Local opinion: Vaccines, polio and me (2024)

The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

August 3, 1929 — The date my dad was born in Washington, D.C. If he had lived, he would have been 95 years old this year. There was another significant event for Dad, and me, on another August 3. I was the first-born to my young parents Ben and Charlotte. Mom, (also deceased), was a very thorough note-taking R.N., which is how I learned that on August 3, 1954, when I was 18 months old, I was diagnosed and hospitalized with an active case of Poliomyelitis and placed in isolation. On Ben’s 25th birthday, his infant daughter got polio. I cannot imagine what they felt or experienced at that time. Charlotte’s meticulous medical records did not indicate what went on between my parents or the rest of the family. My Aunt once told me that it was heartbreaking to see infant me in my isolation crib, crying as my parents left because they were not allowed to stay the night. I had begun to walk but the polio robbed me of that, for a brief time. I did recover from the fever, but the virus did its damage, leaving me with a lifetime of muscle weakness in my legs.

The treatment at that time for polio survivors (the “lucky” ones like me, not in an iron lung), was to exercise, to regain strength and mobility. Many did this, myself included. I was a really slow runner, due to a lingering foot drop. I endured the casual torture (now called bullying) from my classmates, because I was “different”. However, my parents taught me early on that I could do whatever I wanted, and they provided a loving and supportive atmosphere where I felt safe.

In the 1950s, the term “cripple” was commonly applied to us, and so I learned to hide my skinny legs and act as normal as possible to cover my discomfort. The rest of the time I just made wisecracks about my appearance. Coping was what I learned, and humor helped. My brother and sister took it all in stride, and as a family, we all adapted to those summers when I had another cast on my leg from another attempt at corrective orthopedic surgery. In retrospect, it was likely my family that kept me from self-pity or worse. I remain grateful.

After years of enjoying activities that I loved (dancing, backpacking, bicycling and more), it all caught up with me. In 2001, Post-Polio Syndrome kicked my ass and slowed me down a lot. I reluctantly started wearing a leg brace. It was then I learned that I should have been “pacing” myself, respecting my disability and taking things slowly instead of pushing through. In essence, I wore out my muscles. Ironically, had I followed that advice when I was younger, I would have missed some awesome adventures and remarkable times. No regrets!

On August 3, I see there are still people opposed to vaccines. How ironic that many of them probably received the polio vaccine which was given to children starting in 1955. Polio cases which previously reached epidemic levels (over 57,000 in 1952) dropped significantly within a few years. Medical professionals received less training about polio treatment because it was not needed. It is a challenge to find a practitioner today who can address the lingering issues that polio survivors face as we age.

I learned how to be a survivor, like many of my peers. I do not wish to debate why people are opposed to vaccines. The school year is starting, so what I want is for parents to do the right thing, the smart thing, and get the routine childhood immunization vaccines required to protect their children. Hopefully the pandemic taught us a few things about the life-saving nature of vaccines on a global scale. Polio is preventable, as are a number of diseases. Please do this for your family and for the greater community. Thank you.