Thursday, October 24, 2013

How Post Polio Syndrome Caught up with Mary


Polio  is a disease of  the past, and the vaccine is close to eliminating the threat worldwide.  But for those who contracted the disease in the epidemics of  the 1950’s,  a new condition – Post Polio Syndrome continues to affect it’s survivors.

Mary was two when she contracted polio, in 1954. 

Mary as a child, at different ages. Picture provided by Mary, and posted with her permission.

She eloquently talks about her experience in a post on polioplace:

“When I was released from the hospital after about six weeks, I had to wear two long leg braces. This is a picture of me learning to walk with parallel bars my dad had a friend build for me. They were set up in the middle of our living room for two months. I am told I practiced a couple times a day. My two older sisters took full advantage of them. My sister, Marsha, is in the background doing flips on the bars! That probably made it more of a game for me."


Mary with her braces. Picture provided by Mary, and posted with her permission.

"Crutches were the next phase, for another two months. Then one brace broke. So, we discovered that I didn't need that one. I wore one brace and walked without crutches from then on.”

 Mary refused to let polio slow her down. Her dad was a lawyer, her mom a homemaker and she had two older sisters.  Mary went through the regular public schools, learned to swim, and rode a bicycle. She graduated from college, and met her husband, a loving and creative man. She worked as a Montessori teacher in preschool and elementary private schools, riding a bicycle to and from work!

Then post-polio syndrome caught up with her. Mary says: “After about five years, I was becoming overly fatigued and was having back and leg pain.  I assumed I was just needing a break from teaching, so I found a job with the telephone company as a service representative.  It was a desk job, that actually got more computerized as the years went by, and I had good benefits. My husband stayed at home caring for our daughters.”

As her girls reached school age and were about to be out of the house for longer periods of time, Mary and her husband were looking forward to having two salaries again. But it was not to be.  Mary’s condition was getting worse. Mary says:
When I started again to have more pain and fatigue, one of my sisters who lived in St. Louis gave me some information about an organization there investigating other polio survivors with similar complaints.  The group had been keeping vent users and those in in iron lungs connected since the polio outbreaks in the 50's.  This was the 1980's.  Apparently our bodies, damaged from the original polio, had compensated for our neuron losses and now were breaking down with overuse.  It wasn't polio again, just progressive nerve issues.  So I found a clinic where I was diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome and had to quit working on disability in 1988, when I was only 33 years old.”

Mary’s husband was having trouble finding a job as a blue-collar worker after all these years. And Mary herself, an active, creative woman, had no intention to be idle, motoric problems or not.  Mary says: “Since my legs were originally affected, I could still do a lot of crafts with my hands. We made Native American crafts - gourds, beading, leather work and travelled to sell at Pow Wows, bike rallies, trade days, etc. I have always done needlework, quilting, and really loved loom beading. (It seems that the majority of polio survivors are Type A personalities - always busy somehow).” Things became more challenging as time went by: “Post Polio brought canes, crutches, manual wheelchair, electric scooter, and now a full time power wheelchair for me over the years.  With each change in my physical condition, I had to psychologically deal with another loss.” 


Mary more currently. Picture provided by Mary, and posted with her permission.

Her crafts kept her busy and engaged, but “now even my arms are weakening. So crafting is out now, too.”
She appreciates her husband’s devotion and constant loyalty, through change after change: “He married me with my leg brace, and stayed with me as PPS put me in a wheelchair.  Some of us found very supportive spouses.  Others, I have learned from my on line support groups, had spouses who left as soon as Post Polio began affecting them”.
In 2005, she lost this wonderful man who supported her through all the changes. But she was not alone: her younger daughter, just graduating from college, moved in to be with her, teaching Spanish in a nearby high school. Then, her daughter found a wheelchair accessible house, and the two moved in. Last year, that daughter married and moved out, though she and her new husband live nearby and Mary sees them often; but Mary’s older daughter, widowed and mother to a child, moved into the wheelchair accessible house to help Mary out. The family is very close.

Mary is not the type to brood: in spite of the limits her body sets, she stays active and finds things to do. She is active online in the polio survivors forum, she reads, she watches TV. She describes her online involvement: “The Internet has been a wonderful way for those of us who can't physically go out much anymore to connect and feel part of society.  Those of us who were more affected will give tips to the survivors who are now experiencing weakness and pain.  As they need braces and wheelchairs and rest, we can give the support, if only through on line chats.”

Mary concludes: “There are approximately one million polio survivors in the US today.  Many recovered with little obvious disability and are now needing braces and wheelchairs.  It is important for people to be aware that polio continues. I guess I want people questioning vaccinations to be aware that the long-term effects of polio are life changing over and over again.  There are some people who actually contracted polio from the vaccine (very rare, but it does happen) who still believe the vaccine is best for everyone to stop the spread of polio.”

Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Allison Hagood for introducing me to Mary, to Mary herself for sharing her story and helping prepare it, and to Alice Warning Wasney for commenting on a draft. 
More information about post-polio can be found at: http://post-polio.org 

19 comments:

  1. I continue to be amazed at Mary's inner strength, in the face of such an awful disease. Mary, you're an inspiration. Whenever I get the 'pity me's', I look at your life story, and I pick myself up, dust myself off, and carry on. My thoughts are that, if you can do what you do, life your life to the fullest that you can, then I certainly have NO right to be complaining about my small issues. You totally rock, hun. <3 <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. A world is enough for a wise. I'm SEN.BUKA MORRIS from DENMARK.I was a Herpes patient for 7years ,i suffered a great lost in applying medical treatment to get cure from the virus. It was too scaring having does sleepless nights with Herpes. I went through many hospitals seeking for the solution to my cure all my efforts where rendered useless. I was so frustrated, and lost my lovely wife along the line due to the bad effects of her virus. I became so ashamed of myself. I decided to check on the internet if there could be any possible remedy to this dangerous virus . Then,I came across lots of comments about Dr.CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME, who's patience have recommended him of his Good work,testifying how his medicine saved their lives, and there have been living happily negative of their virus. I thought and believe I could be cure as well. Then,I decided to give it a try. To my greatest surprise after contacting him.,I was very happy in our first chat and I believe in everything he said. He really proved to me after going through lots of pics and videos with his patients. I then ordered for his medicine , he prepared and sent it through the DHL service.It was like a joke,but now a dream come through that I'm Herpes free, I have recently been confirmed HSV negative. All thanks to God for showing me the way to Dr CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME the great and powerful herbalist. Reach this herbalist on his email [dr.chukwumaduherbalhome@gmail.com] or +2347030936239.

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  2. She is amazing, isn't she? I have only met her through this story, and I am so impressed. It really is something to learn from.

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  3. Mary is my wife's cousin. She is a strong, wonderful woman of faith. I'm confident that her faith in God has helped her make these many adjustments to this destructive disease. I loved seeing the pictures that I've never seen from the years before I knew her. Thanks for telling your story.

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  4. Mary, your positive story is so inspiring. Not sure if I remember you pink coat, but I never saw you when you didn't have that beautiful smile on your face!

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  5. Mary, your positive story is so inspiring. Not sure if I remember you pink coat, but I never saw you when you didn't have that beautiful smile on your face! Kathy Jo

    ReplyDelete
  6. I found your website the other day and after reading a handful of posts, thought I would say thank you for all the great content.
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    ReplyDelete
  7. Since the symptoms vary more often, there is no such specific treatment. To manage the symptoms plus help making the patient independent and comfortable is the goal of Post polio syndrome treatment. Certain therapies your doctors may suggest you include physical therapy (strengthen muscles) and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approach in order to manage the problem efficiently, doctors could prescribe you medications in order to help you with fatigue or pain. Polpeton, a product offered by Herbs Solutions By Nature is a most recommended product by its users who claims it as an effective treatment for their PPS. It is prepared from 100% natural ingredients and have no side effects.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Post Polio syndrome is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection. Some basic researchers are studying the behavior of motor neurons many years after a polio attack. Some patients experience only minor Post Polio Syndrome Symptoms, While less common, others may develop visible muscle atrophy, or wasting.

    http://www.herbs-solutions-by-nature.com/Post-Polio-Syndrome.php

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. A world is enough for a wise. I'm SEN.BUKA MORRIS from DENMARK.I was a Herpes patient for 7years ,i suffered a great lost in applying medical treatment to get cure from the virus. It was too scaring having does sleepless nights with Herpes. I went through many hospitals seeking for the solution to my cure all my efforts where rendered useless. I was so frustrated, and lost my lovely wife along the line due to the bad effects of her virus. I became so ashamed of myself. I decided to check on the internet if there could be any possible remedy to this dangerous virus . Then,I came across lots of comments about Dr.CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME, who's patience have recommended him of his Good work,testifying how his medicine saved their lives, and there have been living happily negative of their virus. I thought and believe I could be cure as well. Then,I decided to give it a try. To my greatest surprise after contacting him.,I was very happy in our first chat and I believe in everything he said. He really proved to me after going through lots of pics and videos with his patients. I then ordered for his medicine , he prepared and sent it through the DHL service.It was like a joke,but now a dream come through that I'm Herpes free, I have recently been confirmed HSV negative. All thanks to God for showing me the way to Dr CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME the great and powerful herbalist. Reach this herbalist on his email [dr.chukwumaduherbalhome@gmail.com] or +2347030936239.

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  9. Post Polio syndrome is mainly characterized by new weakening in muscles that were previously affected by the polio infection. Some basic researchers are studying the behavior of motor neurons many years after a polio attack. Some patients experience only minor Post Polio Syndrome Symptoms, While less common, others may develop visible muscle atrophy, or wasting.

    http://www.herbs-solutions-by-nature.com/Post-Polio-Syndrome.php

    ReplyDelete
  10. The search for the Treatment of Post Polio Syndrome is still ongoing. As of today, supportive measures are given to persons who are suffering from the disease.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Symptoms of Post Polio Syndrome are joint weakness and pain for diagnosis. Post Polio Syndrome Herbal Treatment can help control symptoms and causes.

    ReplyDelete
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  14. There are a few Post Polio Syndrome Herbal Treatment choices designed and formulated for curing Post-polio. A patient ought to counsel a specialist when they face difficulty in swallowing, strange sensations, clogging, breathing challenges, extreme cerebral pains, dribbling and steady muscle shortcoming.

    ReplyDelete

  15. A world is enough for a wise. I'm SEN.BUKA MORRIS from DENMARK.I was a Herpes patient for 7years ,i suffered a great lost in applying medical treatment to get cure from the virus. It was too scaring having does sleepless nights with Herpes. I went through many hospitals seeking for the solution to my cure all my efforts where rendered useless. I was so frustrated, and lost my lovely wife along the line due to the bad effects of her virus. I became so ashamed of myself. I decided to check on the internet if there could be any possible remedy to this dangerous virus . Then,I came across lots of comments about Dr.CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME, who's patience have recommended him of his Good work,testifying how his medicine saved their lives, and there have been living happily negative of their virus. I thought and believe I could be cure as well. Then,I decided to give it a try. To my greatest surprise after contacting him.,I was very happy in our first chat and I believe in everything he said. He really proved to me after going through lots of pics and videos with his patients. I then ordered for his medicine , he prepared and sent it through the DHL service.It was like a joke,but now a dream come through that I'm Herpes free, I have recently been confirmed HSV negative. All thanks to God for showing me the way to Dr CHUKWU MADU HERBAL HOME the great and powerful herbalist. Reach this herbalist on his email [dr.chukwumaduherbalhome@gmail.com] or +2347030936239.

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