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Polio Survivors

in the

21st Century

"The test of our progress," said Roosevelt, "is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little."

~ President Franklin D. Roosevelt ~

All Links on this page were tested and in working order as of April 25, 2013.

"Headline News" page has been updated with a full article from the FDA.

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Before you go any further, take a couple of minutes from your day, turn up your volume and

enjoy this soothing and uplifting song by Louis Armstrong.

This site is dedicated to Polio Survivors in the 21st Century along with their family, friends and the medical community whose lives have been touched in some way by the polio virus and the residuals of this complex but yet simple to understand disease.

Since I began this site some years back, I have received a few emails from polio survivors and their family member asking me about organizations that can assist polio survivors with medical needs such as adaptive devises for themselves and their homes. I have had questions that is often begging me for advise on locating physicians or specialized clinics who is knowledgeable of the residuals of polio to help them adapt to the changes that is affecting us physically, mentally and psychologically as a result of the late effects of the polio virus. It saddens me that I cannot answer any of these inquiries. All I can do is try to be more diligent in maintaining this website and providing links to up to date sites with resources that might assist those of you who stumble across this site.

I have been dealing, for the last few years, a decline in my physical, mental and psychological health. The symptoms started out slowly, almost unnoticeably, only to escalate very quickly in the last 15 months or so. I went from 160 pounds to 124 pounds within 2 months and most all was in muscle. My leg braces flipped flopped on my legs that had atrophied to nothing but skin and bones. My Orthotics expert had to place a type of (thick) cushion as an overlay to the leather so as to get the braces to fit more securely.

My mental fatigue has increased to the point that by noon (this is the only way I know to describe it) my brain was like a computer crash.

My psychological health was even worse. I had always had a bit of depression and anxiety but could deal with it. However, it came crashing down on me in the early part of 2011. I was diagnosed with severe clinical (non-psychotic) depression and social anxiety. It is a long story and one that makes me grateful to be alive but then again, God protected me and still does. My spiritual health is stronger than ever. I was baptized on October 9, 2011 which only strengthened my Christianity, spirit and my love of life and compassion for others.

As of this date I continue to work full-time in Human Resources and now use a wheelchair at work and two crutches (most of the time but I'm stubborn) at the advice of Dr. Richard Bruno. Also my employer has been great in making accommodations, changing my work hours and giving me less stressful job duties.

I continue to loose muscle tone and I my reflexes are getting worse in my upper extremities. I have had tendon repair surgery to my left arm after so many falls and surgeries to both hands for painful trigger fingers. I never ever considered the possibility of muscle atrophy to my upper extremities but can see it happening. Dealing with the post-polio symptoms and the aging process has been and is a struggle, but I am fighting this second fight with the residuals of polio with all the physical, mental and psychological strength I have in reserve. I will NEVER let it get the best of me and without my Christianity and faith, I would be an empty shell. PPS may weaken me physically and mentally but one thing is for certain, it can't weaken my spirit.

Now I see why so many on-line polio websites tend to be out of date or no longer exist. As polio survivors and as we grow older, most of our strength is spent on getting through one day at a time. Unfortunately for me it has struck home and affected my ability to maintain and improve this website, so forgive me if you come here and feel disappointed. Just remember, there is still much support on the internet. Just "Google" the word "polio" and hopefully it will take you to what you need. In the mean time, I will place links to sites with other polio survivors, literature or anything else that has helped me and maybe, just maybe, it will help you too. Before you leave my site please keep this in mind:

"Education (self-education) regarding polio and post-polio effects is YOUR responsibility! Most health-care workers and physicians know little to nothing about the residuals of polio or how polio affected each of us in different ways. I thought doctors knew everything, so why should I take the time to learn what was happening to me? Yes, dumb I know and I learned a lesson. I had to know more about polio and it had become MY responsibility to educate my Doctors. Some have been open-minded and others just turn me off and close their minds to what I have to say. When that happens, thank God I have the freedom to "shop around" for a physician that I can put my trust in. I still haven't found that Doctor (even though my current neurologist is doing the best he can) but then again, I'm not giving up hope.

To better understand polio, If at all possible, PLEASE purchase Dr. Richard Bruno's book "The Polio Paradox".

Within the Polio Community/History I have two hero's and they are Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dr. Richard Bruno. Dr. Bruno is alive and well and has contributed so much to the modern day Polio Survivor's Community and to me. I am forever grateful to him.

I will keep this page updated for as long as I can. I can now confidently announce I now own the domain name "www.SurvivorsOfPolio.com" until August 2021! As for Webhosting, I have placed a banner at the bottom of all my pages for Site5 and for anyone who purchases their Webhosting from this site I will get a small commission and the money I can assure you will go towards paying for the cost of maintaining their hosting service for this website and if by some miracle, we get an unexpected profit, I will find someway to help "polio survivors" with the funds.

PLEASE if you know of anyone in the medical profession, organizations, individuals etc who can help inform us I hope you will send those links to me for this page. It will help others save time trying to find the much needed assistance we all need or will need. We HAVE to help each other for we are a very "special group" of people and I am proud to be part of that group.

For this site I have chosen to be an affiliate to the March of Dimes and you will find their banners and other requests for donations on almost every page of my website. I and other survivors owe a great deal to the organization, please give if you can.

I would like to include here a YouTube called "2010 History Day Project" by Jack Campbell about FDR and a timeline of his life with polio. I felt honored that this young man included a picture of me and two of my sister's on Easter Day of (if I remember correctly) 1960 or 1961. I thought I was a hotshot in my Easter suit. When I first came down with polio in October 1959 I was treated for three months at The Warm Springs Foundation Hospital, founded by FDR. Like FDR, to this day I still wear leg braces similar to those he wore.

Sincerely and Respectfully Yours,

James

April 25, 2013

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

FDA Contributing to Fight Against Polio

Few diseases in U.S. history have been as devastating as polio. At the height of the epidemic in 1952, there were nearly 60,000 cases in the United States and more than 3,000 deaths.

The crippling, highly infectious disease is caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can paralyze a person in a matter of hours. It mainly affects children under 5, but can cause paralysis in unvaccinated adults. The most famous victim of polio was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who contracted it at age 39, paralyzing him from the waist down.

continued on FDA website

EMAIL ALERT posted on May 10, 2013 - Just recently I received an email from a lady who greatly impressed me and I felt the need to post it here with her permission. If you can help her in her mission, please email me with whatever information you can provide and I will forward it to her.

Karen's Email:

"I am on a mission! My husband contracted polio when he was 2 y.o., in 1955. He spent a great deal of time at the Shriners Hospital in Shreveport, having 3 surgical procedures and months of in-hospital time. His last stay there was when he was 15/16, around 1968/69, when he had a surgery to elongate his hip muscles and give him more mobility in his right leg (where the polio had attacked). His name is Stephen White.

As he grows older, he continues to express a deep desire to reconnect with the friends that he made during his stays at Shriners, especially his last one. I have tried social media, but have had no luck making contact with anyone. I have sent requests to Shriners, but no response. Steve will never forget their faces and their first names, but without a last name, I have no way of trying to find these people."

Can you help? Is there a site that you know of where you can post who you’re looking for and share your info?

Thank you so much for your time and assistance,

Karen White

EMAIL:

Dear Sir,

I just wrote a poem titled as Polio and want to share it with you.

My Poem “Polio” depicts the voice of Polio Survivors, who is facing countless difficulties in all walks of life.

Let's wipe out polio together and support every polio victim for a better tomorrow. Though, the best way to escape polio is to get Polio drops.

We want a polio-free World.

Best Regards,

Aymen Zaheer

Polio Vaccine Workers Killed In Nigeria

February 9, 2013

Updated July 27, 2012

The Post-Polio Institute and

International Centre for Polio Education

I have been VERY fortunate to communicate directly with Dr. Richard L. Bruno. He has never failed to answer any of my emails. His website states,

"For almost thirty years, Dr. Richard L. Bruno has studied and treated nearly 6,000 polio survivors and is the world's leading expert on Post-Polio Sequelae (PPS)."

Without Dr. Bruno I don't know what I would have done those first months of the rapid decline in health. I have seen doctor after doctor and none have appeared to have knowledge of the residuals of polio and seem at a loss of words when I talk to them about my symptoms. One neurologist kept saying to me over and over again, "You DON'T have polio and there is no treatment for you!" I told him I understood I do not HAVE polio but needed his advice regarding the "residuals of the polio" and any recommendations he might have. We actually began yelling at each other until I finally said, "I don't think you are the doctor for me." and he responded, "I don't think so either. Keep seeing your Psychiatrist!"

Thanks to Dr. Bruno's advice I have made changes to my home, how I work and live. I thought I fought a battle growing up with the residuals of polio but now.....I'm fighting to keep and maintain the strength I have left. I finally got the nerve up to tell my supervisor last year, "There was a time I put my job and the institution first, but now......it is time I put James first."

My new battle continues but having Dr. Bruno has given me hope and I no longer feel lost and alone in this battle to keep my independence.

To all of you who feel you have no one, believe me, you do. It could take alot of research on your part to find the help you need but it is out there and I promise as time goes by I will share my own experience with you in the hope it will help you maintain your own independence.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

James

PS: Once again, I strongly recommend Dr. Bruno's book, " The Polio Paradox" to ALL polio survivors and or people who have family members and friends who were affected by one of the three types of polio. Medical professionals, Medical Universities, etc should read this book to give them a better understanding of this virus and how to treat baby boomers for PPS. Unfortunately the book is somewhat expensive but the hardback I have is very well made and I often return back to it as reference. Click the book below and it will take you to Amazon dot com giving you more detail. You can purchase either the hardback or paperback books. If you are a family member, friend of a polio survivor or a medical professional and already own the book then please loan your book (or buy a new one to give) to someone you know it will be beneficial to.

PolioToday.org is constantly updated and appears to have many members....including me!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the site for all Polio Survivors!

PolioToday.org is published by the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. The website is designed to raise awareness of post-polio syndrome and to be a resource for polio survivors. Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first safe and effective polio vaccine, founded the Salk Institute in 1960.

Visit PolioToday.org to see more video's of life stories from polio survivors.

If you know of more sites like Polio Today please let me know so I can share the link with other Survivors.

Polio Survivors of Montana

Life After Polio

Note: This website is not only for polio survivors in Montana but I think this could be helpful to ALL Polio Survivors. The link for this site has recently changed and I have updated it here.

Tips for Polio Survivors from Dr. Richard Bruno

List of Polio Survivors

WIKIPEDIA

This is a list of notable people who have survived the infectious disease poliomyelitis.

Note from James: To me, all survivors of polio are "notable". I post this page only because it shows that polio NEVER got the best of us. We have done our best to contribute all we could to society and never really asked for anything in return. So to ALL of you:

YOU ARE MY NOTABLE HERO'S!

In the United States, polio was the most notorious disease of the 20th century until AIDS appeared. On April 12, 1955, it was announced that Jonas Salk, using March of Dimes donations from millions of people, had developed a vaccine to prevent polio.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

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Sorry, I just discovered an error in my email address and it has been corrected.