Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-04
SEVEN OPERATIONS
FAIL TO DAUNT LAD
Leonard Smith. 10, Goes
Home for 4th After Is
Weeks in Hospital.

After spending Is weeks in Children.
Hospital where he underwent seven OPP.
erations and eight blood transfusions
Leonard r. Smith. 10. is realizing his
wish to spend the Fourth of July al
home
He has one leg in a plaster cast and
. drainage tube In one lung. but little
things like that. he told his mother
yesterday, are not going to stop him
from getting into his base ball suit and
watching the celebration his father is
planning for the occasion.
Leonard. who lives at 2036 F street,
was taken 10 the hospital on March 20
10 be operated on for advanced mas
tolditiS The operation by DR., Bruce
Moffett was successful. but the poison
had already entered his blood stream
and spread to his left lung.
Piece Of Rib Taken Out.
Septic pneumonia soon developed
This was followed in a few days by
pleurisy, which settled in his left arm
ard right leg
Despite the efforts of II doctors, the
youngster sank rapidly. AS he grew
worse drastic measures of treatment
were adopted.
Several pintS of fluid were drawn
from the infected lung and a piece of
one rib taken out to permit the in
sertion Of drainage tube. Operations
became necessary to remove pus pockets
from the infected arm and leg
The boy still lowered on the verge
Of death. and on five occasions his
father. Jesse c. Smith. gave his blood
for transfuSions. When three more
trsnsfusionS became imperative, the
blood was given by the mother.
In spite of constant care and the best
OF scientific treatment. Leonard showed
no visible signs of improvement. The
doctors held consultation some weeks
ago and afterward told Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith that their boy could not live
He is suffering from three forms of
Illness" they said. any one of which
would be likely to overcome a grown
man. We are afraid he hasn't
chance"
Begins to Recover.
The l0-year-old boy, however. had q
wealth of courage and the vitality of
youth. These served to pull him
through.
AT the first sign of a rally. his mother
read to him stories of King Arthur
and his knights. She believed these
tales of courageous deeds might bolster
the spirits OF her own boy.
After few days it became apparent !
that Leonard was going to pull through.
Flowers came from many sources. in
Guiding the Washington branch of the |
LOYAL Knights of the Round Table.
Leonard has always been an ardent |
base ball fan and his father bought
him radio so he might follow the
ball team through the !
oroadcasting Of The washington Star.
Leonard also insisted that another of /
his priced possessions, base ball suit.
be brought to the hospital so he could |
sort of get the feel" OF it.
Once under way. his improvement
ras rapid, and last night his doctor /
told him he could 60 home for today's /
He spent the morning in bed, but |
will get UP this afternoon for the cele- /
bration prepared by his mother and /
father. In the evening he will sit on
the back porch In wheel chair and /
Eatch the display at the Washington
Monument.
BY the time school begins. his mother /
vas told. Leonard viii be well enough |
70 return to the fifth grade at Adams I
School. from which he had TO with 1
draw when he went to the hospital in
March. I