Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22

A widc-eyed and hopeful little boy si,,
on an invald's chair in the sunlight at
the Frankford Hospital today With A
toy dog clasped tightly in his arms he
mutely watches white-clad surgeons and
nurses as they go from cot to cot com.
forting and relieving. with impatience
he Is waiting until they come to him
and unwind handages from his legs; for
what Is found beneath will determine
whether or not the little boy will ever
walk and play like other boys or be a
hopeless cripple with one leg cruelty
bent.
The child's name is Kenneth Rodamar,
and he Is only six years old. He lived
with his parents at 603i Torresdale ave-
nue. until early last Februarywhen he waS
carried into the hospital with one leg
charred and burned and swathed in
soft stuffs. Playing with schoolmates
about a bonfire, Kenneth had either
fallen or been accidentally pushed into
the blazing pile. Frightened. his little
was left alone in terrible agony until
policeman carried him home.
For a long time physicians feared Ken
meth would not get well. The child lay
still and white among the covers
Nurses sometimes cried because he suf-
fercd so much pain. Persons marveled
at the bravery and patience displayed by
so small a boy under such trying cir
cumstances.
BRAVERY WINS BOYS BATTLE.
1t was this bravery and patience which
finally turned the tide in favor of the
child's recovery.
Kenneth began to convalesce. His laugh
of glee over gifts of fruit or flowers
brought cheer to other little patients in
the ward. His sunny smile was lesson
in fortitude. He became n great favor
lite of all persons at the hospital Sick
folk raised their heads and spoke to him
a sthe boy was wheeled by on his way
to the sun parlor.
Then came the day when Kenneth tried
to walk. What was expected to be for
him the dawn of happiness was turned
into a day of despair. when the watching
doctors saw the child's leg was bent
Skin had contracted underneath the knee
and Kenneth was unable to stretch his
leg out straight.
Then the surgeons took counsel to-
gcther and decided as a last resort
rare and delicate operation would be
performed in an endeavor TO straghten
the bent leg. Kenneth was told he still
had another chance. His mother who
had been almost a daily visitor to the
hospital, and whose grief was even great
er than that of her son when it was
feared he would be permanently lame
sat by the child's cot and held his hand
while the two talked of the new chance
for complete recovery. The small pa
tient once more took an interest in his
toys. Again his childish laugh rang
through the ward.
At last the day for the operation ar
rived. 1T Is true that 1 am going to
run and play again, isn't it doctor?'
TREMENDOUSLY asked the child. And the
surgeon who had heard so many ques-
tions just like Kenneth's smiled at the
boy and said, We'll see."
CHILD's SACRIFICE.
So they wrapped the little sufferer in
blankets and wheeled him to the operat-
ing room. There in the presence of men
of science small pieces Of skin were cut
from the good leg OF the unconscious
child and grated where the skin was
drawn and contracted. underneath the
knee of the leg which had been burned
This was last week.
Today the bandages will be removed
and both Kenneth and those who have
taken such an interest in him will know
whether or not he will ever be able 10
run and play again. If the condition OF
his leg shows the operation to have been
a success, the boy will be out OF the
hospital in two or three weeks.