European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 16, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes wednesday december 16, 1992 doctor says tiny Tim had treatable kidney disorder new York apr tiny Tim the fictional child whose ill health adds poignancy to the 19th-Century tale a Christmas Carol apparently suffered from a kidney disease that made his blood too acidic a physician suggests. Or. Donald Lewis studied tiny Tim to show medical students How to diagnose children. The symptoms were revealed in the original manuscript of Charles Dickens 1843 classic in illustrations in later editions and in movie adaptations. Dickens could not have known about the kidney condition a distal renal tubular acidosis Type i a because it was not recognized until the Early 20th Century Lewis said. But therapies for such symptoms were used during Dickens Day and could have treated it. Lewis also said his analysis was based on How a Case of the disease would look if it went untreated Given the extreme poverty of times family. Nowadays the disease is treated before children end up like tiny Tim he said. Or. Mouin Shikaly a paediatric kidney specialist at the University of Texas southwestern medical Center in Dallas said the proposed diagnosis was a a fairly Good  Seikaly also said doctors do not see such advanced cases nowadays either because of Early treatment or perhaps a reduction in the diseases severity Over time Lewis is an assistant professor of paediatrics and neurology at the medical College of Hampton roads in Norfolk va., and a paediatric neurologist at the . Nava Hospital in Portsmouth a. He discusses tiny Tim in the december Issue of the american journal of diseases of children. Here is his evidence and analysis a tiny Tim was Short but apparently proportioned normally. Dickens referred to times father Bob crat chit As Little so times stature May have been inherited. A Tim had Only one Crutch so the disease affected one Side of the body More than the other maybe a result of Bone fractures. A his spells of weakness withered hand and Limp Ness when Riding on his fathers shoulders suggest a problem with the nerves that Lead from the spinal Cord to the Muscles. A he apparently was supposed to die within a year because the ghost of Christmas present told Ebenezer Scrooge that a none other of my race will find him Here during presumably annual visits. A yet Tim did not die after Scrooge opened his Rich purse and no doubt found the Best doctors around. So the disease must have been treatable with available therapies. Lewis consulted medical textbooks of Dickens Day and found that children with times symptoms would have received alkaline solutions which would counteract the excess acid in his blood. Times improvement would have been rapid Lewis said. While there Are several plausible diagnoses Lewis said the treatable kidney disorder fits most neatly and fulfils a the hopeful spirit of the  theme Park for children planned in . A Uimer in no am i i  apr Federal and District of Columbia officials plan to break ground next year on a $120 million theme Park for children. I lie National children a Island theme Park and interpretive playground is to be developed on two islands on the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington. The Park is slated to feature interactive pavilions devoted to science Medicine underwater aquatic life communications and musical performance. The theme Park will Combine environmental education with playground activities. The site is in one of the City a poorest areas. I he Cost will be picked up by Developer Contessa Bina Sella i Monte Luce the daughter of an Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist. Sella i Monte Luce is the principal shareholder and president of Island development corp., which was selected to develop construct manage and operate the project. A what better place for a Park called National children a Island than Here in Washington .,an Urban Park available not Only to Young people and families living in this area but also to visitors from across the country and around the world a she said at a news conference monday. _ her company will be compensated through a portion of the Entrance fees to the theme Park. The project is expected to create 1,300 to 1,800 jobs with 51 percent of them reserved for City residents. Is John Sohst special Day special gift fifteen year Oid Melissa Smith receives a pre Christmas gift from kindly old St. Nick at the vog Cloch area youth activities Center in Kaiserslautern Germany where youngsters enrolled in the exceptional family member program were treated to a party saturday. The festivities were sponsored by the 569th . Forces police flight. Thanks to the group the youngsters Civ Joyce entertainment a meal and individual presents from Santa Claus. Woman seeks world Harmony tall Prince dear Santa my name is is. Button. 1 am 28 years old. I would like for everyone in the world to love and care for each other. My Christmas wish is to fall in love with a very handsome Prince hopefully one who is 6 feet tall with dark hair and dark eyes. He must be honest and successful. Love is. Button dear Santa i love you Santa Claus. I had a dream that we were in the car together and you said Quot hoho How and you were wearing glasses and you gave them to me and i gave them Back to you because they were yours and you gave me lots of presents. Love Jamar Byrd age 4 dear Santa i would like a race car some milk a House and a Reindeer. I am 3 years old. I also want a car to drive and a real wife. Have a merry Christmas i have been Good this year. Love . Hobbs other letters written to Santa include miss Button s first Grade class Tom Crail sheim Germany Dustin Silver Kevin Young Isaiah Cruz Senna Michael c. Michael d Mary Ann Christine Eilieth Tameika Esther Hardin Shawn Brandi Casados Sloven Nadolla Krysl Lionel Taysha mrs. Diehm s second Grade class from civil Shojii Germany Ste Haruo Brown Alina i .1 tue i s a it Sonto Antony Michael Waymire Cindy Gillespie Oana Gobo i Patrick Long Abby Taylor Amanda Amon a Jennifer Bueoy is. Monica Sprouse s class from Torrejon Spain Adrian pacer Diana Sanders Ruby Salazar Joshua Rayak Laura Martinez Chelsea Cook Tyler Engle Micky Cavaliero is. Hatfield s third Grade class irom Naples Italy Chelsea Matias Pontiliano Rebecca land Theresa Oswalt Carlos Diaz Andrea Mack Jessica Westcott Emmanuel Perez Eric Samantha Ernie Hudson Tyler Vest Cristina Ortiz Angelique c. Ben Vida David Primus Tiffany Hicks Sanders Jones Keyona Gullott Micheal Dobriner Cory chop Spencer Carlson Koyona Chastine Seth Overbey Joseph Inge Lugt Christopher fallen Amanda Chapa Arthur Gore Jaclyn Faulkner Isaad cherish William Kyle mrs. Zacharlas first Jackie Shryer Pamela Pittman Tanya Mosier Candace Miles Jordan Luchel Patrick Lehan Kevin Dimla Michelle Burion Timmy la Shawn Heather Kassi Cassandra Matty Erica Grade class from Vilseck Germany Loyd Smith Cassia Strickland Aisha Russell Jennifer place Sidney Parenteau Brian Napior Freddy Montero Jeffery Miller Kyle Mccabe Delavis Mason Rebecca Looney Felicia Leyba Kenneth Hancock Mur Chaun Kea Edmond Bethalle Cooper Michael Cook Emanual Blanding or. Bohm s and mrs Dallas first Grade classes irom Derheim Germany Kyle Mclean Stefan Jose Lawicz Bobby Olivas Andy Sepulveda Joe Sawhill Erica quran Mark Hines Nicole Carey Cassoy b. Ramon Reggie Justim Cortney Alex Burma Stephanie Joyce sue Lse ones h re Grade class from Madrid Spain Wra love 500 aod�?T9u0z Matthew Robinson ii old. I Nicole Del Aguila a a Xiuru Bianca Gutierrez Valene Cortez Marrisa Battle Natalie Garica Jason Ratcliffe Heather Colburn Fose Gutierrez Tim Dodson Eric Nixon Adrian Gookin a a Timoth Gamale a Jesseca Champlain by a Mcguire Aaron carry Nikita Sims Jeromie Magee. Any Ashley Moyer Brett Foster Anna Marina Kevin Mcclain Michael Young Ashley Parno Cornelius Austin Samantha pleasant Shawna Ambur Chris Dominick a tsar 1 Baas a a a East Quot Idrew Guzman j. Robillos Joey Adams Shaun Griffith i f�e_parte9 Suzan Phillips Lesha Peterson Kellie Dorais Keith Lane Ash Ross Christopher Mertins Aileen Baker Jasmin Jiminez Rusty Baian is Hume s first Grade class from bad  Germany Ahie Myers Alana Igus Moke Morrow Matthew brands Alison Pel Orsen Erica Moreno a Sci ass of is. Marvinny is. Haddox and is Hea?hnrewn0pment cent or in Hanau Germany Heather norms Nina Marley Christopher Nunez Troy Lyden Jacqueline alien . Hobbs is barring on Tay Day Quot a Greo Mdge or Andraya Smook Vonholtz at Fliege Horst Alex Sadler Stacy Brinson Ryan Thomas Valerie Sutton