The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1911-06-22
Sen. LEA SAVES
LIFE OF WIFE
Her0ically Sacrifices a Quart
of His Own Blood.
OPERATION WAS SUCCESS
Hope for Mrs. Lea's Recovery
Had Been Abandoned When
the Senator Insisted That His
Blood Be Transfused to the
Sufferer.


Sufferer.
w ashington, June 19.-United
States Senator Luke Lea, of Tennessee,
to save the life of his stricken wife,
heroically sacrificed a quart of his
blood at Georgetown hospital yester-
day and tonight hope for Mrs. Leafs
recovery, which had almost been
abandoned, is practically assured.
The youngest senator of the nation
liesnear the bedside of his wife recu-
perating his strength.
Mrs. Leafs condition, serious for
some time, became alarming Sunday
after an operation the day before.
Her strength, because of lack of blood,
was gone and vitality was fast ebbing
away. Senator Lea demanded that
TRANSMISSION operation be performed
and prepared at once to submit to the
ordeal. Attending physicians and
surgeons made arrangements immed-
lately and the operation which follow
ed was declared to have been successful.
Senator Lea withstood the operation
well, though it left him SO weakened
that for hours he could not stand
alone, but qualification over the reviv-
flying effect it had upon his wife was
inexpressable. Surgeons assured him
that without the sacrifice Mrs. Lee
could have lived but few hours.
1t will be two or three days before
Mrs. Lea is altogether out of danger.
At present her symptoms are favor
able. 1t is expected Senator Lea will
be able to leave his room in few days.
When the heroic effort in Mrs. LEAFS
behalf became imperative and transfas-
ion operation was determined upon.
Senator Lea, athletic in stature, would
not consent to anything but that a sac
rifice of his own blood to her vanishing
strength be made. But because of the
prime factor in TRANSMISSION operations
that bloods be fusible, tests were hasti-
ly ordered. Before the analysis was
complete the surgeons, fearing that
death might be swifter than they
thought, became alarmed al Mrs. LEAFS
condition and decided to try the oper-
alton anyway. Just as the senator's
arm had been barred and tube insert
ed in an artery, word came that the
bloods of the husband and wife were
fusible. The other end of the tube was
connected with an incision in Mrs.
LEAFS arm and the blood began to flow
from his veins to those of his wife.
The TRANSMISSION continued for about
an hour and half. The patient re-
sponded to the treatment from the
first. Gradually the color was restored
to the lips and cheeks of the frail sufi-
erer but as Mrs. Lea's color was re.
stored, the flush faded from the cheeks
of her husband. His thoughts was
not of himself and when the tIansfus-
ion had continued for an hour and d
half he importuned the surgeons not
to arrest the operation while there was
the possibility of doubt as to the out
come in Mrs. Leafs case. But the sur
geons, realizing the weakening effects
Of such drain on the senator's sys-
tenn, eventually staunched the flow.
After the operation, Senator Lea fell
to the floor in faint. He was immed-
lately placed in bed and tonight is
making splendid recovery of his
strength.
Not the least favorable element in
his recovery is his buoyant mental at
titude in consequence Of Mrs. Lea's
improvement. With the assistance of
a friend he was able to walk to his
wife's bedside today.