therapeutic care, with the cooperation of national agencies and Arizona's doctors of medicine and surgery. Dr. Ralph Palmer was the first president of the State Society. In 1931 financial stringencies brought an appeal to friends outside of Arizona and support came from some Chicago people who were interested both in Arizona and in Miss Wendell, who with Miss Bishop, had remained in Arizona and become the executive staff of the State Society. This brought to the Society in addition to monetary gifts free space in the Grunow Memorial Clinic and from Mr. Grunow a guarantee for hospital expenses for the care of five crippled children in each of the two Phoenix hospitals The Good Samaritan and St. Joseph's. Progress was being made but, finally, in the spring of 1932 because of depression ills the Society was forced to abandon active operations. However, this was not to mean that either the work or the Society was to be abandoned. No indeed. At this time the Civic Clubs of Phoenix and throughout Arizona, at the active behest of Mr. Vic H. Housholder, determined to come to the support of the Society and carry it on, even though it be a reduced program. At this time the records were placed in the library of the Maricopa County Medical Association where they could be available to doctors and the volunteer workers of the Society. This held things together and many cases were treated through this co-operative endeavor of doctors and service clubs, and it kept the records available for future use because folApplying the Kenny hot packs. The heavy wool packs, wrung thoroughly dry out of boiling water, together with muscle re-education methods developed by Sister Kenny, bring great hope and promise to the children at the school.

A corner of the "gym" where various apparatus, especially designed for corrective assistance, are used by several of the children, aiding them, and protecting them in their fight for victory. Public funds support the school.assistance of organizations and individuals. The gymnasium was equipped by the Phoenix Kiwanis Club; the cast table was presented by Luke-Greenway Post, American Legion; movable traction equipment by the Grunow Clinic Brace Shop; surgical dressing table by Pinal County Chapter, Arizona Society of Crippled Children; the clinical record chart desk by the Missouri Woman's Club; silver by the Sew What Club; kitchen equipment by Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Simpson, who also gave the ground; and many other gifts from many different sources. In the foreground of all of this supplemental work has been the Arizona Society for Crippled Children, which has pledged itself with its constituent County Chapters to to assist in the work of the Home that every child that is physically handicapped will be fully served as to treatment, education, adjustment, and social well being. This Society that has done so much in the past still has a great job for the future and it is equal to the task. The Arizona Society for Crippled Children is now revivified and re-organized under the leadership of Mr. Frank M. Poole, President and Mrs. Virginia Lee Mehard, Executive Secretary and all of the fourteen counties of the state have chapters and all are united for service to Arizona's crippled children and the Convalescent Home. It stands as the agency through which Arizonans can lend a hand and help these youngsters "Win Their Victory." Here are stated some of the needs for the Society's service as a private agency to supplement the Home as a public agency. First, there is tremendous need for education about the entire program of service to the crippeld child, as to his potentiality and the facilities available for his development. It is appalling how many adults fear, until properly instructed, the surgical treatment for a child that he or she may gain a marked degree of normalcy. Second, is the field of interpretation of the goals and purposes and in gaining confidence and co-operation from both adults and the crippled children-people dread that of which they are ignorant. Third, is the work of keeping the file of all cases of crippled children complete (supplementing the Home files) that all needy cases may be listed for treatment. Fourth, many of the cases of children require transportation that can not be furnished by parents or public agency, and which is usually arranged through the County Chapters of the Society. Fifth, isthe great task of vocational training and placement which is so essential if these physically adjusted children are to find places in the work-a-day world. Here the private agency is indispensable both as to training and often it involves transportation, financial support during training, and even the training itself. Another small but very important part to happy living in the Home is the supplying to the children the little personal things such as the toilet articles and niceties. These add joy to life and dull the edge of the tiresome ordeal of recuperation. Too, this subject must not be left until we mention one other great task for the interested private citizen which can best be done through an organization, namely, citizenship support for the public agency as to legislation and financial security; and accord ingly the assurance that the children are receiving the best possible care. This in brief is the work of the Society supplementing the Home and Federal and State work. You can have a part.

This is the story of accomplishment and continuing endeavor and before you leave the Home I want Miss Wendell to introduce one of these children."

Dannie, the lad over there, at the age of seven developed tuberculosis of the lower spinewhich necessitated not months, but years of bed rest and limited activity. During the period in which he was in bed Dannie was first coached by his mother in his elementary school work. Later he was one of several home-bound pupils who was visited regularly by a teacher provided by the Maricopa County Chapter of the Arizona Society for Crippled Children."

Dannie proved to be an apt pupil who applied himself as diligently as his health would permit and now, at the age of eleven, he is about to complete his fifth grade work. Dannie's back is not yet completely healed so that restricted activity is still imperative. However, his mother takes him to and from school in a wheel chair and with the aid of crutches he attends all of his classes regularly. (He attends school at the C. H. because he is not ready for Public School.) Another boy of whom the Home is very proud is Clifford who has proven that a crippling condition need not frustrate an individual's entire life. Clifford was left an orphan at the age of thirteen and, relying entirely on his own resources, obtained employment and put himself through High School. The last couple of years were accomplished by sheer grit and preseverance because Clifford had arthritis of the feet which made walking, or even standing, extremely painful.

Apparently unable to obtain helpful medical advice, Clifford finally had to give up his work and his independence for a time. However, his problem came to the attention of the Crippled Children's Division of the Department of Social Security and Welfare and with funds from the County Society for Crippled Children his transportation was arranged to Phoenix' warmer, drier climate. Specific treatment for the arthritis further improved his condition and made walking possible again.

No wonder that Miss Katherine Lenroot, Chief of the U. S. Children's Bureau said recently after a visit to the Convalescent Home, "I visited the Convalescent Home for Crippled Children this afternoon and found tangible evidence of cooperation of the Federal Government and the State in taking care of children. Those I saw were in good spirits and well cared for, studying their lessons in good surroundings." And as you take a look around the Home you will agree fully with Governor Sidney P. Osborn, who said at the Dedicatory ceremonies, "A mere glance about these premises tonight indicates to us that we . . . can be proud of the personnel chosen to direct the functions of the department. We realize that the crippled child who faces life in spite of serious handicaps challenges the best of us, and we pledge ourselves to continue to do our utmost to meet this challenge and to eliminate or simplify for such children the handicaps which have beset them."

Since moving into the new Home 84 children have and/or are receiving care. Miss Wendell thinks of it all as personal service it is not institutional and there is a marked emotion in her eyes and voice as she says, "It's the end product of normal children sent out to live fine normal lives that we work for here. There are no sick children if the mind is active and well. The body can be made to become or approach the normal." How meaningful and triumphant the story of the young girl who only four years ago prayed on the operating table that she might die under the anesthesia, but who today with the twisted body and legs made like new is now a young woman happily married and enjoying a fruitful life.

One would hardly realize, from outward appearances that this lovely child is being treated for infantile paralysis. Early treatment minimizes the serious after-effect usually associated with paralysis. Public education is essential in overcoming the ravages of the disease.

Who said a child doesn't love spinach? Here is Jimmy having the time of his life with a generous helping. Diet of children is watched.