My parents were told I would never walk. I was initially paralyzed in all four limbs.
Although I was only seven years old in 1954 when I had polio, I remember everyone was scared and their emotions often overwhelmed them because we were facing what was then the most dreaded of diseases.
The routines at the hospital revolved around wool-covered, sand-packed hot packs, stretching, painful range of motion, and warm water tank therapy. I wore braces on my arms and legs. When in bed, I had to lay only on my back and keep my feet pinned up against the footboard to prevent footdrop.
The arm braces prevented my shoulders from straining too much when I wheeled myself in a wheelchair. I was told to be cautious so I did not pull my shoulders out of their sockets. So, I did not just use my arms to push the wheelchair wheels, I also moved my legs to pedal around the hospital.
Who would have thought that the use of my legs would strengthen them so much that I surprised my parents by walking. A blessing in disguise. I learned you just never know when adversity is the invention of something that helps in an unintended way.