A World Record—A Bit of History
No Human had survived rabies, ever.
Well… not until the dawn of November 24, 1970, when a nurse declared to Tom Weis, the lead pediatrician, and Mike Hattwick, the internist from the Center for Disease Control, “He’s better.” Matthew Winkler’s pulse and blood pressure improved. His fever dropped and within a few hours, he gained consciousness. By evening, he sipped water. A world record.
Fifty years later, Molly Weis opened a suitcase full of news clippings. They featured Matt’s three-month journey. Her father noted, “No one ever wrote about the ten days.” His memories were vivid and filled with guidance and wisdom for the next generation. Molly wondered about the others—the family, clinicians, and administrators. What were their reflections so many years later? Facing the Impossible conveys their replies.
Art of Medicine—A Bit of Wisdom
Resources for today's care
The author details the pediatric team’s treatment—their clinical actions and personal skills of humility, mutual learning, self-reflection, empathy and the ease of the unknown. The team members worked for many decades after 1970, they felt the personal skills are timeless but also paramount for the next generation. The book explores the contemporary application of these skills by featuring evidence-base research and training directed by national physicians.