ACTIVITIES OF HERITAGE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25679, 16 December 1948, Page 3

ACTIVITIES OF HERITAGE

MEDICAL CARE OF CHILDREN BOY SENT TO ENGLAND FOR OPERATION “The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, December 15. Examples of the valuable work done by Heritage were given by ur. O. C. Mazengarb at the annual meeting of Heritage (Wellington) to-day. He said that a 14-year-old son oi a serviceman had suffered from “blue baby” disease since his birth. The Keturned Services’ Association informed Heritage, and after a medical examination and advice from the British Medical Association, the boy was provided with suitable clothes, and the Overseas Shipowners’ Allotment Committee made available without charge a return passage to England for the boy and his mother. After examinations in Edinburgh, it was decided not to operate. The mother heard of a surgeon m London who was prepared to handle the case. She communicated with the society in Wellington, and was advised to go to London. The operation was performed ■tet Guy’s Hospital in September. Shortly before the operation the boy’s mother was killed in a motor accident. That necessitated further

arrangements for the boy’s care aqd his subsequent return. Tne operation was completely successful, and the boy was expected to return to New Zealand soon. Since the formation of the society a young man who had been overseas in the Air Force had given ,£5 each December towards a children’s Christmas party, said Dr. Mazengarb. The man explained that he gave the money to enable Heritage to care for the children of deceased servicemen, as it would have cared for his children if he had not returned.

Dr. Mazengarb also described the case of a girl with a deformity in her legs. After being given orthopaedic treatment and subsequent lessons in dancing, she had competed’successfully in dancing competitions.