March 5, 1955
Friday

Dear Syd:

IT have some terribly had news. Bob Wright was in an sutc accident
Monday in which he suffered severe cranio-cerebral injury. He is still
unconscious.

I would have sritten you aarlier, but shorkxkhe Thought that Peter
Dunlop would gee you as soon. However he has postponed his trip back to
Australia. Bob's parents have been notified, of course. I assume that
Mari will keep then fully informed. I want to tell you that I wild write
you immediately there is any decisive chango. I hate to have to give ycu
such news in such 4 saspensive state, but was scan more ccneerned you
would hear abcut 1t elsewhere and get an agonisingly fragmentary picture.

His condition is critical, though his general physical state, vital
sighs, etc. sre remarkably good, The in*tury romcved wich of the right
parietal bone, and some temporal. There was some, not vary extensive
cerebral lacsration in the right precentral. ‘hers mist have been 2
basal fracture as well (otorrhes}, but no further signs have developed.

Of course, until h2 regains consctousnass, it will be imusstble to

evaluate the tote] injury. He ia baginning to respond, though very little.
The immediate danger of infection, hemorrhage, hematoma seems past.
Fortunately, hs has had excellent medical and surgical care. He was pre-
sented already fairly decompressed (with the open fracture!) but a tempor-
ary dural suture at the laceration, and sub—tamporal decompression was done
with the debridement and closing. The surgecn does not expect any secute
crisis; wo ara 211 simply waiting the possibility of neurological evaluation.

The accident ocsurrad on an icy patch of road about 40 miles away from
Madison. The car went out of control and overturned. “ari and another pas—
senger were with him, but unscratched. It makes a gocd case for the use of
safety belts. They were, as it hapnens, on the way back from 4 trip to
Carbondale to visit Lindegren.

I hardly have to tell you how we feel about it. It may be gratifying that,
after a merely casual mention cf the need, no less than 15 rneople lined up for
blood donations to replace the (few pints, don't be elarmed) supply that
had been ueed to cover him during the initial shock.

If you don't hear any more right away, his situation will not have
materially changed. It is impossible/ to predi¢t, of course,
how soon he will recover consciousness. Mari is taking it pretty
well though she tries to spend 24 hours a day with him. She's a brave
girl.

Yours,