March of Dimes 'Poster Girl' Lovely . . . Lucky

March Of Dimes ‘Poster Girl’

Lovely... Lucky

By William G. Serrin

Linda McIntire's eyes are brown, as big as doughnut holes. Her hair is brown, too, and comes to her shoulders. She giggles, says “puleese,” plays peek-a-boo.

She is Washtenaw County's Miss March of Dimes for 1965.

Born with an open spine — myelomeningocele — the local National Foundation’s “poster girl” was operated on when she was four weeks old, and the condition, which showed as a knot the size of a golf ball on the small of her back, repaired.

Four weeks later, she was operated on again — for hydrocephalus, internal pressure on her brain caused by excess spinal liquid in its ventricals. This was a part of her birth defect. A plastic tube — a valve—was inserted in her head to drain the liquid into her blood stream. The device no longer functions, but remains there.

After the second operation, doctors discovered she had a bladder infection, and Linda was admitted several times for treatments to University Hospital’s Birth Defects Special Treatment Center. Her mother periodically massages the bladder area; the condition is improving.

The birth defect impaired Linda’s ability to stand and move her legs, but she wears braces, special shoes, and is able to walk short distances. Her future is “really quite good ... encouraging,” said Dr. Richard W. Deatrick, local pediatrician who continues to care for her.

Linda was taken Jan. 13 to Mrs. Harlan Hatcher’s home at 815 S. University St. for a tea marking the beginning of the Washtenaw County National Foundation — March of Dimes Campaign.

She was coached by her mother, Mrs. Walter E. McIntire, to say, “Hello, Mrs. Hatcher.”

“Hello, Mrs. Hatch,” Linda said.

Her mother and tens of other area mothers will canvass Washtenaw County Monday night in the annual “Mothers’ March of Polio” for funds to combat infantile paralysis and birth defects. Linda’s leg braces were purchased with campaign funds.

“I don't know what my title is, but I found out that part of the area around our house wasn't covered, so I volunteered,” Mrs. McIntire said.

She participated in the campaign, however, several times before Linda was born. “I always considered myself lucky to have five perfectly healthy children,” she said.

Mr. and Mrs. McIntire and their children live at 533 S. Seventh St. Besides Linda, the children are Walter, 21; Earl. 16; Daniel, 13; William, 10, and Susan, 9. McIntire is employed by Variety Tool and Die Co., Dexter.

Mrs. McIntire remains lucky:

“Some of the kids don’t do as well as Linda did,” said Dr. Donita B. Sullivan, University assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases. “Had she been born 20 years ago, Linda more than likely would be dead or in a state institution...”

Mr. and Mrs. McIntire — and their other children realize this . . . and so Feb. 16 will be all the more glorious — when Linda will huff and puff and perhaps blow out two candles on her birthday cake.