Samuel Law nearly became a statistic. The mortality rate for newborn babies in 1938 was high. The vital statistic rates from 1900 to 1940 stated the deaths of premature babies in the Unite States – not including stillbirths – was 44.7 percent in October 1939. The probability of death within 24 hours was at 13.5 percent, and even up to 1 year old, the possibility was still as high as .8 percent.  

 Law was born in Elmore on a cold day in October 1938. He was several months premature and only weighed 32 ounces. Dr. J. S. Harmon from Elmore County delivered him and immediately realized the possibility that the little boy wouldn’t survive but a few hours. He had to do what he could to help this child live and contacted the state of Alabama Health Department, hoping the single incubator they kept for emergencies would be available. Dr. Harmon had to tell Law’s parents that the incubator was not in working condition and without it their son would likely not live through the night.