no tears and consolations. Mickey knocked himself
out to keep the pace fast, too fast for Red to think of
anything but the show. Mickey shouted and kicked,
pantomimed, and called Red names. The result was
a hilarious show.
V
i ow that Red had learned to control his emotions,
he could help Richard lead a happier life.
Unknown to his son, Red cancelled personal ap
pearances with his latest film, RKO's "Public Pigeon
Number One," as well as other commitments that
would take him away from home.
A family vacation to Europe also was called off, but
the Skeltons went ahead with preparations to visit
Hawaii again with their children, because that is what
Richard-wanted.
There were still problems, of course Richard's fu
ture relationship to other children, for example.
Keeping apart from friends might shield him from
inadvertent but cruel remarks; Red feared, however,
that isolation would have a worse effect. Besides, the
attitude of his ten-year-old daughter Valentina
proved that youngsters often have a greater under
standing than they get credit for.
Valentina was just as conscious of her brother's
illness as the rest of the family. And like them, she
refused to accept the doctor's verdict as final. She
played with Richard as before; her concern showed
only in her nightly prayer, when she asked God to
help her brother. With such assurance, Red and
Georgia decided to let Richard mix with other chil
dren, as he had done before.
Two weeks after Richard left the hospital, he re
turned to school. He became a Cub Scout, went to the
movies, and took part in moderate exercises.
Once the initial shock had worn off, the Skelton
household settled down to normal activities. Red and
Georgia had time to look at the medical question
more realistically. They decided against consulting
more physicians. The attending doctors, they realized,
were in the best position to evaluate any future dis
coveries. Sending the boy all over the country in
search of miracle cures would only make him tense
and more aware of his condition.
Besides, there was plenty to do at home. The news
of Richard's illness brought nearly 50,000 letters of
sympathy to the Skeltons from well-wishers, some as
far away as Milan, Italy, and Yokohama, Japan.
Red has set up a staff of 12 secretaries to help
answer the mail, much of which he reads and all of
which is answered over his personal signature. Every
letter and phone call is carefully catalogued and
screened, and the merest suggestion of a possible cure
is turned over to UCLA for further action.
Judging by the letters he has received, Red has won
not only the sympathy of millions but also their
respect for the way he has carried on under the strain.
By simply giving inspiration to his own family, this
husband and father has given inspiration to. thousands
of other families faced with similar crises.
i ';
LEARNED WHY THE SHOW MUST GO ON: TO HELP OTHERS AND HIMSELF FIND HOPE AGAIN.
v
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