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
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
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
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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.
ReplyDeleteMary 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.
ReplyDeleteMary, 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!
ReplyDeleteMary, 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
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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.
ReplyDeletePost 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.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.herbs-solutions-by-nature.com/Post-Polio-Syndrome.php
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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.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.herbs-solutions-by-nature.com/Post-Polio-Syndrome.php
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.
ReplyDeleteSymptoms of Post Polio Syndrome are joint weakness and pain for diagnosis. Post Polio Syndrome Herbal Treatment can help control symptoms and causes.
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ReplyDeleteThere 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.
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