Polio

  • I succumbed to Polio in 1949 at age 7. My neck, left arm and left leg were paralyzed. I am told that a “Iron Lung” was standing by but was not needed. After a month alone ( you could not see the others) in the basement of Vancouver General Hospital I was moved to Vancouver’s Children’s Hospital for an additional 3 months. My memories of both are few. Kenny Hot Packs and Spinal Taps in VGH. I don’t ever remember eating. Probably a good thing. The memories of Children’s are those of recovery and of a happier time. I recall one nurse in particular whom we all loved. her name was Elizabeth Clarke. She wrote the song “There’s a bluebird on your window sill”.  She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame” in 2010. She also sent Christmas cards to (I assume) all her ex patients. I received one every year. My mother ensured I replied. Elizabeth Clarke died in 1960. After returning to my Home town I continued in Physio for six months or more. The only memory of that it the use of Electrotherapy in the treatment. Gawd I hated it. To this day electrical shocks are dreaded. I regained full use of my body and the slight limp from lack of growth on the left side was easily covered. Near the end of the 20th century a TV piece alerted me to the “Late effects of polio” What a shock! Google put me in touch with both a support group and the Post-polio clinic at UBC. A full day was spent on an assessment. My hidden limp was revealed as well as diminished lung capacities. The Physiatrist estimated that 30% of my motor neurons were lost. 50% loss results in a diagnosis of PPS. By 2003 further muscle loss stopped me from going to sea. Leg weakness affected my balance with sea sickness the result. This had never occurred in a career sailing the ocean, spanning near 40 years. Now in 2017 both the pain and fatigue have increased but I am still walking and talking.

2018 update

My polio legs have plateaued yet again. Weakness leading to more loss of stability with associated pain. Fear of a fall and the dire consequences of that made this a no-brainer.

update 2024

Last year I ended up in Hospital with Pneumonia which resulted in 3 heart attacks requiring defibrillation and a 5 month recovery. Post polio reared its ugly head again with the muscle in my throat controlling whether food, liquid or air is entering. quit. Through elimination Post Polio was diagnosed.  I now take food through a tube from my chest to my belly. My legs and stamina have markedly decreased as well.

food