Thank you very much, indeed! I remember the girl next door's father getting polio in about 1955 or so and was paralyzed. You can bet my folks had all of us in line for the vaccine.
She contracted polio in September 1948 at the age of 19. She nearly died. She never walked again but she married my dad (whom she had met shortly before she became ill) and raised 5 children from her wheelchair. Then, when we were all busy with school, she used her free time to advocate for accessibility in public spaces and on public transportation with city, county, and state officials here in San Jose, California.
She was an amazing woman and I am endlessly honored to be her daughter.
Sadly, she died 25 years ago, far too early, as a result of Post Polio Syndrome.
I had two aunts who were crippled by polio. The antivaxxers were still on the fringe when my kids were little (the 90s) but you can bet they have all their shots.
My grandmother had polio and lost full use of her dominant hand.
This wasn’t mildly inconvenient in a time when safety pins were needed for nappies for four children. Not to mention needing to bake to support her family because her bipolar husband went doolally again.
Yeah, I’m not terribly moved by the antivaxx arguments...
My aunt on my dad’s side was one of the 0.5%. I don’t know the details, but I believe that she was 12 when she died in 1937, ten years before my dad was born.
Thank you Dr. Salk, especially, for your generosity, and Elvis for using his immense platform for raising awareness so effectively.
Thank you very much, indeed! I remember the girl next door's father getting polio in about 1955 or so and was paralyzed. You can bet my folks had all of us in line for the vaccine.
That girl next door was my mother.
She contracted polio in September 1948 at the age of 19. She nearly died. She never walked again but she married my dad (whom she had met shortly before she became ill) and raised 5 children from her wheelchair. Then, when we were all busy with school, she used her free time to advocate for accessibility in public spaces and on public transportation with city, county, and state officials here in San Jose, California.
She was an amazing woman and I am endlessly honored to be her daughter.
Sadly, she died 25 years ago, far too early, as a result of Post Polio Syndrome.
I had two aunts who were crippled by polio. The antivaxxers were still on the fringe when my kids were little (the 90s) but you can bet they have all their shots.
My grandmother had polio and lost full use of her dominant hand.
This wasn’t mildly inconvenient in a time when safety pins were needed for nappies for four children. Not to mention needing to bake to support her family because her bipolar husband went doolally again.
Yeah, I’m not terribly moved by the antivaxx arguments...
It sounds like it was around for awhile. I didn’t know much of this. I didn’t even know that it could manifest like a cold. So yes, thank you indeed!
My aunt on my dad’s side was one of the 0.5%. I don’t know the details, but I believe that she was 12 when she died in 1937, ten years before my dad was born.
Thank you Dr. Salk, especially, for your generosity, and Elvis for using his immense platform for raising awareness so effectively.