A GREAT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL STORY

Dear Family,

Before I write about Christmas, I will share this tory I received from one of my Classmates at Harvard Med School concerning an incident from my days at the Massachusetts General Hospital years ago. This was a note sent out by the MGH to its present and former staffers.

It i s long but I think you will enjoy reading it if you can stick it out.

From Broadcast MGH

sent 12/24/2010 subject Holiday Message from Peter L. Slavin M.D.

"At the dawn of the 200th anniversary of the founding of our Hospital, I thought it fitting to share with you a letter I received recently that shows the powerful and abiding impact the MGH can have on the lives of patients and families who pass through our doors. This note came from the wife of a gentleman whose life was saved more than 40 years ago by the swift action of a doctor, a nurse and a dedicated and skilled team of MGH caregivers. With the letter was a copy of a newspaper article from 1969 which I have condensed and included."

"Dear Sir,

Enclosed is an article that was printed in the Boston Record American newspaper some 40 years ago about my Husband, Edward, and I just wanted to thank the staff for all they did to keep him alive, and out of interest let you know he is now father to four and grandpa to 8.

If your staff had not been so dedicated I would not have my wonderful husband who has praised your hospital and had told me of his accident and about the care he was given many times. But I only just found the article while looking through his papers for our passport, and wanted to write and thank you. I know it was 40 years ago, but that only shows the dedication and care, as there wasn't the equipment and resources that are now available. Thank you one and all

Pat and Edward Blake"

(Excerpts from the Boston Record American, Oct. 25, 1969)

Mass General Has its Liviest Corpse, Patient who Perished in Car Crash in Miracle Comeback

The incredible story of the liveliest - and luckiest "dead man" in Boston was disclosed Friday at the Mass General Hospital. His name is Edward Blake,24, an English Engineer who "died" ten days ago when the car he was driving hit the corner of a building on Pinkney Street. But he is alive now and itching to get our of the hospital. only because he had the good fortune to have a doctor and a nurse happen by an instant after the accident and because they ad the tremendous amount of help from the emergency room personnel at the Mass General.

Blake's story began at 2:30 AM, Oct. 14 when he was pinned in the car after smashing into the Building. Dr. Robert Figman, 27, a former surgical resident at the MAss. General saw the crash and ran to Blake's aid. Tricia Curran, a nurse who lives int he neighborhood, was driving by in her car and stopped to help. Blake was unconscious. Neither a heart beat, breath or pulse could be detected. He was placed on the street and while Figman gave cardiac massage, Miss Curran used mouth to mouth respiration and after a while they seceded in getting a slight pulse and breathing from him.

Dr. Le Roy Wirthlin and a team of six doctors and nurses took up where Dr. Figman and Miss Curran left off, and the discovered that the blood supply to Blake's brain was choked off by the pressure from the rib cage in the heart area. Once the pressure was relieved, the blood began to flow freely again , but the fear was that he had suffered irreparable brain damage.

But three days later, Blake began to stir from the coma, and finally he came out of it entirely and made an amazing progress toward recovery. Doctors could detect no brain damage whatever, and so remarkable was his case considered that he was introduced to all the staff and student doctors.

" I feel great and I'll be forever thankful to Dr. Figman, Miss Curran, Dr. Wirthlin and all the others who helped save me. I know I'm lucky to be around."

The relentless drive to do whatever it takes to help those in need has long defined Mass. General. For two centuries, the men and women who created, shaped, nurtured and advanced this hospital infused it with a spirit that is felt throughout the hospital- from the original Bullfinch Building to the forthcoming Lunder Building. I extend my deepest gratitude to each and every member of the MGH family for the inspiring work you do every day and for the lasting impact you have on our patients and families. Have a Happy and healthy holiday season. i look forward to celebrating our bicentennial with you in 2011. Peter L. Slavin, M.D. "

For the rest of the story, Dr. Figman was walking his dog on Beacn Hill when this all happened and the nurse happened to be an ICU nurse. When they brought him in, they woke me up and I ran down there. As Chief Resident, i used to sleep in the hosital on the days we covered the rather busy emergency ward. I thing we figured out he had a tension pneumothorax (and that was without a CAT scan) and I put is a chest tube. Those were exciting days.

Love, Dad

GETTING OUT THE CHRISTMAS CARD

Well we did it! We sent out our Christmas card this year before Christmas. We took the family reunion picture from the 50th wedding celebration as the inside picture. We had everyone there except for Madeline B. who was in Kenya with a high school service group. We Photoshopped her in, see if you can find her in the picture!

Bryan came up with another great family Cartoon for the cover. He does such a great job almost every year.

This is the production of the year! We still send out 1000 cards! When I was in active surgical practice it used to be 1800. Nobody ever gets off our list by intention even if they pass away!

I used to keep the list and then Mom started to keep a list and the two databases did not jibe. It is so hard to keep track of friends and it has been impossible to keep track of our over 400 missionaries who have scattered all over the globe. It is a bit like trying to herd cats.

Cathy our official IT expert and Becca our CPA got together to try and merge our two lists, deleted all the duplicates and came out with a working list. We then printed all the labels. Then when we had the list, the design and the photograph we got Paul Hatch an d his printing group to do the final printing of the envelopes, printing and folding the cards. It was a big job.

I took care of sending out the European cards and then Mom organized the stamping stuffing, licking the envelopes and stacking chores. Emily came up with some of her kids, there were some of Mike's and Cheryl's
Here are Caroline, Camille, Emily in the back, Annabelle, Natalie, Madeline B. and Emma. We even had Emily Eva 5, lick and carefully put on the stamps. It was such a great and organized effort.

Finally Mom and two of the girls drove to the post office where there were long lines. Some lady said, "Please tell me that all these cards are from a business or charity!" Earlier Mom took the European cards over and there were long lines. A random postal workers whom we do not know saw mom and shouted, "This lady has the best card!" Somehow she must have seen one somewhere. Mom had to stop and open a card to show all the other [postal workers who "Ohhed and Aaahed" while plenty of others were waiting.

When they got back, I cooked 30 perfect Crepes and the Nutella, bananas and whip cream came out till all were very happy. We appreciate the family effort that went into getting out card in the mail.

Mom also got out all the German figures we bought at Kaethi Wohlfart and in Bertchesgaden. The Rauechermaechen are ready so Santa.. look out.

Can't wait for Christmas.. it is such a great time of the year.

Love, Mom and Dad

SUNDAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Dear Family,

This has been a great season and we are getting ready for Christmas.

The wards here seem to have a little leeway as they schedule interesting things.

Last Sunday we heard the the neighboring Stake was having a special stake conference with Elder Oaks in attendance. It is very unusual to have conference now with a visiting Apostle. The rumors were running rife that that stake was picked for a special test project. Boy that is something I wanted to hear.

Since our back yard is the ssouthern boundary of that stake, we decided to go with my cousin, Dave Wirthlin and his wife Anne. It was held in or meeting house down the street. We left a half hour early to get a seat.

Turns out it was a regular conference without the Saturday meetings. The place was packed. There was no mention of new programs (the rumors really spread in Salt Lake). It was a great conference and Elder Oaks inspired everyone. The entire meeting was super.

That afternoon we went over to Cheryl's for her early Christmas dinner as they were leaving town. We had been over there the night before for her annual Fondue party and that was yummy. Here is a picture of Paul, Annabelle, Olivia, Emily, Paul Jr. and Loren digging in the Fondue.
On Sunday they did their turkey dinner and I brined a natural turkey in an Apple brine and smoked it for the occasion. Cheryl did a turkey as well. Lots of really good food then and it was great to be with them.

Following the dinner, Cheryl and Paul did their nativity celebration with Opa reading out of Luke chapter 2.

Here are the players and it went pretty well. This is a tradition still in our home on Christmas eve. In the past it got to be quite a production with music, costumes and off course all our many players.

There used to be some disagreement about the costumes. Once the angles got into a fight and Douglas as a young boy bent the halo another angel was wearing. We always had lots of sheep and Shepards and there was always a live baby!

After this, Mom and I hurried down to our Singles Stake as they were putting on a special musical evening. The Taylorsville Institute choir did a terrific job. There was a speaker who talked about the details of Handel's Messiah and the choir sang some of the pieces and we all joined in for the Hallelujah Chorus. It was such a great Sunday.

Today was also great. Elder Ballard who used to live in or ward comes each Christmas and does the program. There were three wards there and it was packed. I'll bet there were 2000 there with the entire rec hall filled. Cheryl and her kids came with us and we took a row.

Elder Ballard does sch a great job. He gave remarks interspersed with musical numbers that he organized. His remarks about the Savior were stirring and we are always uplifted. We took Cheryl to the airport. The past two Sundays were just wonderful!

Next Family Deal will be Christmas Eve with our dinner at our house and Nativity presentation. Almost all here in Utah will come and Rick, Gemina and Madeline will be there also. Rick, Gemina and Madeline will be with us Christmas morning and maybe we will go around and visit all the families afterward.

Bis Dann, Oma and Opa

HOLLIDAY MONTH IS HERE

Dear Family,

December is here, the Xmas trees are going up and all seem to be in a Holiday mode well ind advance of Christmas Day. Mom created an unusual Advent Calender for all the families; hope you got yours.

Cheryl and Paul gave us an early Xmas present by sending us two tickets to the Valley West Ballet Company's performance of the Nutcracker Ballet. The seats were the best ever, second row in front of the orchestra pit and so close to everything.

This is a yearly tradition as four of Cheryl's daughters are in the ballet performance. Madeline was one of the servants who brought in the cake, bright smiling and graceful. Annabelle was one of the soldiers and was beating a drum. Mary Clare and Loren were part of the Buffoon kids who come out under the big skirt and they did perfect cartwheels across the stage. They were smiling and happy and so energetic. I have never enjoyed the performance as much as I did this year. The Ballerinas were great but I am never sure about the guys jumping around in tights.

Here are Oma and Opa and the Performers in front of the giant Nutcracker.

Before the Ballet, we usually get a little dinner at Sigfrieds next door; with Schnitzel und Gurkensalat or a Wurst or two mit Kartofelsalat. While we were there, this young man comes up to me and starts speaking in German. It was the son of my Counselor, Lutz Herber from Augsburg, Germany. His son is here on an internship at Franklin Covy. It is such a small world in th Church and we had a rowsing good chat before we ran to the Capital Theater.


Our Tree is up, the family presents have been sent and we are trying to get our Xmas card out. We went to Cathy and Pete's house after Thanksgiving. Here is a picture of their tree in the front room. They are extremely festive and have at least eight Christmas trees decorated in their home and a ton more decorated outside. Macy's window in New York City has nothing on Cathy and Pete!

They have their outside trees decorated with many strands of varied color lights and the whole thing is organized with a computer to go on and off to syncopated Christmas music sent out through a radio transmitter from their home. It is really something.

Alles Gute,
Oma and Opa