Accounts of Michele S.

Michele's story, parts I and II written by George Fraser. Folder also includes account of their experiences by E. Yap-Todos and D. Yap for Festschrift.

2007

1 file

Fraser records, ‘In part I of Michele’s story, I wrote

“One of the girls in my 1962 paper was eight years old at that time. I had first met Michele S at the age of five years in 1960 when she was deaf and blind; she was behaving like a wild animal, reacting with frightened screaming to any attempted approach. I noticed that she liked to press loudly ticking clocks to her skull and, suspecting that her deafness was largely conductive, I took her to an otorhinolaryngologist of my acquaintance. He reconstructed her malformed outer and middle ears, and, at the age of six years, she heard speech for the first time; 45 years later, she lives a life which has been more tolerable than it would have been without any hearing. Perhaps this small contribution to the improvement in the quality of the life of this girl represents a greater achievement than that of my name becoming attached to a syndrome, and even, in abbreviated form as FRAS1, to a gene”.

In 1964, Michele’s mother wrote me two letters which gave me great pleasure.

“May 14th 1964

Dear Dr Fraser I hope that the form has been filled in satisfactorily and that some help may be gained from it. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for being instrumental in the discovery of Michele’s deafness. The operation proved very successful. She is now talking very well, is learning Braille and figure work, and is rapidly becoming a normal blind child. Thank you for your interest in her. Yours faithfully B K S (Mrs)”

“October 27th 1964

Dear Dr Fraser We have returned from a 4 day assessment at Condover with Michele. They are most impressed with her and the things she manages for herself and are taking her for training in the New Year, until her speech is fluent when they will pass her to Blind School. They think once she settles they will do quite a lot with her. The vocabulary improves daily, and she always remembers, though perhaps she hasn’t touched the article, or said the word for weeks. We will always be deeply grateful to you, for making the journey to see Michele, and we feel that now she should go ahead. Condover is certainly a wonderful place. The three of us left a sample of blood with Dr Owen at Shrewsbury Hospital for testing. He is most interested in finding a cause for malformations. A student from Michele’s Nursery school is now working at the Sunshine Home Northwood, Middlesex with blind children and apparently there is a little boy (Jewish) with no eyes and very backward. I wondered if this would interest you? Thank you for all you have done for us and the interest you have shown in Michele. Yours faithfully B K S (Mrs)”

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