Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1956-02-08
BY ROD SPARROW


You could just see the hope
yelling up in her eyes.
She was getting her boy ready
to 60 off to Virginia - leglcSS
and bound to a wheelchair and
helplessnesS - hopeful that ne
would come back walking on
artificial limbs, possessor of vo-
cational training that will en-
able him to make his own way
in the world.
Her boy - Johnny Chestnut of
the Hickory Grove section - was
trying not to show his own ex-
element and hope. but you
could see traces of it. anyhow.
You probably remember the
story - or, at least the beginning
of it back in 1850 when Johnny
was in an automobile accident
and suffered a severe spine in
jury.
Johnny Still In Bed
The Vocational Rehabilitation
Service learned of his helpless
ness and had him hospitalized
for 80 days. hoping he could be
restored to a near-normal life.
But at the end of that time -
the maximum the agency can
haspitalizc any one person - lit
tie had been accomplished and
Johnny was still inert in bed.
The Field and the Rev. w. F.
Hedgepath. pastor of Conway
Methodist church. became in
terested in Johnny and opened
a drive for funds to rehabilitate
him.
Then the Woodmen Of the
World joined in and, in all. some
$1,000 was raised to help Johnny.
Johnny. who had already been
treated at Conway and Charlotte
Memorial hospitals. was flown to
New York by Eastern Air Lines.
hopeful that Bellevicw Hospital
could get him back on his feet.
Amputation Recommended
But, instead, doctors there.
recommended amputation Of
both legs. Even at reduced
charges. they said. the cost at
Belleview would be some $4,000.
and since DR.. George Dawson.
Jr., Of Florence. could do the
work just as well, it was recon-
mended that he return home ft
surgery.
Johnny went to McLeod's in
Urinary where DR.. Dawson. with
out charge for surgery. per-
formed the amputation and hip
surgery, but Johnny still wasn't
in shape 10 use artificial limbs.
There was disqualification at
Duke and Roper hospitals. too.
In all. some S1Il5l Of the funds
raised by the WOW and through
public subscription was paid out
for hospital bills. but JOHNNY still
couldn't walk nor work.
Recently. R. II. Bonnctte. Vo-
cationa' Rehabilitation Service
counsellor. made ARRANGEMENTS
for Johnny to 90 70 Woodrow
Wilson Rehabilitation Center at
Fishersville, Va. a small town
between Wavnesboro and Staun-
ton in the Blue Ridge mountains.
To-Day Diagnosis
Last Wednesday morning.
Johnny was loaded into Mr.. Bon
nette's car for the long trip and
a Today diagnosis period at the
rehabilitation center. There the
vocational and medical angles Of
Johnny's case will be studied
and. II II proves feasible. he will
thereafter be fitted with artifi-
cial legs. taught to walk upon
them, and will also be taught a
trade (perhaps watchmaking) at
which he can be employed sit
ting down.
A portion OF the expense will
be borne by the Vocational Re
Mobilization Service but the re-
mainder will be paid from the
funds raised by the WOW and
the public. or that fund. only
s814.97 remains and Johnny will
be UP there for quite a long time
IL artificial limbs and vocational.
training prove feasible.
Injured In 1850
The Vocational Rehabilitation
Service will care for the trainingI
costs while the public subscrip-
ton fund will care for the costs
Of wheel chair, artificial limbs.
walking sticks and other equip
ment needed in connection with