We've heard a lot about the extremes and life during the polio endemic. This paints an entire different picture. Can you imagine the family separation? This is why we continue to move forward to eradicate Polio from the world. Two countries left. Donations to EndPolioNow.org/donate is never more important than it is right now. Everything we have in place was used for Ebola, yellow fever, malaria, and recently COVID-19, more importantly, it’s ready for future issues."A Mother Reads to Her 6 Year Old Child through a Basement Window during a 1949 Polio Epidemic Quarantine,
LIFE Magazine, Oct 3, 1949”
(A personal polio story from James Lewis, a Rotarian and Past President of the Rotary Club of Moorpark in California.)
This story of a mother reading to her child brings back all the memories of being separated from my Father and Mother when I was 5 and a half years old.
In 1948, my brother and I were taken to the Los Angeles County Hospital on August 27th. It was my parents 10th wedding anniversary. They gave us a spinal tap and yes we both had polio. My brother came home after two weeks, he was very sick, but not paralized. I was completely paralized and had to stay in the hospital for five weeks, I never saw my parents or heard their voices for 6 weeks. When I was able to walk from my hospital bed to the window I could see them outside waving and blowing me kisses. I was sent to a convalescing facility where there were many polio survivors like myself. At that time I was able to call my parents on the pay phone. I only had about 5 minutes to speak to them, but I do remember crying when I had to hang up the phone. When I came home around the end of October I had to learn to walk again by myself. I was home schooled that year and I did have to repeat 1st grade, but the good news - I survived Polio. I have had to deal with the results suffering from Post Polio Syndrome for most of my life. I guess I joined Rotary to help with this cause, I did not know it at the time, because I joined as a school administrator to help high school students get jobs and have training for vocations. I only learned about Rotary and polio eradication after hearing about polio and the efforts Rotary was doing to end the disease.
We will rid the world of Polio!!! And Rotary International will carry this as one of our great legacy's.
Forgive me, but I must add to my story. There was never a time when polio was brought up to my Mother about her boys coming down with the horrible disease that she did not cry. She too would read to us, and take care of us as most mothers do. It was very difficult for her and for my father, who was an American Football and Baseball player in college. He was the very best!! Always there to pick me up, help me out and was my biggest fan.
Like you, I don't want one more child to come down with polio. God Bless you all and God Bless the parents of polio survivors all over the world.
May my beautiful Mom and Dad, RIP knowing it will be done. Polio eradication is so close...we will End Polio Forever