Children’s Medical Center Dallas is one of the oldest medical institutions in the city, which was created back in the early 20th century as a camp for sick babies, which was founded by May Smith. Find out more at i-dallas.
Foundation of a camp for babies
In 1907, the nurse May Forster Smith, who studied at the Cooper Hospital in Philadelphia, moved to Dallas. Arriving in the city, she was shocked by the high mortality rate among babies. Malnutrition and infections were common causes, with up to 15 newborn babies dying a day, as the Dallas Morning News reported in 1913. The field of pediatrics was only beginning to emerge at that time, so children were often treated with the same methods as adults.
Not because of malicious intent, but rather due to low awareness, instead of breast milk, parents could feed their children with common table foods such as cabbage, green beans, peas, potatoes and raw eggs. In the worst case, food could be stored not in a cool place, which led to indigestion in babies, especially in summer.
However, May Smith knew that the little ones needed special care. The woman teamed up with six other nurses and created the first in the southwest “Camp for Babies”. The American Red Cross provided the nurses with four tents, which they set up at the corner of Maple and Oak Lawn avenues. Residents of the city joined in helping, bringing blankets and money. May Smith devoted her whole life to this camp. She never married or gave birth. Nurses and patients replaced her family.
Caring for the Newborn
On April 6, 1913, the children’s camp was opened. Steel baths were installed in the tents, where hot bricks were placed and covered with a towel, which served as a kind of incubator where the babies were warmed. The legs of children’s beds were dipped in cans with water and kerosene, so that the bugs did not reach the children. Two baby cots covered with mosquito nets were placed on the street, where sunbathing was arranged.
During the first season of work in the camp, it was possible to cure approximately 100 babies. One of them was a boy, Freddie, who was 4 months old and weighed 5 pounds. The baby was fed with milk by means of a dropper, so he could gain an additional 3.5 pounds in 1.5 months.
In breaks between babysitting, the nurse May also taught the girls and women the rules of breastfeeding and dietary regime. After the camp, these women shared their positive experience with their neighbors, who also began to bring their children for rehabilitation.
Expansion of the camp
With the beginning of the autumn-winter period, the camp suspended its activities. But the very next year, it was operational again in the cottage on the territory of the old Parkland Memorial Hospital, where more children could be accommodated.
In 1929, Tom Bradford Sr. donated $100,000 to May Smith for the construction of a new hospital as a sign of gratitude for the treatment of his daughter. The construction was not delayed, and the Bradford Memorial Hospital for Babies was opened a year later. It is worth noting that, in contrast to adult hospitals, children were equally cared for here, regardless of their skin color.
Apart from that, May took full custody of the girl, who was abandoned by her mother here. She named her Bobbie.
Creation of Children’s Medical Center Dallas
In January 1938, May Smith fell ill with pneumonia, but refused to leave her work at the hospital. Unfortunately, the nurse could not overcome the disease and died in the same hospital surrounded by her staff. In 1948, it was decided to merge Bradford Hospital with two other medical facilities that treated babies and children, and found the Children’s Medical Center Dallas.