Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-08
Mrs. Kennedy Is Remarkably Well
After Early Delivery of Son, Patrick
continued From PAGE All

second son nao all Lne eXclLe-
ment of a fictional drama.
1t was the first time in SO
years that a baby was born to
the wife Of the President in
office. It hadn't happened
since the Cleveland era.
It was the 22d grandchild in
the family headed by 74-year-
old Joseph P. Kennedy.
For the second time, the
President lost a race with the
stork. He was about 40 min
utes too late to be at Otis Air
Force Base when his second son
arrived yesterday. And, in No
vember, 1860, when his first
son, John, jr., was born some
three weeks prematurely, Mr..
Kennedy, flying back from
Palm Beach, Fla, got the word
in the afr that the baby had
been born at Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital. again in a
similar emergency situation.
Baptised by Chaplain
The Kennecys named the
new baby Patrick, after the
Presidents grandfather, and
Bowler, for Mrs. Kennedy's
father, the late John v. Bou-
vier, a New York stock broker.
Because of the premature
birth, the baby was baptized
in the surgery room shortly
after birth by the base Catholic
chaplain, the Rev. John Sea-
hill Of Portland, Me.
This procedure is considered
common practice in premature
births, q White House spokes-
man said, and Patrick will be
christened formally later.
Mrs. Kennedy had brief
glimpses Of her new son. The
last time, he was wheeled into
her room in a special incuba-
tor by the President himself.
And then, the infant was
whiSked off for a speedy am
bulance dash to Boston, a trip
that took a little more than one
hour.
Doctors had decided it could
get better medical treatment at
the Boston center, which Is con-
sidered one of the best hospi-
tails in the country specializing
in children's diseases.
There, the baby was placed
in an isolette, a machine that
bridges the gap between the
mothers womb and the outside
world, keeping temperature and
humidity at the best balance
to facilitate breathing.
The medical problem of the
Kennedy offspring was de-
scribed as "idiopathic respira-
tory distress syndrome." In
layman's language, it means
the lungs had not developed
sufficiently to function prop
erly outside the mothers womb.
Not Unusual
It is not considered an un-
usual condition of premature
babies, and even John, jr., who
was born only some three weeks
ahead Of schedule in a similar
emergency, had suffered q bit
from 1t. 81
The new baby was born at
1852 pm. (EDT), after Mrs.
Kennedy was rushed to the Air
Force hospital by helicopter
from her summer vacation
home at Squaw Island, some %
miles away. He weighed in at
only 4 pounds, 101a ounces,
and was II inches in length.
A staff member who saw the
infant said he was beautifully
formed"
A corps of 10 Air Force Coo
tors and nurses had assisted
Mrs. Kennedy's obstetrician,
DR.. John w. Walsh, so, Of
Washington, in what was de-
scribed as a normal" Caesar
ian birth. It was the fourth
Caesarian for the First Lady.
She lost one baby in 1856 by
Caesarian delivery. Her two
previous children we're born by
such an operation, which re-
moves the child before the
mother goes into labor.
DR.. Walsh, who also delivered
John, jr., remained in the hos
pital overnight to be close to
his famous patient.
A late visitor, departing
around midnight, was Mrs.
Auchincloss, and her 18-year-
old daughter. Janet, Mrs. Ken
nedy's half sister. They were
notified Of the birth in New
York City, where they had been
shopping for Janet's debut at