Throughout my life there has been a memory hidden within me that has been my life’s inspiration. At age 67, this early memory was recalled in 2019 during a dental procedure while under conscience sedation.
In 1952, I was born with a medical concern we now know as Binders Syndrome. This is a malformation of the nose and central face.
When I was 3, I had my first of four plastic surgeries to correct the problem which had the distinct potential of being more than a just a issue of physical appearance.
I was sent to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis where Dr. Brown became my “hero”. He was a world renown plastic surgeon. This alone was an experience that was most unique as I was one of the first to have surgery of the kind he was performing.
But I digress…the memory I had in the dentist office was about the operating room I was in at some point in 1955. Yes, I was 3 then. I remembered a painted giraffe on the wall of a huge room.
My memory was sparse but I knew in my heart that it was important. I remembered being surrounded by paintings all over the walls and ceiling of the massive surgical amphitheater. I googled Barnes OR murals and found my memory was indeed real. I found pictures of the amphitheater murals and realized I had been directly influenced by this incredible experience.
I have always loved art…especially fairytale art…wide eyed children…the things that graced the walls of the operating room. The painting that Gisella Loeffler created that I saw in 1955. All of my life, I drew and painted these things not understanding the significance of what had inspired me.
I contacted Barnes Jewish Hospital and was fortunate to find people that helped me research my memories. I made a trip there in the summer of 2019. The murals were mostly destroyed in 1955 right after I had my first surgery. I am still searching for parts of them that might still exist in the substructure of the building.
There is so much to share that I am considering writing a children’s book about my inspired life. Giving thanks to Barnes and the people that care for people. Giving thanks to Gisella Loeffler and her heartfelt artistic gift that inspired my life’s journey. I am forever holding her in my heart.
All of the above pictures excluding the first two of myself were obtained through the Bernard Becker Medical library at Washington University. A huge thank you to Phillip Skroska for making my dream come true through his efforts that allowed me to discover my past.
