South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-20
CHILD HEROINE GIVES
SKIN TO SAVE LIFE

ne greatest heroine IN America y
little girl in the Fairmont, West
Virginia. State hospital.
Rosie SacoIa is her name and she
is only 10 years of age.
she is an orphan.
She has no arms
Her body Is Scared for life.
But she has just given all she had
left to give in order to save the life
Of another little girl.
Rosie Sacola's gift was her own
skinl
Two wishes she has: one is for a
mother. the other is for a chance TO
be useful.
This story is written so that the
people OF the whole United States
can become foster-mother 10 this lit
tie heroine and help her 10 her
chance for usefulness.
How Rosie Sacola Lost Her Arms.
II was last June Il that Rosie ac-
cidehtally touched the electric feed
wire Of a mine near Fairmont
There was a flash OF blue flame,
the sizzling of burning flesh-au at
oncel
At the hospital the doctors had TO
amputate both of Rosie's arms, each
at the shoulder.
Then they had TO take skin from
unburned parts of her body and
graft it on the parts that were burn
ed.
To this skin grating operation
and it's subsequent tortures she sub
mitted with heroism that often
brought tears to the eyes Of doctors
and nurses.
Gradually she grew stronger and
began to devise ways to help herself
without arms.
She became the hospital favorite.
She cheered other sick children
and grown-up patients, too.
Volunteers For New Suffering.
Then came a day when Rosie saw
little girl brought into her ward on
stretcher. just as she herself had
been.
This little girl too. had about her
and ointments that Rosie knew so
well.
Tip-toeing close. Rosie heard the
doctors say that unless skin could be
grated on this child's body. she
would die.
Please take my skin" Rosie
spoke up. Il won't mind a bit. You
KNOWN used to it, and I'd like to
do something for somebody"
IN. Z
perintendent and chief surgeon of
the hospital, at first demurred.
But Rosie insisted-it was the first
time since she had entered the hos
pital that she had been insistent.
DR.. Ramage consented.
Today four-year- Blanche
Mackey is on the road to recovery,
with Rosies skin on her neck and
chest
She soon must have another opera
ton, for which more skin will be
needed, and Rosie already has vol
unteered hers, but so far DR.. Ram
/ age hasn't consented to her further
sacrifice.
Rosie's mother is dead. Her father
has turned her over 10 the West Vir-
ginia Board of Childrens Guardians
! making only the one condition that
/ he be allowed to see her from time to
time.
The child has been given many at
tentions by mem bers of the Women's
4 Business and Professional club of
Fairmont, which even has consider
I cd adopting her, though IL is doubt
, full whether this could be legally ac-
complished.
The Board of Children's guardians
has evinced the deepest interest in
Rosie's welfare. and has been maxi
ing plans for providing her with
artificial arms and educating her.
But Their is u feeling in Fairmont
that this child, whose horoism in af-
Fiction and smiling self sacrifice in
suffering surpass all understanding.
should not be the ward OF charity.
There is a feeling among the doc
tors and nurses and patients in the
hospital, among the $50 members of
the Women's Business and Profess
siOnal club, among public officials
and the people generally, that Rosie
EdNOAcA = odNA AAlNG Has Gdl utu MOT 4
than this-that she has earned her
chance to b. useful
1T would make all the rest of the
world minimize it's own troubles Just
know 10 know what Rosie has gone
through-and gone through smiling
/ ". cheerfully." says Miss Margaret
Mckinney agent Of the Board of
Childrens guardians. "She teaches
US all TO be of good cheer
Rosie SacOla Hero Fund Started
So a plan is offered to enable peo-
| pie everywhere TO do something for
Rosie in return.
a Rosie Sacola Hero fund is to be
raised.
Its first purpose is 20 provide for
Rosie, so that she can have special
care, special education, the assur-
ance of the fullest help TO become
helpful.
IL the fund reaches sufficient pro-
/ portions. so that the interest on it
can care for Rosie. it Will be made a
/ permanent trust fund. and after
Y Rosic's needs are supplied. il will be
used TO help other child heroes
4 committee has been formed TO
receive the gifts. and It is requested
that all gifts be made in two's, for
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