My Polio Experience

What's polio? In the Western Hemisphere, it has been nearly eradicated in its "wild" form since 1991.

Polio is a virus which attacks the anterior horn cells in the spinal column, destroying or damaging them. These cells are the carriers of messages from the brain to muscle fibers which tell them to move. So if the wiring is effectively cut, the muscles never get the message to do something and so get very weak and don't do anything.

I had polio at about 2 and a half years of age. I had a good rehabilitation, and was marching short distances with the marching band in high school and college.

About 1993, I began to experience increasing weakness and pain, and got a 3-wheel scooter, which I use any time I need to be mobile beyond a few feet or a few minutes of standing. I have learned a lot about living with diminished capacity, and with perceived disability. I sometimes dream without my scooter, sometimes with it (!).

There are some interesting places on the Web regarding Post Polio and the adventures it leads to: GINI is one of the best. Check out also the Lincolnshire Post Polio Page.

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