(This article originally appeared on page 21 of the April 14, 1949 publication of the Democrat and Chronicle and is reprinted word-for-word below.)

14 Tonsils Taken In Family Surgery

Manhasset — <U.P.> — Putting off having your child’s tonsils out?

Then take a tip from Mr. and Mrs. Lester Backer.

They took all seven of their children to the Manhasset Medical Center yesterday and 90 minutes later one doctor had removed 14 tonsils.

Dr. S. A. Dollgaard started in on the youngest. Ronald, 3. Averaging 13 minutes to a child, he then operated on Richard, 4; Dorothy, 6; Lester, 8; Jean, 9; Audrey, 11, and Robert, 12.

Last night the kids, all together in seven beds in one hospital room, were eating ice cream and grinning at each other.