The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-01
CHANCE TO RECOY5R
Little Ivy Davis Still Fighting
for Her Life.
BODY is BADLY BURNED
Skin Grating Tried but With
out Success.

At the Wichita Hospital there IS a lit
tie. fair-haired girl who lies on a cot in
the chrdren's ward and. is slowly lighting
for her life Her case is a peculiar one.
She is little Ivy Davis. blue-eyed girl
Of four summers, whose parents reside
at Clearwater. Some months ago the lit
tie girl was severely burned in bonfire
at her home in Clearwater. The burning
was accidental, being caused by the
lighting Of her dress from the fire which
was to burn the leaves in the yard. Her
back and limbs were severely burned.
Her head was burned, one ear was in
jured. and i was feared that on account
Of the burns on the body she could not
live The best possible care was given
her at her home, but the wounds would
not heal. To secure better attention the
child was brought to the hospital and
every attention was given her.
Little Ivy was watched day and night
and cooling ointments were placed on her
body The burns improved slowly. The
idea Of skin grating came to the mind
of the physicians. and the parents Of the
child when made aware Of the idea glad
" consented that skin should be taken
from their bodies to replace that Of their
child, If physicians skill could do it.
The operation was performed al for
a short time it seemed that the idea
would be a success. But a portion Of the
skin came off one day, not because Of
any lack Of attention, but because of the
fact that the case had gone so far tint
the skin would not adhere. as II usually
does However. the grating was tried
again and the parents once more wit
messed an operation for the sake of their
child The result was the same as at
first. A portion Of the new skin came of
because Of the fact that the flesh was IN
such a condition that 1t would not adhere
for growth.
For q time the matter Of skin grating
was dropped. although a portion OF the
new skin grew fast to that Of the child.
The burned body was treated with medi-
the burns would heal
In spite Of her suffering, the little girl
was cheerful all the time She was
forced to lie on her face. but seemed con
tent to look out Of the window or talk
to visitors whenever she had the oppor-
tunity
After a time It was noticed that she be-
gan to droop. did not care to talk, and
that she did not feel well She was
more closely watched. but it seemed that
she could not get well For a time she
continued to get gradually worse and the
hopes Of the nurses and physicians be
gan to sink. The parents of the child
felt that she could not live. and as much
a they wished to do for her thought it
impossible for her TO last long.
After a time she began to rally and
became more cheerful The nurses Of the
hospital were hopeful and her case was
still closely watched. Dressings OF all
kinds were placed on the burned places
on her body and every care was given.
The splendid attention given little Ivy
began to tell, and today she lies in the
children's ward with stil chance of re-
covery.
The burns on the body Of the child are
healing very slowly. Tt viii take many
weeks before they will be entirely well
The little girl, however, has better use
Of her limbs than before and can change
her position slightly. which she could not
do a few weeks ago. She appears more
cheerful and talks about what she can
see through the window To a reporter
for the Eagle the little girl Yesterday
told her name and talked about the
wounds caused BY the flames
No patient IN the hospital is more In
teresting or has the sympathy Of the
nurses and those IN the building than has
the little child. She remembers the faces
of those who call to see her, and IT is
pleasing 10 see the smile on her face
when she recognizes some visitor who
steps into the ward
The vitality Of the child is remarkable.
Tt has been several months since the ac-
cident in which she was burned occurred
and all % that time it has been a stub
born fight to get entirely well Even
when Sc was given up 20 die she rallied
and gave the attendants hope for her
life. Such courage as hers should be re-
warded by many years of happiness and
should she not be strong enough 10 over
come her wounds more shan one eve
would be wet with tears shed for the lit
tie 4-year-oId girl.
Fer parents call at the hospital They
realize that there is nothing that they
can do, but for an Of that they are ex-
tremely anxious for their child The
child has attracted the attention Of
number Of the people Of the city and Ht-
tie IVY has received 2 number OF remem-
brancse from those who have called on
her