RACE WITH DEATH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 599, 2 August 1933, Page 2

RACE WITH DEATH

YOUNG MISSIONARY GIVES TRANSFUSION OF BLQOD. How a volunteer raced 218 miles by motor car from Perth, Western Ausand reached the patient just in time tralia, to a country hospital re.cently, for a boold transfusion, to save her life, is related hy Dr. C. Willing, of Gnowangerup. The hero of this race against death was James Carter, a young missionary, who will leave shortly for extended missionary work in Afriea. The patient, an elderly woman, after being admitted to the Gnowangerup Hospital in a serious cpndition, had three severe bleeding attacks, and her condition became such that the only hope I lay in a blood transfusion. There were several volunteers fop the operation in the township, but hurried tests proved that none was suitable. The type known as "uniyersal donor" was required, and it was decided to send urgently to the Perth Hospital, 218 milps away. The request for a suitahle donor was made to Perth at 1 p.m. and the call was answered by Mr. Carter, who immediately began his dash hy motor car. In spite of many minor road difficulties, Mr. Carter arrived at the hospital at 1 a.m., and the transfusion was made at once. Mr. Carter gave nearly a pint pf blood to a woman whorn he had not heard of hefore. A few hours following the transfusion the patient showed signs of reviving and her condition improved so much that the hospital authorities became coniident of a complete cure. I)r. Willing said he did not think she could have survived more than two hours longer had the transfusion not heen effected.