Randall Wayne Bennett (liver transplant)

[Jim Eshelman]

Another of my favorite medical chart examples from the 1970s. Beverly Joanne Thomas of Fort Worth, TX wrote in the "Many Things" column of American Astrology in January 1973:

At the time of his death, July 29, 1970, my nephew, Randall Wayne Bennett was the longest-surviving liver transplant case in the world. He was born January 25, 1966, 10:10 AM CST, 32N47, 96W47. [These are coordinates for Dallas, Tx. - JAE]

During a routine checkup when Randy was six weeks old, the doctor first noticed the yellow-jaundiced color of his skin. Four months later he was admitted to a hospital in Dallas with all the symptoms of extrahepatic biliary atresia, a congenital absence of bile ducts, a condition which usually proves fatal within one to three years after birth. He was operated on February 9, 1968, at 4:00 AM, Colorado General Hospital in Denver. the liver transplant performed on Randy was not the first of its kind on humans. Between 1963-67, there had been nine reported attempts, even in Denver and one each in Boston and Paris. Two died within a few hours after operation and none had survived for longer than 23 days.

Fortunately for Randy, new developments made it possible for him to survive the critical 48-hour postoperative period and live until his death, caused by rejection and infection, 17 months later. I wonder if it is possible to determine from his natal chart this birth defect, the brief life span, and to predict the additional time granted him through the liver transplant operation. It is something to ponder if his chart shows that perhaps through himn other lives may be saved because of his contribution to mankind. Any comments from your student-readers would be welcome. I enjoy your magazine very much.

[Jim Eshelman]

Traditionally, the liver is ruled by Jupiter and associated with Virgo or (more so among siderealists) the Virgo-Pisces axis. By this time, I'd become used to seeing strong hard-aspect combinations in cadent houses marking extraordinary medical charts. In this case, I admit the sign positions would have been better tropically, but the mark of a striking Leo-Aquarius opposition 6H-1H square Jupiter in the 3rd stands out! (Moon, and to some extent Saturn, were foreground. I give the mundoscope placements.)

20°26' Aqu - Saturn (22°45' 12H)
23°53' Leo - Pluto (6°00' 7H)
24°37' Aqu - Moon (27°39' 12H)
24°56' Leo - Uranus (24°25' 6H)
27°42' Tau - Jupiter (15°28' 3H)

Exact medical details aside, Uranus and Pluto gave clear marks that this would be, in some fashion, an extraordinary life. I'm inclined to take the Leo-Aquarius emphasis as showing evolving medical technology. The Capricorn Sun is consistent with a life or hardship and disability that he would have to fight to have any chance to overcome it.

[Jim Eshelman]

Among midpoints, the most obvious is Mo = Ur/Pl 13'.

Sun has direct midpoints that strike me as reflecting medical miracles (at least for a while): Su = Mo/JU = Ju/Pl = Ju/Ur.

Mars has several severe direct midpoints. I'll let you dig them out if interested.

Angles have no direct midpoints except mundanely. I think they all could be said to fit his conditions, though astrology's elastic symbolism makes this harder to sort out. They were Ur/Pl 13', Sa/Pl 37', and S/Ne 53'.

That targeted Jupiter was at Sa/As 33'.