FIGHT FOR LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHT FOR LIFE

TWO BRAVE GIRLS AMAZING WILL-POWER SHOWN FAITHFUL FIANCE'S DEVOTION Bravely fighting for their lives in their homes at Plumstead and East Ham respectively are two young girls who may well be numbered among London's unknown heroines.

One is keeping alive by sheer force of will power. The other is being kept alive by daily drug injections which, unknown to her, aro costing £240 a year. The girl who is cheating death by her determination to get well again is Miss Violet McKendrick, aged 24, of Plumstead, the pretty auburn-haired daughter of a Woolwich Arsenal employee. . The secret of Miss McKendrick's resolution to conquer her illness is that shortly before she developed enteric fever, three years ago, she became engaged to Mr. William Slaymaker, of Stratford. Throughout her illness her fiance's faith and courage have never failed. Of seven blood transfusions which she has had, four have been given by him. Returning His Love And she can think of no better way of returning his love and devotion than by getting better as quickly as possible, so that they can bo married and live happily ever after. A friend of Miss McKendrick told a newspaper representative tho story of her illness and plucky fight for life. "Three years ago,'* he stated "Violet was a fine, athletic, sports-loving girl, extremely happy in her work as a supervisor in the blue-print department of the Standard Telephone Comparfy of Woolwich. "Then she contracted enteric fever. For a long timu she was a patient at two hospitals, but was eventually sent home apparently cured. She soon had to take to her bed Again, however, and has remained there ever since. For months she has lived on a special diet. Her mother has nursed her day and night. The doctor has visited her constantly. "She has lost several stones in weight, but in spite of the suffering she has undergone, is still a pretty, attractive girl, and her -will to live has been amazing- " Daily Drugs Tho identity of the East Ham girl who is being kept alive by daily drug injections, is being kept a secret. The story of her illness was revealed at a meeting of the Fast Ham Insurance Committee, when tho doctor who is attending her reported that, provided she continued to be treated every day, there was no reason why she should not live another 50 years.

The girl is suffering from gland trouble, and, apart from her own will power in fighting the disease, it is said that there would be little hope for her once the injections were stopped. The girl is seen in her home by the doctor for nt least 20 minutes each day, and on the advice of a hospital specialist the injections are to be continued.