Shriners evaluation Saturday

One of the highlights of the year for Flathead Valley Shrine Club members is the opportunity to help provide screening for youngsters for possible admittance into a Shriners Hospital for Children.

Screening for area children takes place Saturday, April 18, at the Flathead Orthopedic Center in Kalispell beginning at 8:30 a.m. It was explained that registration for evaluations are to be made by calling 752-7900, ext. 2211.

Don Slaybaugh and Jerrel Hudson, cochairmen for the Shrine Club, noted that physicians, X-ray technicians and staff members perform screening evaluations free of charge in this cooperative venture.

Orthopedic, serious burn injuries, cleft lips and palates, spinal cord injuries are all treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children.

It is stressed that through efforts of Shriners, their hospitals are able to treat children under 18 years of age completely free.

It is always impressive to note transportation costs to the hospitals are also free of charge. Flathead Valley Shrine Club members happily assisted by paying more than $37,000 in transportation costs last year. It's stressed that these expenses do not come out of Shriners Hospital funds. Shrine Circus proceeds for the club help finance transportation costs.

I enjoyed visiting with two Kalispell residents treated at Spokane Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in the 1940s and 1950. The name has since been changed and the word crippled dropped from it.

Jean Monk Linrude remembers surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Spokane in 1950. St. Luke's Hospital was near the Shriners Hospital. A long tunnel was used to take patients there for surgery. Jean, who was referred by Dr. Burns, had scoliosis, which is lateral curvature of the spine.

She said they were really well taken care of and Sunday was visitors day.

My sister, Gertrude Van, was at the hospital during the same time. Gertrude had cerebral palsy and was hydrocephalic. This is an abnormal increase of fluid within the brain. I remember Mother carrying her to board the train to Spokane. She came home with braces, walking with crutches.

Gary Rose was a patient at the Spokane Shriners Hospital in 1943 and 1949. He had a severe case of club feet and was there for nine months the second time. Gary was fitted with full-length body casts and wore special shoes until he was 12 years old. He also had braces.

Gary also remembers the tunnel, which he described as long and dark. He termed it a scary thing when being taken through it to St. Luke's for surgery. He attended school classes in a sunny room at the hospital.

Despite his surgeries, casts and braces, Gary commented that he felt he was pretty well off compared to a lot of kids there. Polio was prevalent at that time and patients included victims of that disease.

Gary later played baseball and basketball thanks to the Shriners.

(Second in this Shriners Hospitals series will be printed April 23.)

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.