It was 1951 when Polio stuck me

 

With this coronavirus going around, it brings up memories of my past.

It was 1951 when Polio stuck me. I was 6 years old.

One day I was walking home from school and I was so tied, I could just barely make it home. As soon as I got home I went to bed. I guess I was really sick. And my Mom took me to the doctor’s. They found out I had Polio. So they put me in the hospital. I had Bulber Polio, worst kind you can get. I almost died from that. They almost put me in one of those Iron Lungs machines that help you breathe. I used to call them “tin cans.” I guess I really got sick and my Dad told me later on, he says, he had collapsed on the hood of the car after he came out from seeing me and started crying to my Mom, “He’s gonna die, he’s gonna die.” My Mom had some Holy Water that one of the nuns from St Juliana’s gave her. Some Holy Water from Lourdes, you know France?  And she brought it up and she poured this Holy Water from Lourdes on me. And son-of-a-gun if I didn’t start getting better. It was like a miracle. I don’t know if that’s what it was or caused it or what but that’s what happened. So I got over that. 

 This is the report from the Edison Parker, Edison Park News paper Sept 26, 1951. Report first Edison Park polio cases. Boy 6, girl 14 both in hospital. Edison Parks first cases of Infantile Paralysis cases of the year were reported last week, as two youngsters, a 6 year old boy and a 14 year old girl. Both were stricken with dangerous Bulbar Polio. The Children are Billy Kaufman 6 of 7415 N. Ottawa and Jacquelyn Dee 14 of 7025 N Overhill. After becoming ill Monday September 17th. Jacquelyn Dee, daughter of Mr & Mrs Eugene Dee, was taken Wednesday to Municipal  Contagious Disease Hospital were her condition still is report as critical. Doctors said the girl is still running a temperature and is very week and is receiving oxygen thru the nose. Jacquelyn a student at St Patrick Academy has an older sister 18 and a younger brother 6.  6 year old Billy Kaufman son of Mr. & Mrs. Robert J Kaufman became ill last Wednesday and was hospitalized the following day at the Cook County Contagious Disease Hospital. His condition still is critical doctors reported but has shown improvement. Billy is no longer in oxygen although he is still running a temperature and is paralyzed in the throat and internally. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman have younger daughter Jeanne 4.

  This is a follow up article in the Edison paper. 3 Polio cases reported in Edison. Jacquelyn Dee 14 of 7025 N Overhill, Edison Park’s first Polio victim was still in critical condition following an emergency tracheotomy at Municipal Contagious Disease Hospital Wednesday. Also in critical condition following polio attacks are Billy Kaufman 6 7415 N. Ottawa and Jeanne Knorst 13 6950 N Overhill. All 3 victims were suffering from the Bulbar type of Polio. After becoming ill on Sept 17th, Jacquelyn was taken to the Municipal Hospital Wednesday were doctors described her condition as very critical. It is hoped Thursday’s operation will help her for her fight for her life. 6 year old Billy Kaufman became ill last Wednesday and was hospitalized the following day at Cook County Contagious Disease Hospital. Doctors this week reported Billy’s condition improved. His fever dropped Sunday and is now able to eat some soft food. Jeanne Knorst was stricken Tuesday and was removed to Municipal Contagious Disease Hospital. Her condition is report as serious. 

  This is a follow up article number 3. Edison polio victims reportedly improved. All three make gains during week. The condition of Edison Park’s three young polio victims showed marked improvement this week. According to word received from the parents of the patients, fevers in each case have subsided and all appears to be on the road to recovery. Edison’s first victim Jacquelyn Dee 14, 7025 N Overhill was rushed to Municipal Contagious Disease Hospital September 19th, is now permitted to be out of her iron lung for two 50 minutes periods daily. A victim of both Bulbar and spinal polio, the extent of Jacquelyn’s paralysis is not yet known.  Billy Kaufman 6, 7415 N. Ottawa, having been released from Cook County Contagious Hospital Saturday, was taken to St Francis Hospital this week when his parents noticed muscular spasms in parts of his body. He will remain one month for therapeutic treatments. 13year old Jeanne Knorst, 6950 N Overhill ave was reported as improving with still no evidence of paralysis. Jeanne is also at the Municipal Contagious Disease Hospital. No release date has been given. 

Some of my memories of that time in the hospital with Polio. When my parents brought me to the hospital, they put me in this big ward with a lot of beds on one side and a whole lot of Iron lungs on the other side of the room.  This was the first time I had ever been to a hospital. I was scared and when my Mom and Dad went to leave that first day, I cried. I didn’t want them to go. This would be the first time I would be alone in my whole life. Kind of like it is with me now. 

  The nurses were very friendly, in fact I saw the prettiest nurse I ever saw in my life. I only saw her twice but I will never forget her. Maybe that’s why I have a thing for pretty nurses these days. The next thing I knew, I was put in a small room with three other kids. The nurse put me in diapers and then put me in this metal crib with clear plastic all around the top and sides of the crib. It was an oxygen tent.

  My parents visited me every day and when I started to feel better, I asked my Mom if she could bring me a strawberry Sunday. I wasn’t supposed to have it but the next night my parents snuck a strawberry Sunday up to me. Did that ever taste great. It’s funny how certain things stick out in your mind. 

  I finally got back home and I started having problems right away. So they put me back in another hospital for a month. The only thing I remember about that hospital was the whirlpool that I would have to be put in everyday. It was called the Hubbard Whirlpool Tank. The nurse would take me behind some curtains and take my clothes off. Then she started putting a diaper on me. I said to the nurse, I don’t want to wear a diaper. The nurse told me that everybody had to wear one before they put you in the whirlpool. I do remember this other kid across the room from me. He kept turning his light on and off all night one night. I couldn’t stand that.

 I finally got back home. Right after I got out of the hospital Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine. Well, I was out of school quite a while but I got back to school and I graduated from 1st grade. But later on I’ll pay for it.