South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-31
Complete Cure is Assured Pa
tient Who Has Been Under
Joint Care of Hospital and
ChiIdren'S DiSpenSary.

Anna Erickson. South Bends little
charge at Epworth hospital can walk.
After 16 months Of medical treatment
she is able for the fest time in her
life TO step without the wracking
pains which before deferred her from
trying The stiff plaster cast has been
removed and replaced with light
loose bandage which permits her 20
wriggle about and gain strength in the
diseased little back which has been
50 marvelOusly cured.
Her complete cure. which is now as
sureds viii mark the success OF one OF
the most remarkable medical expert
ments which has been made in the
city and its accomplishment VIII
bring personal pleasure to the hun
dreds Of South Bend people who.
through their financial aid. helped to
restore the little girl TO health
The years which il was at first
thought the case would require have
been reduced TO months and though
the child is by no means well as yet
her complete recovery viii be corre-
sDOndingly swift. One thing. now, how
ever. is urgent and that is plenty of
fresh air and sunshine For this rea-
son the attending physician is eager
that she should be placed in some
private home. where the change, the
opportunity for more personal atten-
tion and the humoring OF her little
girl desires by a mother hand, he be-
lieves. would do her more good than
anything else which he might pre-
scribe.
Found Year Ago.
II was a year ago last December
that Anna was found by the dispensary
nurse and her case brought before the
public with the result that fund
was raised to provide for her treat
ment at the hospital. She was placed
in a plaster OF paris cast in which il
was then thought she would have toI
remain several years. The cast was
changed at intervals. when Anna was
permitted 10 hop around on Dle bed
for a little while until the cast was
replaced. The bones in the little back
knit rapidly and there came a day
not SO rery long ago, when Anna was
lifted from the bed and For the first
time in the six years of her life walk
ed easily. painlessly and unassisted
across the room.
Since that time she has been per-
mitted to walk but little as too much
exercise would be harmful. but the
new freedom is such joy TO the little
shut-in snal she sometimes Drawing
the displeasure of the nurses in charge
OF her. creeps from the bed in their
absence and plays about the room
until someone comes in and then
she peeps over the side of the bed
and lsts her big brown eyes plead
silently for leniency.
Most of the time. though, the little
invalid spends in bed in bandages
which fasten her 10 a steel frame.
She passes a good many hours with a
spelling board over which she works
with agile fingers and an equally agile
mind But of all things. now. Anna
loves stories and any one who visits
her must be prepared TO satisfy the
insistent demand TO tell me a story"
or be condemned TO tentative popu-
larity.
When a reporter called on Anna
Yesterday she proved more eager. for
a story than to speak of her new
found freedom.
Does it seem good to walk, Anna?'
the reporter asked.
At that the brown head nodded Wig
OrOusly.
But we hear. Anna. that sometimes
YOU get out of bed and walk around
and play without permissiOn-when
nurse is away"
She Gives Up secret.
Her eyes opened roundly with sur
prise and she exclaimed. why, where
did YOU find Out?"
Having satisfactorily explained the
source of information, the visitor ask
ed. But where were you. Anna, when
all this hariened2 Where were you
when yea stolI a march on the
nurse ."
Reaching out her little arms Anna
drew the visitors head down and
whispered mysteriously, IF you won't
tell anybody. I'll tell you-lt was right
i'm this room"
and what did YOU do" asked tho
visitors whispering in her turn
"Oh. played around-and papa was
here. too"
That last explanation made the
cscapade quite SNCusable. Anna
father is more happy over the child's
recovery than the little girl herself
could be. because he understands as
she cannot as vet. how much her re-
Covery viii mean TO her.
But by this time Anna was ready
for a story.
One-two-three-we told and
still she wanted more. As a last re-
sort the visitor began the story of "a
little girl who had been sick long
long time and then she was taken 20
the hospital where the good nurses