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STS RESTA STE

Smith Genter
June 22,

 
 

Kansas

9%.

Dr. Forrest Allen
Lawerance, kansas

Near Sir:

I am writing you at the suggestion of Waldean Hooper
of Smith Cenier. I talked with him Sunday(J.19)at which
time he gave me your adress,and he thought if I toldyou
mye ondition, you might be able to give me some hel;ful
information about Warm Springs, Ceorgia.

Tam a’ boy 16 yrs. of age. in the fall of 1936, Oct.
to be exact, I had Infantile Paralysis. “hen 1 began to
feel better I was paralized from high in the small of my
back gown, and my right arm was partially paralized.
Since January 1937 I have been using this arm constantly.
At the present time, cutside of beang sraller than the
other arm and aslightly crooked thumb, there is no oute
ward appearence that this arm was ever paralized. :

IT am able to move my legs alittle and they seem to

be graduall; getting better. The mostserious trouble is

in my back. The paralysis started in the small of my

back, almost completly annihilating all muscle tissue in
that part of my back. ({ had had kidney trouble fora jr.
previous to this time and I think this is the reason the
paralysis struck so hard in the small of my back.) This
left my back veryweak at this place. nue to this weakness

I have been unable towalk even with leg braces and crutches.

Sometime during the month cf Narch (3€ ) a slight
curvature of the spine has statted in the small of my back.
+he Doctor I have been going to says it will take two
spinal bone grafts to straighten my back and if I wider-
stand it right would male my back rigid at this place.
These operations are dangerous. I knew two girls who died
a ifew burs after similar gfpeoperatinns wer e prefOrmed’

Wal dean said you had been toWarm Springs; andwould be glad
to giva me ahy informationthat you could. Iwould
appreciate any informati.n that you could give me.

Sincerely yours

Howard Barnes
Smith Center,
Kansas .

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