Saint Luke’s Hospital (San Francisco)

Hospital in San Francisco’s Mission district, today CPMC’s Mission Bernal Campus. In Hayden Herrera’s Frida it is where Dr. Eloesser treats Frida in 1940 and her affair with Heinz Berggruen begins.

At a glance

Source	Author	Role	In one line
Frida	Hayden Herrera	turning point	Dr. Eloesser sets aside the Mexican doctors’ diagnoses, Frida recovers, and Berggruen visits her every day.

Frida — Hayden Herrera (1983)

Source: Frida - A Biography of Frida Kahlo · Original · Readwise highlight

Early in September she flew to San Francisco, where Diego and Dr. Eloesser met her at the airport. After spending a few days with Diego in his apartment, she was admitted to Saint Luke’s Hospital,

• Role: turning point
• In the book: Ill and depressed after the divorce, Frida flies to San Francisco in September 1940. Dr. Eloesser rejects the grave diagnoses of her Mexican doctors and prescribes rest, no alcohol, and electro and calcium therapy. Heinz Berggruen visits daily for the month she is there, in a room with a swinging door because patients may not lock themselves in.
• Why it matters: Her health and spirits recover here, and the stay sets up both the Berggruen affair and her remarriage to Diego.