DOLL AND DOCTORS WORK MIRACLES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13238, 14 January 1941, Page 6

DOLL AND DOCTORS WORK MIRACLES

Sydney, Dec. 20. Seven years ago, Ann Bock, then a baby of two years, entered Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, unable to walk.

All Ann saw of the world through the years that followed were such distorted glimpses that are to be had lying full length in bed. A fortnight ago an experiment was tried. To test the result of the treatment received at Camperdown and Collaroy, Ann was encouraged to try to sit up. She succeeded — shakily. * ->, But to-day a miracle was achieved. Ann Bock walked 20 paces along a ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children. At the end of those 20 paces was a chair, and, awaiting, was the beauty doll. *"Nola," given, through "The Sun" Toy Fund, for the girl who had been longest in the hospital. It would be hard to say who showed the greater pleasure—Ann, as she covered that incredible distance to clasp the doll to her, or the doctors and nurses, who have laboured os {patiently and skilfully to make the I miracle possible. Certain it is that tears of thankfulness were not far from joy as the final.steps were achieved. And there were in that ward today some who would not have been more surprised had it been the doll, "N"ola," who walked those epochmaking 20 paces.