I am my parents' first-born child, but the result of my mother's fifth pregnancy. My mother was what is known as a "chronic aborter." She became pregnant four times and the pregnancy failed to come to term four times.
My parents had recently moved from the South to Illinois. In the South, at that time, people could not adopt children born to another religion. There being so few Jews in the South, my parents, being Jewish, had to wait until they moved North to be able to even consider adoption. Once they arrived in Illinois, where my father was teaching at Northwestern University, adoption was a possibility.
Due to an odd confluence of circumstances, my mother was approached twice, once by a friend, and once by another faculty wife, whom she did not know, about a medical study going on at the University of Chicago, treating chronic aborters. Mom looked into the study, and decided that the trip from Evanston to Chicago was just too long to make on a regular basis. However, the woman my mother did not know had recommended Dr. Solomon specifically. Dr. Solomon, who lived and worked in Highland Park, nearby Evanston, had decided to begin work with chronic aborters at the Highland Park hospital. My mom elected to join the study. I was the result.
My mother's first pregnancy had gone several months. The child, who was to have been named, Seth, lived only a few hours. The next three pregnancies all terminated in the 16th week. In 1956, my mother was placed on a horde of drugs (including DES). My Dad ran samples to the Highland Park hospital at least twice a week. Halfway through the sixteenth week, my mom's progesterone level dropped to nothing. My Dad rushed her to the hospital, where she was placed on IV progesterone until her blood levels returned to normal.
I guess this means that Dr. Solomon was responsible for my being born. As such, I think that a WebPage is the least I can do. I have obtained an obituary for Dr. Solomon, which contains a small amount of information. I am looking for more. If anyone knows anything about him, please e-mail me at steve_kemp@unc.edu.
from the Highland Park News. May 30, 1991. Page 171.
Dr. Ernest M. Solomon, a Highland Park Hospital staff physician for 50 years, died May 23. He was an obstetrician and gynecologist and graduate of Northwestern University Medical School, where he was also professor emeritus.
Dr. Solomon was active in numerous civic and social action groups including the Jewish council on Urban Affairs. He served as a medical officer in World War II.
Surviving Dr. Solomon are his wife, Margaret and daughters Judy Engelberg of Chevy Chase, Md.; Mary Solomon of Chicago and Peg Solomon of Deerfield. Also surviving Dr. Solomon are four grandchildren and a sister, Ruth Schaye.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today, May 30, at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road in Glencoe. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Highland Park Hospital Foundation Memorial Fund, 718 Glenview Ave.