First brain surgery at Page Memorial

Luray panoramic

March 1, 1962 — Jackie Allen Alger, 8, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Henry Alger of near Stanley, had the first brain surgery at PMH.

On Feb. 18, Jackie and several of his playmates were trying to dislodge a cat from a tree when Jackie got on the receiving end of a rock intended for the cat and fell to the ground.

He suffered a brain concussion and was rushed to the Page Memorial Hospital where Dr. W.E. Schlabach operated the next morning. The operation is called a craniotomy decompression in medical terms and relieves the pressure on the brain.

Jackie has been a live wire at the hospital ever since. He was discharged Wednesday just doing fine and good as new. 

~ From the public archives of the Page News and Courier

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