Kenny’s story

My son was born prematurely on October 19, 1942. My due date was January 15, 1943. He was born in Grace Hospital, weighed 2 pounds, 2 ounces, and on the third day of his life, my pediatrician, Dr. Morris Goldstein, came to see me in the hospital and informed me that Kenneth had turned blue the previous evening. The hospital had paged him at the Roger Sherman Theatre. He had rushed to the hospital and resuscitated the baby. After checking on him that morning, Dr. Goldstein was now recommending that the baby be moved to New Haven Hospital where there was a premie section capable of providing continuous care. Of course, I immediately agreed.

Again, this is 1942, and I stayed in Grace for eight days. I returned to my third floor apartment and was not allowed to climb stairs for two more weeks. However, my husband visited the premie room and reported back to me. I first laid eyes on Kenny when he was three weeks old. My first comment was, “He looks like a monkey,” and the doctor in charge said, “We think he’s beautiful” (that was because he was still alive!). This was Dr. Ruth E. Whittemore who was absolutely fabulous. I’m sure you know how successful she became at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore with her blue baby program. When Kenny was seven years old we visited her there. You see, because of the oxygen that kept him alive, his vision was severely affected (legal blindness).

We saw many ophthalmologists over the years, including one at Johns Hopkins. Unfortunately there never was a cure, but Kenny was otherwise healthy and grew up to be a fine young man. He will celebrate his 59th birthday tomorrow. Yes, he is blind, but he has worked in the Domestic Peace Corps, been recognized in the Congressional Record, and graduated from the University of Maryland. He has been a social worker in Maryland for 20 years. He is a wonderful person. I’m so very proud of him, and have always acknowledged the marvelous care he received at New Haven Hospital. I had the pleasure a few years ago to meet Dr. Whittemore at a function in New Haven. I didn’t have to introduce myself. She remembered Kenny and me very well.

Sary Medvedow Aiden
Hamden, Conn.