Leila Denmark — a woman doctor who lived in three centuries and saved the world from whooping cough

In medical history, many great women, but among them it is possible to identify with confidence Leila Denmark. She saved humanity from whooping cough, and lived to 114 years, catching XIX, XX and XXI century, and occupied an honored place among the doctors with a record of experience.

The daughter and grandchildren of Leila Denmark say in one voice that the secret of its phenomenal longevity lies in a positive attitude, healthy food and love to the beloved. There is no other explanation, because there is a good genetics is not referring to mother Leila died at the age of 45 and my father lived a little more than 60.

Dr. Leila Denmark

But the spouse of Dr. Denmark died in ' 91 and everyone thinks that it is connected only with the fact that all his life he listened to her advice. Long believed that nothing shortens the life of man as the hated job and discouragement, and it is difficult to disagree.

Leila was born in 1898 in the most ordinary farming family of 12 children. No parents or other ancestors of the future luminaries of medicine not only excelled in the field of science, but did not even have higher education. And indeed Denmark was not nurtured ambitious plans and plan to become a simple teacher.

But fate decreed otherwise. Fiance Leila, a promising economist John Denmark, was sent to the island of Java, in Indonesia. Even marrying your beloved, the girl could not count on the fact that she was allowed to accompany him in foreign missions.

Leila and her husband John of Denmark

The exit was one — to a career that would be highly valued on the island of Java to go with John as a specialist. So Layla was transferred from teacher training College medical College of Georgia. However, she was the only girl on the course, because in the beginning of XX century the medical profession was predominantly male.

The girl is not too grieved because of the fact that she had to give up the dream of becoming a teacher. In the end, pediatricians also work with children and their work is not less important. After College, Leila went with John in a distant exotic country and working in a complex, almost extreme conditions, gained invaluable experience.

Upon returning to the US, Leila Denmark continued to practice as a pediatrician, hard work almost without rest. Beloved husband was understanding to a constant employment of the spouse — he's resigned to the fact that his energetic and responsible wife was not born for cuisine and get-togethers with friends, and for the more high matters.

Leila Denmark with her daughter Mary Alice

Despite the fanatical attitude towards work, Leila gave birth to a daughter Mary Alice and was a great mother. But when she was only two years old, disaster struck. In Georgia, where the family settled, there was an epidemic of whooping cough. This disease is very contagious — it is transmitted by airborne droplets, and its main symptom is a prolonged cough.

In Georgia whooping cough has infected thousands of children and account for every specialist. Leila literally torn between his clinic and a sick daughter, who with every day became worse and worse. Adults were transferred to whooping cough, not bad, but among children the mortality from disease was very high.

Denmark and her colleagues did the impossible — fantastic for a short time, they have developed an effective vaccine against pertussis. One of the first patients, who recovered from a dangerous illness, was the daughter of Leyla and all the expense saved children's lives was in the thousands.

After the first resounding success Dr. Denmark went to rest on their laurels and continued to work hard. Two years she spent on it to bring the vaccine against whooping cough to perfection and to seek permission for its use around the world.

For services to humanity Dr. Denmark was awarded in 1935, the medical prize of the Fisher. Twenty years later, Layla was awarded the title "Woman of the year". At the age of 87 years, the woman decided to retire and she and her husband moved from sandy springs to the small town of ALPHARETTA.

But Denmark was not able to sit idle and soon started working in a new place. Only in 2001, at the age of 103 years, Leila has left the practice due to serious vision problems. The year before Dr. Denmark was awarded an honorary doctorate from Emory University in Atlanta.

Throughout his life, Dr. Leila Denmark was so busy medical practice, he wrote only two books. The most famous of them — "Every child should have a chance", was released in 1971 and then was several times reprinted.

In this book the doctor-a pediatrician with a vast experience debunked a few well-established myths, for example, about the benefits of cow's milk and harm the baby crying. Denmark argued, based on the facts that the milk for kids is useless and it is much more important to give them fresh fruits and vegetables. Crying, in the opinion of the pediatrician goes to the kids benefit, as well develops their lungs.

Also the doctor warned pregnant women from drinking coffee and shared many other of his observations, made over 50 years of medical practice. Throughout his life, Leila Denmark argued that the experts ' recommendations should not be blindly performed and the parents themselves must decide which ones to adopt. The doctor was proud that her advice has always hit the spot and worked perfectly.

Dr. Denmark all my life was a very optimistic and positive person

After her husband's death in 1990, Denmark moved in with daughter Mary in Athens, Georgia. Died this remarkable woman on 1 April 2012 at the age of 114 years and 2 months.

Save the children is one of the most noble human missions and Dr. Leyla continues to live on in new generations of pediatricians.