The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-11-18
I'M NOT AFRAID TO TRUST THEE
Is Prayer OF Little Frank Curlo Be
fore Undergoing Heroic Surgical
Operation.

Operation.
"IIrwruly Father, Thor knov"st
b, w., q. u"s, an rnt 1'rr't g., 'au-'
lnrc. | know It viii be all light" .
Living on an operating table ~ 81.
JuScph's hospital, surrounded by
whiterObed surgeons, supplied with
sharp, shining knives, fully con-
Srious Of his condition, hut with n
beautiful faith in his Maker and in
the skill of the surgeons, l2-year-old
Frank Curle, paralyZed from his
shoulders down, lead in prayer lust
before the ancsthctic was admin
istcred yesterday afternoon and an
operation begun, the last resort Of
expert surgical skin to give the boy
use of his limbs again.
In medical annals Franks case Is
mn unusual one: From the time he
fell from II hickory nut tree Sntur-
day, and shattered his spinal cot
unn, until he lapsed into unrun-
seriousness under the uuesthctir in
st. Joseph hospital here, yesterday
afternoon, he iutclligently under
stood his condition and realized his
few chances for recovery. Bui he
hor" IL all hraycly, displaying heroic
grit.
Every consultation Of physicians
both in JUnrShUro. Ark, and in
Memphis, Frank heard, and he I'M
d"rStood fully. Technical terms
were -tmpliiied at his own request
that he might understand clearly his
condition He wanted to know He
begged To he acquainted with his
condition and chances.
Frank is the son of Rev. md Mrs,
+. +. turlc, Jonesburo, Ark, and
fell from Il hickory nut tree Satur.
day, near Joncsboro to the ground
% feet below, breaking his back.
Rev. Curlc, who Is the Arkansas
state Baptist convention evangelist,
brought his boy to Memphis.
N-Ray pictures made here showed
the spinal column damned" and
an operation was decided upon If
the boy could stand it. But physi-
clans did not talk in subdued whis-
pers outside the door. They held
their consultation at Franks bed
side, ut his request. When asked if
he wanted to undergo an ordeal of
surgery he replied firmly and
clearly.
" Yes, sir, will. ! want 10 get
well, aud | will get we'll"
And smilingly the surgeons he.
gan busying themselves for the
operation.
Lending in the operation were
Drs. +. ID. Smythc and +. G.. Mcrri-
wcthcr, and when they donned their
robes and adjusted the palefaced
boy on the table, n small hand was
rniseu. Frank signaled for attention
and his father and mother drew
near. a hush fell over the as
rs Frank began to speak.
Nurses holding Cause bandngcs,
sterilizing pans and other articles
to be used in the operation, bowed
their heads with the grave-faced
and the parents when
the boys speech began.
Heavenly Father, thou knowest
what Is best. ! am not afraid to
rust Thee. | know it will be all
right the boy prayed.
And having offered the simple,
earnest prayer, he SMILED and soon
sank into unconscious under the
Several hours later the little fell |
ow awakened in soft bed, his |
mother and father by his side, each |
lOlding his hand. A warm hand |
'lasp, weak but firm, gave his |
parents courage and the boy smiled. |
His hands were withdrawn aud they |
ell upon his chest.
He found his little chest cncased |
irmly in plaster east which the |
surgeons had skillfully nodded. He
eli himself again and again and
when he looked Mt his parents again
t was with a wondering gaze
Mamma, ! am going to study |
lard when ! get we'll. am going
- be smart and make doctor out |
# myself" he said.
The boy knew and fully uppreci-
ltcd that his surgeons had rrsOrted |
o heroic measures to save him. He |
inew that the fourth Joint If his |
spinal column had been jammcd and |
shattered. He demanded IT, know
wv WV i'uih AllhA Nllf bbllfN were |
ut away and the spinal cord re-
eased from the hard pressure that
paralysis, and further that
the spinal marrow was pinchpd to "A |
separation. Clearly he understood |
That unless the marrow grows to- |
gether again, he will be hopeless
Against all these odds, the boy |
smiles and declares he will recover. |
at IL the first trouble ever had"
he recalled, "but | am not worrying |
and / don't want mother and father |
to worry. ! am going to get well |
and when | do | am going to study |
hard to be smart and be n doctor. / |
love the doctors. They have done |
so much for me and have treated me |
so nice and kind"
Just the least feeling in the lower |
limbs when they were touched was |
experienced by the patient this |
the first favorable result |
Of the operation.
Rev and Mrs. Curle formerly lived |
IN Pennington, and Frank and his |
mother were here last June visiting
Mrs. o. j. Mayberry of this place
and Mrs. +. NJ. Horton of Flat |