Erin Mason of Melbourne, Australia, is one of the few children in the world, and the first in Australia, to have an artificial valve fitted into her heart. The 10-year-old is pictured with get-well cards in Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital after her successful operation. At right is a plastic ball exactly like the one in her heart. It's size may be judged by the fingers holding it. Acting as a valve, the ball will jump 70 times a minute for the rest of the girl's life. She also had a silver dollar-sized hole in her heart repaired.

Photo is dated 1963.

Photo measures 10 x 6 inches.