The History Theatre in St. Paul, which is worth the trip alone, will have a production, "Sister Kenny's Children" running January 23rd through February 14. This has a local connection as there is a great neighborhood in Southwest Minneapolis named the Kenny neighborhood after Sister Kenny.
Elizabeth Kenny was born in Australia in 1880 and was a self taught woman. She broke her wrist riding a horse and while in the doctor's office studied his anatomy books and the model skeleton. She remain connected with the doctor and he helped her learn much of what she knew about medicine. She got some basic training in nursing from a midwife and then went on to help people living in the Bush. Her theory was to treat the systems as they presented themselves. She applied hot compress and weights to legs to help them from becoming paralyzed.
In 1940, after becoming well know in Australia for treating people with polio, Elizabeth Kenny and her adopted daughter, Mary, came to Minneapolis to demonstrate her treatments. For 11 years she used this as her base to treat children who had been affected by polio and teach others how to treat those with infantile paralysis. It was very controversial as patients with these conditions were typically put in casts, splints or braces.
That small clinic she started today is called the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates. and is one of the two most famous medical centers for treating people today. She became a celebrity and met with FDR. She was beloved by Minneapolis so much that they gave her a house. Elizabeth Kenny might be gone but the neighborhood, a park, and a school all remain with her name.
So when it is cold and snowy in January/February get out of the house and see this grand production. http://www.historytheatre.com/shows/2009-2010/sisterkenny.asp.
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