|
|
This webpage is to disseminate
information about post polio, polio eradication, and support for polio
survivors, their families and any interested individuals. We also open
our doors and support for anyone with interest in, or experiences
similar us, polio survivors.
 ELECTIONS
FOR 2010 OFFICERS TO BE HELD IN JUNE
For those of you itching to fill a leadership role, or know you have
skills that will enhance our organization, come to our meeting on June
13th and get yourself elected to an officer or board member position.
It will be a year of great excitement and satisfaction!
POLIO EPIC'S MISSION
STATEMENT:
Polio Epic, Inc., founded in 1985, is a non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization of polio survivors and their families, community
professionals and other interested parties. Our mission is to provide
education, support and community connections that empower polio
survivors with tools necessary to make adjustments needed to continue a
life of dignity, independence and interdependence.
 Post
Polio Part of Study on Aging
PPS has been selected as one of four
disabling conditions that effect aging in a study,
conducted by the University of Washington and K. Warner
Schaie. Schaie agreed to present findings from his
exhaustive study on aging at last year's Washington
State Psychology Association conference, but only if he
could bring 26 guests. They ranged from 74 to 101 years
old and had stuck with him for a half-century.
They were a handful of the 500 subjects who enrolled in
the first year of the Seattle Longitudinal Study in 1956
(for complete article click the
Seattle Times. Pay special attention to the
sidebar.). . .
OUR 2008-2009 PRESIDENT:
Michelle Minner
has lived in Tucson since 1998. Michelle had polio in 1959 at the age
of 2, while living on an Air Force Base in Guam. By the time Michelle's
parents brought the family back to the continental United States, they
decided to hide the fact that Michelle had polio, because there was
still a lot of worry and fear in many communities. Even though the
vaccination was introduced in 1953, the memories and fears were as
strong as ever. Michelle
grew up and didn't realize she had ever had polio, until she was a
teenager. She started having nightmares about being in an operating
room, sitting up with a sheet over her head and extreme sharp pain in
the lower back. Obviously, she was remembering her spinal taps!
Michelle, whom we all
refer to as Micki, is a type ‘A’ personality, and never knew it was a
common trait for polio survivors. She graduated from High school in 3
years, tested out of her freshman year in college, worked as a DJ at a
radio station, swam on the collegiate swimming team at FSU, and spent
every summer teaching camp in Dominican Republic. Immediately out of
college, she went to work in New York as a computer installation
specialist for computers designed specifically for Radio and TV stations
around the world. Michelle traveled extensively throughout the United
States, in 1981; she spent 51 weeks straight on the road, living in
hotels.
Finally, in 1983, Michelle was tired of traveling, wanted to settle
down, so she put up a map of the United States, and threw a dart. The
dart landed in Atlanta. She moved there and got a 9-5 job at a local
radio station. While living in Atlanta, Michelle started reading for
the blind, became a foster parent, hiked up and down the Appalachian
Trail, played in the local tennis league, and continued her type ‘A’
personality traits. That's when problems started developing and hiking
became a misery instead of the joy it had been.
Michelle's mother sent her a newspaper article that talked about
survivors of polio having new problems. The problems described were
very similar...new weakness, new pain, twitching of nerves, compression
syndromes. The worst part was the depression at being stuck at home
while everyone else was hiking in the mountains, or playing tennis, or
bowling. Michelle talked to her physician and showed him the article.
That doctor did a marvelous thing...he gave Michelle instructions on how
to access a new thing called the Internet at the hospital library. That
doctor then did his own research and they compared notes. They found a
local clinic that evaluated patients for Post polio Syndrome, called the
Shepard Spinal Center.
Michelle got a call a week after her questionnaire was sent. After
the testing, it was determined that Michelle did have Post Polio
Syndrome.
Michelle started researching PPS and has never stopped. She lived in
Atlanta and Florida, and co-hosted a twice weekly Internet support group
for polio survivors, and met another polio survivor living across the
country; Charlie Minner from Tucson, a polio survivor with muscular
atrophy (PPMA). After dating and realizing that they belonged together,
Michelle moved to Tucson. Charlie and Micki got married in 2003 on the
runway of a glider contest. Charlie and Micki raise an autistic
daughter, manage glider contests, live with standard poodles, garden,
watch sports, and enjoy active lives in Tucson. Micki recently had
to quit working because of her disability, and is adjusting to a less
hectic life as much as she can. Part of the adjustment was working as
2007-2008 Vice President for Polio Epic, and now 2008-2009 President.
Hopefully, she will improve her typical Type ‘A’ personality and learn
to relax a little, but don't hold your breath!
Post Polio 101:
What YOU Need To Know
A comprehensive list of how you know you have had polio, PPS and its
symptoms, what can be done, etc.
More in Oct/Nov issue of Polio Epic, Inc.
Newsletter, Page 7...
POST-POLIO 101
In 2005, a grant
was awarded to Polio Epic, Inc. to create an informational document
to use in educating local polio survivors, medical professionals,
and interested community members about Post Polio. It is
suggested that you make a copy for your Health Professionals.
|
