My Polio Story

After reading numerous articles regarding the immunization debate, I have decided to share my life story.

I contracted polio when I was 8 weeks old. I had not been immunized because I was to young and my life was changed forever. As I was a baby I don't remember this part of my life but have been told how sick I was and how awful it was for my parents and siblings. At first it was thought that I would die but I survived and am a paraplegic. I spent the first two years of my life in the Children's Hospital in Vancouver. I had several surgeries and lots of therapy and then my parents came and got me. Because it was from 1960 - 62 and it was a 12 hour drive or more to Vancouver with unpaved roads my parents could only take me to the hospital and two years later pick me up. I can't imagine the pain my Mom and Dad went through at that time, I can't imagine the pain of leaving my baby and knowing what she would have to endure without them there to comfort her. A friend of my parents brother lived in Vancouver and would come and take pictures of me and send them to my family so they could see me and how I was doing.

When I came home from the hospital it was traumatic. This new world and all the strangers in it was scary. At that time I couldn't sit up and could only drag myself around using my arms. My family was determined to help me be able to sit up. My sister has told me how they would spend hours helping me get stronger, one of our neighbours gave me a miniature pony and another neighbour gave me a saddle. I was put on this pony and someone would hold on to me and I would ride around and eventually I could sit up on my own. A big achievement for a child that was never supposed to be able to sit up by herself. Next was the braces and crutches to see if I could walk on my own. It took a long time but finally I could take a few steps. I was a big hit when I went back to the children's hospital and walked for the doctors there.

It is very hard to be a child with a disability. It is very hard to be different. School was so hard because there were no handicap facilities where I grew up, it was hard getting to all the different classes. One school had stairs and it was a lot of work going up and down those stairs. I was teased constantly by the other kids. I wanted to be like them, I didn't want to sit and watch them play I wanted to join in. I wanted to do everything that my brothers and sisters did. It looked so easy but as hard as I tried I couldn't do it. I can remember being so angry.

In 1972 at the age of 12 I was sent to the Shriner's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. I spent a lot of the next four year there and had several more surgeries. It was very hard being a 12 year old all by myself in Portland with no family around and having surgery. Some of the surgeries were very painful and to this day I am scared to death of needles and hospitals. And to see all the other children and babies that were going through what I was going through was very traumatic. I still can't go into an emergency ward or a lab and hear children crying. I had to spend two Christmases there and a couple of birthdays. I can remember one Christmas I was so homesick and I kept crying and one of the aids brought me a Christmas gift and it was little stuffed dog. I also had to wear a Milwaukee brace for those 4 years. Most people are probably wondering what kind of a brace that is and if you google it you can see it. It was the most horrible brace I ever had to wear. I had to wear it for 23 hours a day. It was very uncomfortable and upsetting wearing that especially during my teen years. When the day came that I didn't have to wear it any longer I took it off and told everyone I never wanted to see it again. I also threw my crutches away and swore I would never use them or wear another brace my entire life. I had learned to walk as best as I could but the doctors could never really figure out how I did it. I am a paraplegic and can't move my legs but I could still walk out of determination I guess. I walked until I was 48 years old.

Now to the best part of my life! At 19 I got married and that was the happiest day of my life. My husband has stood by my side for 37 years and has helped me get through all the difficulties that my disability has caused me in my adult life. It has not been easy for him as he has had to cope with anger, depression and plenty of tears. He takes it all in stride and never gives up on me. Everything was going very well when I first got married and I have three beautiful children that made my life happier and they have been a great help to me. I think having a disabled mother has given them more understanding of people with disabilities. I also have four grandchildren that have brought a lot of joy into my life.

When I was 29 my world suddenly came crashing down around me again. All of a sudden I got so tired, and my arms and shoulders started to ache and turned weak. It was harder to walk around and every day was exhausting. It was hard to get out of bed and keep up with my kids. I wanted to do so many things with them but so many things I just couldn't do. I went back to my Doctor and he sent me to a specialist and I was diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome. I had arthritis in my shoulders from over use. My muscles started deteriorating which causes a lot of pain. I was told that I needed to use a wheelchair but I had fought my whole life to stay out of one and I wasn't giving up. I have to say that Post Polio Syndrome is not easy to go through. I get so tired that it is hard to go visiting, camping or boating and it takes so much effort I would rather just stay home. I don't ride a horse anymore and I can't snowmobile, it seems like most things I loved to do have been taken away from me. I am in a wheelchair now full time. When I wake up some mornings I lay there wondering if I am going to have a good day or bad day. My hands, fingers and wrists get so sore and swollen it is hard to use them at times but I will keep going because I always have.

I have not written this in order to gain sympathy or pity. My hope is that parents who are questioning whether to immunize their children or not, will make the decision to do so. If my story prevents even one child from contracting a serious preventable disease, it will have been worth writing it.