THE BREAD BASKET

In his distinguished 37-year medical career, Dr. Evan O'Niell Kane had performed nearly 4000 appendectomies, but the one he performed on February 15, 1921 at the Kane Summit Hospital in New York City was exceptional in two ways.

First, this was the initial time Dr. Kane had used local anesthesia in major surgery. He had been a crusader against the hazards of general anesthesia, contending that a local application would be safer. Many of his colleagues agreed with him in principle, but needed Dr. Kane to first prove it to them in practice.

The problem? Finding a volunteer--a patient who would be willing to undergo surgery while under local anesthesia. Many feared that the anesthesia would wear off too soon, while others were apprehensive about being awake during their own surgery.

But on February 15, 1921 a volunteer was found. The patient was prepped and wheeled into the operating room. A local anesthetic was applied. And as he had done thousands of times before, Dr. Kane professionally located the appendix and removed it. During the operation, the patient complained only of minor discomfort. The volunteer was then taken into postop, and later placed in a hospital ward. He had an amazing recovery, and was discharged two days later. Dr. Kane had proven his theory. Because of the willingness of one brave soul, Kane established the fact that local anesthesia was a viable option.

The second fact that made this 1921 operation unique was the patient. The brave volunteer for surgery by Dr. Kane was Dr. Kane.To prove his point, Dr. Kane had operated on himself. Wisely, the doctor had become a patient so as to convince both his clients and his colleagues to trust him with the new medical procedure.

The doctor who became his own patient compares in a small way to the story of God who became human. The Apostle John speaks of this incarnation: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"(John 1 :1 4/ NIV). So that you and I would believe that the Healer knows our hurts, He voluntarily became one of us. He placed Himself in our position. He suffered our pains and felt our fears. "Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor so that you through His poverty might become rich"(2 Corinthians 8:9/N1V). Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!