Delores Lane Troy, formerly of Buchanan County

Interviewee: Delores Lane Troy
Interviewer: Kate Scott
Date of Interview: 1/31/08
Run Time: Approximately 60M

Biographical Data Form
Cassette
Oral History Release Forthcoming
Photographs Forthcoming
No Transcript

Delores Troy had her hands full in 1944 with a new baby and a husband fighting overseas in the U.S. Marine Corps. She was 25 years old, living with a friend, and teaching school in Jesup. After a trip to Minnesota, Delores started developing a bad case of the hiccups. Three days later, she started experiencing terrific headaches so she called upon Dr. Knipfer, the local physician. After examining her, Dr. Knipfer studied her case and suggested she report to the University of Iowa Hospital for a spinal tap. Her roommate drove her to Iowa City and by the time she arrived, the left side of her body was completely paralyzed. While she was being treated, her friend and roommate cared for her baby. Delores was placed in a room with two other bulbar polio patients – they did not survive. She has always considered herself lucky. She was treated in Iowa City for three weeks. When her husband returned on leave from the war, he worked with her to regain her strength through physical therapy. He also helped with primitive Sister Kenny methods using an old fashioned washing machine full of boiling hot water to saturate and ring the rags. Her husband secured the rags on her body with safety pins. On his next deployment overseas, Delores was proud to report to him in a letter that she could lift a pail full of water. Delores went on to lead a full and productive life as a military wife, teacher, and mother of five. Today, Delores lives in Bonita Springs, Florida. She recently lost her devoted husband but is the proud grandmother of eleven and proud great-grandmother of four. She still feels grateful for Dr. Knipfer.