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Show ''' 'Looking At My Heart': Back From The Brink Last of Series By BENJAMIN BENNETT Collaborator of Dr. Philip B.siberg Dr. Blaiberg and I had arranged to tcan the final draft of the manuscript on the night of May 23, 1968. He was due to return to Groote Schuur Hospital next h birthday, for a thorday, bis ough examination and checkup. I found him sitting on a bed in pajamas and dressing gown. He apologized wryly for receiving me in his bedroom. I feel so terribly tired, he said. All done in. Ive got a general feeling of weariness in all my limbs. Tell me, he how do I look to you since you asked, met me two months ago?" Truthfully, I said he appeared to me to be much better though I had noticed some laasitud or fatigue in him for several days. But a short while resting in the hospital, protected from too many interviews and visitors, would no doubt help to put him right. fifty-nint- Soon after his he became seriously ill The doctors diagnosed hepatitis, a disease of the liver. There are various types of this, depending on whether the liver is attacked by bacteria, a virus, or the toxic effects of drugs. At first, members of the transplant team were unable to decide which type of the disease was present. But the possibility that the illness might be a sign of rejection of the heart could not, at first, be ruled out. resistance. He could draw now only on his spirit and willpower, all but entirely sapped in a valiant struggle with hepatiLet Mrs. Blaiberg take up the story: It w'as on Thursday, July 4, that the doctor told me Phil was desperately ill again and his chance of survival was slight. It was heartrending to look at him. To me he seemed even worse than just before the operation. Nothing, it appeared, could save him. ,r t '"- - One of the doctors tried to cheer me up. But I felt the end was at hand. How much more could he fight and give of himself in the battle against his latest ill- ness? I did not let Phil sense my fears and misgivings. I spoke as reassuringly as I could to him. I said I was certain he would get better. Its no use bluffing ourselves, he said. Each word was an effort. This time I want to go quietly. I ignored the remark and spoke of the publication of the book in which he had always taken such a lively interest. He smiled slightly and said in a barely audible whisper: I wont be here to see - v v j it. On Saturday night, July 8, Professor Barnard said to me: Mrs. Blaiberg, if you dont want to lose your husband, we will have to consider giving him another heart transplant and also a lung. I was stunned and unable to speak for some moments. are you Professor, I asked, Fear was expressed for his life. Nevertheless, he fought against the illness serious? that had stricken him with the same inTve never been more so, he said. domitable courage he had shown before And first of all I want your permission, and after the operation. if your husband is agreeable, to make a new transplant. The doctors faced an agonizing dilemma in a situation where no precedent A feeling of clutching at a straw existed to guide them. came over me. I said, Professor, if that The drugs he had is our only chance, we must take it. been taking for five months appeared to It was decided not to tell Phil about have effectively prevented rejection of the imminent possibility of a transplant the heart. But they had, at the same until a donor had been found. But that tune, suppressed the immunological sys- night the team was alerted to stand by the system that empowers the for an emergency operation. tem body to overcome invading germs. m. Professor Barnard had discussed Z4r For days the doctors were in a quanwith Phil, earlier, the prospect of a secdary, confronted with grave alternatives ond, or even a third, transplant if his while their patients life trembled in the body rejected the donor hearts. He had balance. not yet fully recovered from the hepatitis It was finally established that the and still suffered lung complications. To Savoring life. Dr. Blaiberg Infection was caused, not by a virus, but undergo another operation in that condiby bacteria. There was, therefore, no tion would have entailed a greater risk than before. need to stop the antirejection drugs. Ansecond heart transplant, put two and two tibiotics controlled the infection and the However, Phil did not hesitate. He together, and sometimes found the anwas prepared to entrust his life entirely swer added up to an imminent, or compatien began to improve slowly. Dr. Blaiberg was out of danger, the to the man who had saved it in the first pleted, operation with the patient the public was told, and regular bulletins on instance. If it has to be done, he said, first man in the world to have a third heart beating in his breast. his condition were no longer warranted. it must be done. Mrs. Blaiberg left Groote Schuur with Then Dr. Blaiberg contracted pneumoBy Sunday, July 7, Mrs. Bahberg nia In what was thought to be virtually a a feeling of helplessness and hopeless- says, the team had not yet found a ness. She was utterly weary, close to donor and at 6:30 p.m., Dr. S. C. W. Bosward. Thorough as the bacgerm-fre- e teriologists and doctors had been in exhaustion. nian, In charge of Phils postoperative care, said quietly to me: Eileen, you The reports leaked in some mystericreating a sterile world for him to recuill chance had oc- ous way to the press at this time were had better go into Phils suite and speak perate in, a curred. confusing and increased her anxieties. to him. Once more he fought for his life. It Only a handful of people knew all the Though he did not say it, I knew was an unequal battle, one he had to facts, which could not be revealed just only too well what he meant by allowing wage without the vital weapon of bodily then. So newspapers speculated about a me into a place that had always been out Sssasgs vmmiA immuno-suppressi- 100-to-o- YOUR HEALTH Why Cousins Shouldn't Wed By GEOkGE C. THOSTESON, M.D. Dear Dr. Thosteson: Please tell me, from a medical viewpoint, why first cousins should not marry. Mrs. L. H. Answer: The purpose in frowning on marriage of first cousins (and prohibiting it in many states) is to decrease the risk of defective children being bom of such marriages. Everyone has his strong points and weak points, as inherited from his parents. In general we get along with our various weak traits, or our stronger inherited traits tend to compensate for them. But when first consins many, an additional danger appears. They may, since to some extent they have similar heredity, pass on a double dose of some weakness. This MAY happen when people who are not related marry. They MAY happen to have similar weaknesses which then develop more strongly In their children. But the risk, just by the law of averages, is far less likely than with cousins. By M. DE MAR TEUSCHER POLITICAL SCENE Deseret News Political Editor It is said that nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come. Leaders of the Republican-dominateThis statement is often particularly Legislature looked for a way out of the to pollapplicable fiscal dilemma with the least possible retics. It can be vision of the current tax structure. applied, with some Then, into the indecision of how justification, to the much can we spend with the least amount reaction of legislaof tax increases, stepped the marching tors to the mothers. crunch confronting the current Utah They packed the legislative galleries. Legislature. They marched on the capital They butA good many tonholed legislators and presented petilawmakers started tions carrying thousands of names. out the 1969 session It did not matter that these ladies believing that a tax no alternapresented hike was inevitable this year as well it w'as. Most reached this conclusion very tives to programs for which increased taxation was sought. reluctantly. Some never did reach the and their message point of admitting necessity for any InThey were there crease. NO was simple and easily understood It was not too long ago that Gov. Cal- MORE TAXES! vin L. Rampton was asserting that the As with many crusades, their goal was possibly more Idealistic than realisonly tax increase needed was a one-cefor cities, towns tic and was almost impossible to gasoline tax increase and counties for road construction. attain. To even continue present his mind. program meant more taxes. The governor changed But their cry of No More Taxes! and to him, important Swelling and the resultant public reaction may budget demands and an economy hard-hby a copper strike were two reasons very well combine to keep what seems to be an inevitable tax increase well below for the change. d f tax-spen- d Dear Dr. Thosteson: What causes a tingling sensation in the fingers and hand which sometimes shoots up to the arm? A. D. What cure, if any? Answer: By far the large majority of tingllngs in the hands and arms are from pressure on a nerve somewhere, frequently in the neck, where the nerves branch out from the spinal coii. Some arthritic condition in ti e neck, often not severe, can exert such pressure at a strategic point. Periodic neck traction sometimes relieves the slight pressure which is causing the tingling. A disorder in the wrist (carpal-tunne- l syndrome) may be another factor. Toxic states from alcohol or tobacco can cause tingling. to get rid of loo crempt end foot palnit Too enewer may bo liman Write to Or. Thojteion In cite of toe Deseret Haws, F 0. Son llil. Salt Lako City, Ulah HIIO, tor a copy of too booklet. How to Stop Lag Crampa and Foot Faint," antlos-Intong, atampad tnvalopa and 3S cant In coin to covar coat tt priming and hand Inp, How among other activities enough prep basketball games eoing on to attract parents galore the odda were overwhelm- a ingly against box office success. Yet, the entire center section of the Tabernacle was filled and there were a number of people In the balcony to give the 120 singers In the Combined Choruses from the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah an exciting experience that most of them will remember fron here on out. Performing In the Tabernacle before a huge concert audience is not a common students. The program was stretched out to more than two hours (without an interensembles of mission) when a various sizes presented another progiam entitled, "Variety Interlude. With the exception of the Single Swingers who half-doze- n Coin1 Out Of My Head," the Variety Interlude performers were definitely not the kind of sophistication that one expects from todays college performers. The biggest disappointment in the Variety Interlude was that tne two excellent accompanists for the Combined Choruses, Cheryl Brand and Susan Green, number, played as their piano a dull arrangement of the movie tune, "Exodus," that failed to display the young artists' exciting talents. The first half dozen numbers by the saCombined Chorus were cred numbers in which the parts blended d n OUR MAN JONES Just Enough To Slow aV c . You Down ... zTsHr:' v ii He shook his head slightly. His lips moved as though he were saying, You know as well as I do. This is the end of the road. Editor's note: Dr. Blaiberg is scheduled to visit the United States this spring. End of Sorlot Skirting The Vote On Annenberg - counter-marcher- fair-haire- d goals. The Combined Choruses also deserve an E for effort or maybe a D for to sing the Tabernacle Choirs daring The Battle most celebrated number. Hymn of the Republic." Im not suggesting that only the Tabernacle Choir has a right to sing it, but when any other group does attempt to sing it in tha Choir's own Tabernacle, the group ought to be sure that K is prepared for the inevitable comparison. Tills group was, to say it kindly, to Include "The Battle Hymn. Seemingly Van Dusen. And in Jewell's presence, Karafin said: The publisher sent us for information on an antitrust case In which Shapp was involved. He wants to smear Shapp. He asked for the judge's help in getting the information. Thanks In large part to the Inquirers vindictive barrage, plus the press conference needling by its political correspondent, Joe Miller, Shapp was defeated for governor. Nixon forces are anxious to get Annenberg confirmed right away. They the know that Philadelphia Magazine, blackorgan which exposed Karafin mailing and sent him to jail, is doing a two-paseries on Annenberg. During the course of preparing his ai tides, Gaeton Fanzl, their author, got a brief hterview with Annenberg during which he asked why the Inquirer was so vicious in its attack on Shapp. rt "Shapp attacked the Pennsylvania and Railroad," Annenberg replied, Saunders is a personal friend of mine. Combined Chorus added seven variety numbers of its own for the second half. Shapp had been against the merger of These variety numbers also served to the Pennsylvania and the New York Cenkeep the small boys sitting near me tral railroads which president Saunders awake as they watched for the game of of the PFR was pushing. musical chairs that the singers played Since then its turned out that you between eveiy number as they changed are a substantial stockholder in the places on thsir rioers. Pennsylvania." Annenberg was asked, isnt that a conflict of Interest?" The singers and their Institute staff chorister, Douglas W. Scott, rewarded Annenbeig seemed convinced it was their audience for their warm applause noi, but his reply was not very convincintermissions , ", 5 Best song Springs Are Busting Out" All Over from the motion picture' 1 Rough Riders by Chuck Holes. , Ben Lokey, one of lie young handsome dancing stars of Ballet West, might be trying to break into comedy. He did an old vaudeville routine other day in San Antonio. He and pretty wife, Caroline Anderson, a ballet star in her own right, were deep in the , heart of Texas with the Ballet. Anyway, Ben was getting a picture of Caroline surrounded by Texas beauty , cactus, yucca, the whole bit. He stepped back to get her full length , , . . and fell into a flippin canal! ' - ' 1 11 If you think the old doughboys World War I had it tough back in 18, you should have seen them last month in Salt Lake City! . , Due to the years worst blizzard, their' meeting was called off. But 10 members' did fight their way to the meeting place n-- r . up on the East side. The furnace had gone out . . . colder than out It was time for dues and election of officers, but the officers were 1 all down with the flu. s did finally get together during a. . They thaw to elect James H. Keller as the 1969 commander for Utah . , e 1 Wit's End u It was a romantic moment when John got down on his knees to propose to Ruby but it took him 10 years to get back ' on his feet. ... ' BIG TALK 'i, V if'vr. X rf-r- -- taking its cue from the Variety Interlude, the with two encores. V Production. i the level first proposed and that was what the ladies really wanted in the first place. There were some in the tax revolt By DREW PEARSON both inside and outside the Legforces Sen. Bill Fulbright, WASHINGTON who used the movement for islature of the Foreign chairman the erudite personal publicity. Relations Committee, is skirting gingerly But by far the majority really believe the confirmation of Nixon's new ambasthat all the fat can be cut from govsador to the Court of St. James, Walter ernment and Utahs financial squeeze H. Annenberg. can be stopped short of a tax increase. As a former Rhodes Scholar he knows the importance of having a man of disTrimming the fat" from government is always easy to demand; usually diffi- tinction, culture and learning as Americult to accomplish. The problem lies in can ambassador in London. And he is to also aware of the fact that Annenbergs viewpoint. What is pure blubber some is strictly lean tissue to others. publishing empire was built up on the gang wars of Chicago and the illegal If the House of Representatives sticks race wire. to its present stance of not approving But Fulbright is enjoying a honeycent more one sales tax a than any per moon with new Secretary of State Wiraise, the tax bite will be well below that and the lliam Rogers and hates to interrupt it by recommended by the governor any probe of Nixon's top ambassador. GOP legislative leadership. When Milton Shapp was running for Should this prove to be the case, the marchers have planted governor of Pennsylvania as a Demomilitant anti-ta- x crat, Annenberg' Inquirer waged an their idea well. unmerciful campaign against him. On But, the problem may well prove to one occasion W'hen David Jewell, now s be what to do with the militant with the Washington Post, was covering who may move if the Legifederal court for the Inquirer, Harry slatures fund allocations tall short of Karafin, then Annenbergs notably the meeting what some groups for blacklater convicted and have declared to be their boy went to see U.S. jailed teachers mail, Judge Francis minimum "T)i For example, best comedy Great Escape, a Point of the Mountain MERRY-GO-ROUN- D , four-han- yi9 6, 1969 V ble. chords of accomplishment for a college sang a tasteful arrangement of March tf well and the Intonation was commenda- MUSICAL WHIRL Deseret News Music Editor citys largest auditorium on a night when there were Thursday, V. Chorus Aftracts Large Audience Taking all the tacts into consideration a relatively unknown chorus of even more unknown quality appearing in the NEWS, i- Lawmakers Get The Message By HAROLD LUNDSTROM tit f" When I returned to our apartment. I allowed myrelf the relief of tears for the first time in weeks. Once I started sobbing, I couldn't stop. All the anguish and By HARRY JONES suffering, the fears and dashed hopes of A friend of ours had an extra bit of a the past weeks and months, were in thrill the other day. , tnose bitter tears. was lie in 180 down his breezing Suddenly the teleplioiie rang. So IT had happened already, I told myself. 1 spanking new auto . . . about 73 miles per hour. The car was holding the road I had been just in time to say good-by- . like it was on a track. My friend could was trembling like a leaf when 1 lifted , the receiver. Professor Bama.d was at steer it with his little fmger. So he sat back and flipped on the . j'l the other end. I recognized his voice. I couldnt speak. My tongue was dry car s transistor radio. And the fiist thing he heard was a and stuck to the roof of my mouth. I wondered, vaguely, how he would break news report that his model car had juxt " the news to me and tell of our great loss. been recalled by the manufacturer! ,t For it would he his loss, too. I heard no . . . Did that slow him down! sad or mournful voice but a happy one, Like Billy Casper said to Hack Miller: excited, bubbling over. Show me a man who plays golf with his Mrs. Blaiberg, he said, lie got wonderful news for you. He spoke the boss, and Iil show word wonderful with fervor. Your husyou a good loser!" band is going to live. Hes going to live. For a moment I could hardly grasp The new stamp-siz- e the meaning of his words. Does that orange colored mean, I asked, that you have found a tag that updates y donor? " old license your No, he said excitedly. We dont plates cannot be need a transplant any longer. Your huspeeled oil by some band has rallied. culprit w ho w ould L-. , "In my dazed state, I forgot to ask paste it on his own. . It is peel proof. why tlie transplant was no longer necesTalking about tlie v' sary. I couldnt believe that a miracle t Jm had taken place, In some other way, to plates, a woman almost in hysterics called the dispatcher of the Utah HighyW. spare Phil. , to the way Patrol. t My brother took me and Jill Before reading the instructions close, hospital. There, we heard, for the first u . ( , time, that Phil had been given antilyni-phocyt- e she had stuck the orange tag on the front plate Instead of the one in the reqr.' serum on Saturday morning, vt She couldn't peel it off. "Will I be ,v' ' July 6, and it had taken 36 hours to show its effects. arrested if I am caught with the tag ort will I have to buy a nAw ' From that time onward he seemed the front 1 to improve slowly but surely. The day tag? She was almost screaming. after I said good-b- y to him, he called for The dispatcher said she could be . ( happily strolls along beach. his breakfast. Instead of the milk he had picked tip for having the tag on the front v , sipped during previous days, he wanted plate. And then when she settled dowil a ' of bounds to me. It was to be my opporsteak and eggs. The following morning bit, he suggested that she just switch his appetite was even better. He ordered plates! tunity to say good-by- . i.' u( I put on my sterile outfit, as usual, a breakfast of porridge, Liree eggs, Wiles Hallock, commissioner for the and walked into Phils ward. My legs felt cream cheese, and two glasses of milk. wak. I think I was near to fainting. He His circulation, I was told, had improved WAC conference, will be in town to discuss safety with the Utah was dozing when I stood beside his bed and his morale, as I could see, was excellent and spoke to him. Phil . . . PHIL . . . Safety Council Maybe he is expecting,! ; , ( . ; To Dr. Busman, who had tended him trouble on the campus? He opened his eyes and smiled faint' , said he ly. Phil, I said trying my best to sound during most of the crisis period, ' 1 One of tlie newest games around tlie pleased, look at the privilege they have with his old broad smile: Bossle, you and I are going on that overseas trip to- valley is making up local "Oscar nomi- given me to visit you right at your nations. bedside. gether after alL it I have in mind a couple of small boys, going blind. The mother and father, cousins, were not blind, but both had serious eye disorders. The same thing can happen in many parts of the body. Take for instance, the pancreas. If both parents have diabetes, or a tenden-- c y toward it (because the pancreas is enough insulin) there is a very dibtrong chance that children will have abetes. The risk is far less if only one parent has the tendency. Of course, it is possible for cousins to narry and have healthy children but he risk is far, far greater. Vm'Vmnr DESERET I had not planned, or thought, what exactly I would say. Then, suddenly, I heard myself pleading with him, Phil, you have to live. You've just got to live. Jill and I need you desperately. T saw tears rolling down lus iace. I kept control of myself. How, I dont know. Then I left him, as I thought, for the last time. It seemed unreal that I might never again hear hm speak 01 see him smile, that all his fond nopes, and mme, might end within a matter of hums. tis. F ing. i The Mafia i choosing a new chief. I guess members who can't be at the election will send, . 1 J absentee-bullets!- " From photo tomn by Lionol V. WcNeoiy lor tug (Xstroi News popul' only Bby BMhdjy luturo. t HIIIIIIIUUllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllil.lll!!IIIIIINMmmitl - ' , . |