Comments on: Polio survivor: “We are the forgotten people” http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/ Along the Valley Pike: Your Uncensored, Independent News Portal for the MidAtlantic Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:45:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brenda Arnell http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-5376 Brenda Arnell Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:07:05 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-5376 I had polio in 1951. I have PPS also, and I have been searching for a Post Polio Club in my area. I live not far from Winchester Virginia, go to Strasburg often. If someone who reads this has any information about a Club near me please would you let me know? I have lots of Good information to share with other People who have had Polio and now have PPS. I have learned a lot and am doing wonderful. So get this out to others, I'd love to hear from others to share this information. I had polio in 1951. I have PPS also, and I have been searching for a Post Polio Club in my area. I live not far from Winchester Virginia, go to Strasburg often. If someone who reads this has any information about a Club near me please would you let me know? I have lots of Good information to share with other People who have had Polio and now have PPS. I have learned a lot and am doing wonderful. So get this out to others, I’d love to hear from others to share this information.

]]> By: Barbara Lewis http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-3591 Barbara Lewis Wed, 19 May 2010 18:53:59 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-3591 I didn't realize there were so many people like myself who had polio. I got polio at the age of 5 while living in Texas. That was in 1948. At that time there wasn't much known about polio. It affected my right leg. I was unable to walk for some time. At that time the doctors told my parents that I would never walk again so they should just put me in a home and forget they ever had me. Of course my parents wouldn't do that. They took me to another doctor and with lots of physical therapy and a brace eventually I was able to walk again. I wore that brace all through grade school and when I went into Junior High I started wearing an ankle strap that was hooked to my shoe to hold my foot up. When I got into high school I didn't want to wear any of those things. Kids can be so cruel when you are different. My right leg is much smaller than my left and I walk with a definite limp. I'm 67 years old now and am beginning to have more and more problems. They say it's post polio. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to get around as good as I have and pray that these effects don't affect me more in the future. It was really difficult growing up with this and I just thank God every day that I do as well as I do. I didn’t realize there were so many people like myself who had polio. I got polio at the age of 5 while living in Texas. That was in 1948. At that time there wasn’t much known about polio. It affected my right leg. I was unable to walk for some time. At that time the doctors told my parents that I would never walk again so they should just put me in a home and forget they ever had me. Of course my parents wouldn’t do that. They took me to another doctor and with lots of physical therapy and a brace eventually I was able to walk again. I wore that brace all through grade school and when I went into Junior High I started wearing an ankle strap that was hooked to my shoe to hold my foot up. When I got into high school I didn’t want to wear any of those things. Kids can be so cruel when you are different. My right leg is much smaller than my left and I walk with a definite limp. I’m 67 years old now and am beginning to have more and more problems. They say it’s post polio. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to get around as good as I have and pray that these effects don’t affect me more in the future. It was really difficult growing up with this and I just thank God every day that I do as well as I do.

]]> By: Angel Crisel http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-3485 Angel Crisel Sat, 15 May 2010 23:44:00 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-3485 I'm glad people are speaking out about this. My dad who was 57 just died recently of esophageal cancer that had spread to his bones. He was a very loving and tough and hard headed man but I loved him and seeing him in everyday life made my sister and myself strong.Growing up with a parent like that you realize that if they can do certain things then you can too. He admitted to being constantly in pain but he was very strong to withstand it...i miss him. By the way the surgeries were bad and his doctors told him he would be good to make it to his 21st birthday so, as always he beat the odds. I’m glad people are speaking out about this. My dad who was 57 just died recently of esophageal cancer that had spread to his bones. He was a very loving and tough and hard headed man but I loved him and seeing him in everyday life made my sister and myself strong.Growing up with a parent like that you realize that if they can do certain things then you can too. He admitted to being constantly in pain but he was very strong to withstand it…i miss him. By the way the surgeries were bad and his doctors told him he would be good to make it to his 21st birthday so, as always he beat the odds.

]]> By: Rick http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-2962 Rick Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:12:52 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-2962 I have read your story. I caught polio in 1959 at the age one. Having had polio for 51 years now, and after several operations, it has caused me health problems throughout my life. I learned to cope with polio because I never knew what "normal" was. Sometimes I want to just lay down and quit, but I have seen a lot of children worse off than me and somehow find the will to go on. Your story hit home with me, what with being in and out of hospitals all our lives, and now I have PPS. I hope for you the best, Rick I have read your story. I caught polio in 1959 at the age one. Having had polio for 51 years now, and after several operations, it has caused me health problems throughout my life. I learned to cope with polio because I never knew what “normal” was. Sometimes I want to just lay down and quit, but I have seen a lot of children worse off than me and somehow find the will to go on.

Your story hit home with me, what with being in and out of hospitals all our lives, and now I have PPS.

I hope for you the best,

Rick

]]> By: ana http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-2562 ana Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:44:10 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-2562 i do not get this. what i am trying to ask is, what was life like after you survied polio? What difficulties do you and your family have. <strong>ED:</strong> Hi Ana, While I feel that some of your questions are answered in the article I'd be happy to forward your comment and email address to Garland; perhaps he will contact you and answer further questions you may have. <strong>JM </strong> i do not get this. what i am trying to ask is, what was life like after you survied polio? What difficulties do you and your family have.

ED: Hi Ana, While I feel that some of your questions are answered in the article I’d be happy to forward your comment and email address to Garland; perhaps he will contact you and answer further questions you may have. JM

]]> By: Nancy Nye http://7bends.com/2009/09/27/polio-survivor-we-are-the-forgotten-people/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Nancy Nye Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:40 +0000 http://7bends.com/?p=2338#comment-275 Thank you so much for the article - there are not enough people speaking out about polio survivors and PPS. I am now 61, contracted polio at age 3 in 1951. Reading Garland's account, I once again see how fortunate I was to have the parents I did. I have been on disability for a year now, officially with the government disability since March. It amazes me how some physicians still know nothing about PPS and refuse to recognize it. Again, thank you Garland for sharing your story. Nancy Thank you so much for the article – there are not enough people speaking out about polio survivors and PPS. I am now 61, contracted polio at age 3 in 1951. Reading Garland’s account, I once again see how fortunate I was to have the parents I did. I have been on disability for a year now, officially with the government disability since March. It amazes me how some physicians still know nothing about PPS and refuse to recognize it.

Again, thank you Garland for sharing your story.

Nancy

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