This book is dedicated to all those touched by polio: young people, parents, siblings, extended family members and friends, doctors, nurses, splint makers, and physios, who made supreme efforts to get us through. Although it was inevitable given the impact of the virus, to our dismay the battle is on again and a new generation is called to arms. Many did not survive the illness and we salute them.
Read More ▷“Polio & us” is a very thought provoking book. It is an important part of the history of the polio epidemics and their survivors who have overcome their disabilities without anger, but with cheerfulness and a determination which has been associated with polio survivors, even when they may later have developed Post Polio Syndrome.
Read More ▷I invite you to join our storytellers in celebrating the defeat of childhood polio through tenacity and determination. Many achieved careers, raised families and took on leadership roles – ordinary people who achieved some extraordinary tasks, just by living everyday lives.
Read More ▷The value of the novel is not only in its characterisation of the time period, but it is also a poigant reflection on the treatment of the disabled, that still resonates with its audience today. It is constantly reflected in the novel that being a cripple is very much a mindset; the young Marshall does not think of himself as disabled and is quick to take offense when it is dared mentioned by anybody else, whether intended to be used against him or in his defense.
Read More ▷Jean Denecke’s account of her encounter with polio and her subsequent life dealing with permanent disabilities emphasizes the ordinariness of her experiences. As she puts it, “except for my physical condition, I feel that I lead a perfectly normal life” (p. 16). Denecke wrote the book in the mid-1950s, approximately eight years after contracting polio in 1946 when she was twenty-nine.
Read More ▷The last day of the conference dawned . . . I attended a session titled “Clinical Practice: What can we learn from each other’s practices?” which included presentations on “Post-Polio Patients in Norway – Past and Present Rehabilitation” by Ingebjorg Irgens, “What can we learn from each other’s practices” by Dr Laura Bertolasi (Italy), and “Breaking the Silence: Coping with polio in a third world country” by Emmanuel Piki (Zimbabwe).
Read More ▷Off I toddled to another interesting day of session presentations. I decided on the “Aging and Comorbidity” sessions which included “Aging and Muscle Function Including Sarcopenia” by Jan Lexell, “Osteoporosis” by Helena Burger, and “Medication for Comorbidities; Effects in Post-Polio Syndrome” by Lise Kay. All three sessions were really interesting and I have included photos of the key slides for each.
Read More ▷Up and at ‘em, bright and early, this morning to dash down to the bakery which caters for the ‘Breakfast’ part of my B&B. Rush back to the Grand Krasnapolsky to retrieve my poster tube from Jill Pickering’s room so I can put it up between 8:00 and 9:00 am, as instructed . . . only to be told that this would now be put up at 12:00 pm after Princess Beatrix had left the building!
Read More ▷. . . I went for another meander around town. There are numerous amusements to occupy one’s time – from partaking in “Magic Mushrooms” to visiting the “Sex Museum”. Apparently, I’m in the “Red Light District” but I can’t say I’ve seen any evidence of it so far. There is a night tour that takes in these ‘sights’ but it will now have to wait until after the conference, which starts tomorrow.
Read More ▷I arrived fairly early in the morning on a flight from Montreal, where I’ve spent the last 2 weeks visiting with my family since PHI’s St Louis Conference. After North America, Amsterdam was surprisingly ‘relaxed’ about people entering the country. No customs forms to fill in, no long queues working their slow and painful way through uber-diligent customs officials, no line up after baggage collection before being able to exit. And for such a busy airport, there was not even any real traffic congestion around the airport.
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