The most important lesson I learned from polio is that vaccinations are not just important, they are vital. While I was in boarding school in Kenya, there was an outbreak of polio.
One boy was flown to South Africa for treatment. He was placed in an iron lung. All boys at the school were vaccinated.
School officials asked what to do for me. It was decided to vaccinate me like the rest.
Asking for help is difficult. I find this hard to do. Getting the words out makes me feel like I am weak when I want to be strong.
Now that I am 80, my eldest son helps me. I am grateful. I always say thank you. My loved ones are my best helpers.
I’ve had two ankle reconstructions on my polio leg. One at age 14 and the later when I was 42. I am now 80 and balance is an issue for me. I use a walking stick when I go away from home.
I contracted polio in Kampala, Uganda at age two and a half. My right leg and arm became weak. My right leg always has been shorter than my left requiring special shoes and bracing at night. My parents were not well off and had to scrape together money for braces and orthopedic shoes.
My parents were my role models for dealing with disabilities. They made sure I did my exercises every day. Their unwavering attention to my needs led to my sister telling me that she felt sidelined as a child. I got more attention than her which she thought unfair.
My kids just knew I needed help lifting and carrying things. I never asked them for help. They stepped up to the plate. In the mid-1980’s, my fatigue worsened. “Post-polio” was not talked about then.
I know there will come a time when I can no longer take care of myself. Right now, getting dressed to go volunteer is a challenging task. But I am determined to live each day to the fullest!
Eventually I will move closer to my kids. I can count on them to help me. I brought them into the world and they will help me be comfortable as possible.