Paralysis Victim Flown to Auckland

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1948, Page 2

Paralysis Victim Flown to Auckland

WHANGAREI, March 25. After four weeks in an iron lung at the Kaitaia Hospital, an infantile paralysis patient, a girl aged eight, was flown to Auckland this morning lor physiotherapy treatment. During the last two days the patient, for whose life a dramatic fight was made a fortnight ago when the lung had to be operated manually after a power failure, has spent, periods of three and a half hours out of the lung. Such a period was considered sufficient to allow her to be taken to the Auckland Hospital and this morning the Auckland Aero Club ambulance flew to Kaitaia to take her to the Auckland Hospital. The patient, who was attended by the medical superintendent of the Kaitaia Hospital, Dr. Webber, and two nurses was taken from the hospital to the Kaitaia aerodrome in a Public Works Department, truck. She was in good spirits. The child was placed in the aero ambulance there and she was taken in charge by a medical officer from the Auckland Hospital. The plane left Kaitaia at 10.36 a.m. and was expected to arrive at Mangere Ihr 20mins. later. From there she was to be taken by ambulance to the Auckland Hospital. The total travelling time from the hospital to hospital was estimated to be less than two and a half hours, allowing an ample safety margin. This is believed to be the first respiratory paralysis case to have survived such extended treatment during present epidemic.