JOHANNA MCCARROLL / MARY MCCARROLL
O'BRIEN SISTERS
1912 / 1928
McCARROLL, MARY (O'Brien)
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 23,
1912
Mrs. Mary O'Brien McCarroll, aged 45, wife of Philip McCarroll of
1211 East Fifth Street, died at St. Joseph's hospital Monday
afternoon at 5 o'clock. Her death was due to a sickness which began
with gallstones, and made a surgical operation necessary. During the
operation Mrs. McCarroll lost so much blood her case became desperate.
The operation was performed four weeks ago, and on April 8 her sister, Mrs. Johanna O'Brien McCarroll, in the hope of saving the life of her sister,
gave up about two pints of her blood, which was transfused into the
circulation system of Mrs. Mary McCarroll. The sick woman rallied, but
later another decline set in and she died. The sacrifice had been in
vain. Following the operation for gallstones, which apparently was
going to prove successful unless the patient died from weakness and
loss of blood, the physicians declared to members of the family that
the only hope for prolonging and possibly saving her life was for
someone to give up enough blood to assist in restoring her to strength.
Mrs. Thomas McCarroll, whose husband is a twin brother of the deceased
woman and who is herself a sister to her at once volunteered to give up
the requisite amount of blood. She was strong and healthy, weighing
something like 250 pounds, and said she could easily spare the blood.
The operation was arranged for and held on April 8 at St. Joseph's
hospital, lasting from 1 o'clock until 6:30. Neither were put under
anesthetic and both were conscious. The operation was performed by Dr.
J. N. Shaff and Dr. Homer Davis. Long glass tubes were put into the
well sister's left arm just above the wrist, being stuck into the
artery and tightened so that the blood would flow from the artery into
the glass tubes. The other end of the tubes, two being used, were
fastened into the sick lady's flash, one at the wrist and the other
near the shoulder, and the work of transfusion was started. Mrs.
McCarroll said today that it was a little painful, but she felt called
upon to sacrifice her life if it were necessary for her sister's
welfare. She suffered no ill effects from it, and today showed the arm
perfectly well and healed up. Her only regret was that it did not
entirely save her sister's life, although the physicians said that this
was responsible for the prolongation of life for only two weeks. Mrs.
McCarroll leaves a husband and nine children: James, Daniel, Edward Bryan,
Thomas, Margaret, Mary, Annie, Joseph and George, all of Alton; and two
sisters: Mrs. James Teets of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Mrs. Thomas
McCarroll. The funeral will be held Thursday morning at 10:30 o'clock
at St. Patrick's church.
McCARROLL, JOHANNA (O'Brien)
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, Monday, September 10, 1928
Mrs. Johanna McCarroll, wife of Thomas McCarroll, aged 68, died today
at 12:45 p.m. at the family home, 1100 East Fifth Street, after an
illness of nine months, following a stroke. She was born in Pittsburgh
but has resided in Alton since shortly after her marriage 33 years ago.
She is survived by her husband, three sons, Phillip and Tom Jr., of
Chicago, and Ed of Alton; one daughter, Mrs. Frank Kremer and a sister,
Mrs. Margaret Tetts of Pittsburgh. Mrs. McCarroll was a member of St.
Patrick's church. She was also a member of the Altar Society of St.
Patrick's church and of the Royal Neighbors Lodge.