David F. Raedeker, Ringgold County

Interviewee: David F. Raedeker
Interviewer: Kate Scott
Date of Interview: December 3, 2007
Run Time: Approximately 60M

Cassette
Biographical Data Form
Oral History Release
Photograph (1 - David Raedeker seated with grandchild, n.d.)
Transcript

David Raedeker was born in Warrensville, Illinois on February 2, 1943. Because polio afflicted David at such a young age, he does not remember much about the acute stages of the virus. According to his mother, he awoke in August of 1945 with a fever and had trouble moving.  There was talk among members of the local community that the polio virus was in the Warrensville air and water. David’s mother feared the worst -- her fears were confirmed after the local physician made a house call. He was first treated at home with physical therapy and hot packs. At the age of five, David started to limp. So, his parents took him to see the Canadian Compieaur brothers who worked as physicians at Hinsdale Sanitarium in Hinsdale, Illinois. He was later treated by the famous surgeon, Dr. W. H. Schwingel, at the Copley Hospital in Aurora, Illinois where he recalls spending hours at a time being “poked, prodded, and x-rayed”. Since the age of seven years old, David has undergone approximately 13 surgeries. “I don’t know what pain is,” says David, “it is all relative. My tolerance – or what my body can tolerate - may be greater than the average person. I have pain all the time. The body adjusts.” “I made the most with what I got. I had a good life here…I also know that in heaven there will be no snow, no ice, and I know heaven will be pain free.” David and his wife Darlene currently reside in Ellston, Iowa.