Iowa Polio Stories Sent to the Iowa Polio Stories Web Site

Stories submitted by Iowans

Alexander, Bob - Warren County

Previous to September, Eugene Dooley came to our home selling serious illness policies. My parents purchased one for $15 a year. This insurance paid the entire bill, no questions asked. At the time, the room rate was $12.50 a day and the therapy and hot pack treatments were $4 a day.

Bode, Marilyn - Dallas County

I remember a room crowded with beds. I was in a crib with only enough space between my bed and the next one for a nurse to squeeze through.

Bordwell, Esther - Washington County

I am so thankful for the Salk and Sabin vaccines. The fear of polio is gone at last!

Boynton, Patricia - Poweshiek County

My parents were not allowed to touch me. I looked at them through a glass window and waved to them.

Brannon, Carol - Story County

Mother was told it took about 2 hours for the IV serum to be injected. It became a race against time.

Breitsprecher, Janis - Fayette County

They (Daddy and Mamma) saw and talked to her (Lonnie) through a glass door today from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Then they came home and left her there alone. There was nothing else they could do.

Carroll, Daniel - Scott County

I was only one year old when my mother found out she had polio. I grew up knowing her story as I learned to walk when she was relearning how to walk.

Clark, Pauline (Pauli) - Polk County

At Blank, my biological father didn't know what to do with a handicapped child as he had 3 other children to raise, so he was going to give me away to a nurse at the hospital who wanted me.

Cline, Mary Beth - Hancock County

I remember going to the Jones County Fair and seeing a girl in an iron lung on display, almost like a sideshow attraction. She was there to urge people to contribute to the March of Dimes...

Drake, Lenny - Page County

But the loudest words were the ones not spoken - everywhere the unspoken words - "Please, not my child!"

Eisele, Rose M. - Linn County

My father was a voracious reader and when we got sick on a Sunday night, he had the doctor the next morning do spinal taps.

Emmert, Roger - Dallas County

When [my father] was 19 months old, he was stricken with Infantile Paralysis, now known as polio. He was treated by a Dr. Criley who at one point pronounced him dead. Someone, however, noticed a spark of life and that spark was rekindled and my father lived well into his 80's.

Evans, Nancy J. - Story County

It was a graduate student of mine who was able to finally get me to see that I needed to accept myself as a person with a disability and that I could be a very positive role model and advocate for people with disabilities.

Fischer [Bensen], Diane - Kossuth County

Sometimes I'd complain that [the hot packs] were too hot. She'd shake it a bit and say "Oh honey, if it isn't hot, it won't do any good!"

Fisher, Ann - Cerro Gordo County

I remember my mother standing in the doorway of our house and yelling out, "They've found it! They have a vaccine for polio!"

Fox, Marcia Wieting - Polk County

My memories of that day in 1941 when my father took me to the doctor and then to the hospital are quite vivid. I feel blessed that I recovered completely and still remember the fear people had of infantile paralysis and the two epidemics that killed or paralyzed so many children and adults.

Gabriel, Victoria - Polk County

I recently found out from my aunt that my mom was so distraught that the doctor told her to start smoking because that would help calm her down.

Goldsmith, Vicki - Polk County

We never knew what caused [polio], so every summer there was a new theory: crowds, heat, swimming pools, etc.

Hall, Joyce - Poweshiek County

I remember a room crowded with beds. I was in a crib with only enough space between my bed and the next one for a nurse to squeeze through.

Harris, David Reese - Black Hawk County

The sight and sound of the iron lung to this day makes me very tense and the relief of not having to be in one of those is unbelievably great.

Herwig, K. - Polk County

I'll never forget the shriek-moan sound that emanated from my mother's mouth. I believe this confirmed her worst fear--that I possibly/probably had polio.

Hibbert, Vicki - Madison County

What I remember most about polio was the gratitude and almost reverence with which my mother talked about the new vaccine.

Hixon, Charlene - Muscatine County

Funeral arrangements were made by telephone, as we were in quarantine. The casket was placed by the front window; my parents stood at one end of her casket, Bessie and I stood at the other end. We watched all the people come up on the porch and walk past the casket.

Howsare, Katherine - Polk County

My 2nd grade teacher was left with heavy metal braces on both legs and metal crutches. Our classroom was on the second floor, and there was, of course, no handicapped access.

Hulst, Louise - Sioux County

Growing up in Michigan we were aware of of Infantile Paralysis and were both carefully monitored by our mothers during the summer months. But neither of us was prepared for the polio epidemic that struck Iowa in 1952.

Hult, Herbert - Henry County

[The therapist] told me that if she didn't get the calcium deposits out soon, I would remain stiff. This really hurt and I would sweat and felt like I was going to pass out. I am very thankful to her as I have no calcium deposits anywhere. I would love to thank her if I could find her.

Jensen, Everett E. - Dickinson County

On the way out the fellows asked why I was not working. I said I had polio and was heading to Sioux City to go to the hospital. I wondered why they looked so funny. I did not realize it was contagious.

Johnson, Irma P. - Winneshiek County

My life has been directly affected by polio, not once but twice.

Kemp, Jane - Winneshiek County

During our visit in Fort Wayne, Indiana for our annual visit to my paternal grandparents...my entire small family was affected, although...my grandparents remained healthy.

King, Jean - Dallas County

Their bodies were found down river. I cursed polio, as I felt polio had killed those young boys as surely as if they had had the disease.

Kroese, Harriet - Sioux County

Our house was put under quarantine. I could not go out. One night after dark my mother packed a suitcase for me and herself and my daddy drove us to Marion, South Dakota to a chiropractor.

Larson, Ruth Saupe - Linn County

My heart aches when I see children and adults in other countries sitting on a skateboard and pushing with their hands to get around at all. It seems the world has come so close to eradicating polio. What a shame that it continues!

Lau, Lily - Linn County

I remember their legs were very thin and they could not walk on their own.

Levin, Myrt - Polk County

Terror struck our family in August, 1949 when my uncle, Dr. Byron Merkel, suggested that I could have polio.

Lieder, Betty - Cerro Gordo County

Our daughter was less than a year old when she was stricken with polio. This "story" is a letter I wrote to her to try to clarify and explain our feelings.

Longstreet, John - Page County

To have [Post Polio Syndrome] happen to me is one thing, as I have lived many normal years. But to think of the people who have had to deal with the physical after effects for all these years only to get PPS later on is like being bitten twice by the same vicious dog!

Marsh, Larry - Johnson County

Later when I regained consciousness, I interpreted his message as his death and told the doctor who was to give me the bad news that I already knew my father had died.

McCroskey, Erin - Johnson County

He found my parents and introduced himself and asked if my dad had ever been treated for polio. It turns out this doctor was part of the team that treated my dad. He noted that my father had been very, very ill and all but admitted he was surprised that Dad had survived.

Mickey, Virginia - Union County

A 29-year-old man who worked at the court house and two males 6 years had all passed away and were buried during our absence.

Nagel, Janet - Scott County

Had the polio vaccine been in existence before [my husband's] birth, he would have been spared much suffering. Dr. Salk is a true hero; his vaccine has been a huge benefit to humanity.

Nargang (Neebel), Becky - Black Hawk County

Now, in 2007, I have been diagnosed with post-polio syndrome. I lived my whole life without any residual problems but now am experiencing the latent effects of polio.

Navratil, Joyce - Floyd County

My older sister died of polio just before her 16th birthday. My mother never got over her death.

Ogren-Osborn, Mary L. - Polk County

To this day if I ever get the "ache all over" flu, the first thing I do is put my chin to my chest and say "Good, at least I don't have Polio!"

Paul, Cyril J. - Jackson County

One of my brothers also was in the hospital at the same time as I was. He unfortunately did not live.

Rand, Mae Brown - Polk County

Conversation was limited but at one point he whispered to me, "I have it and I don't want it." He lived for only a few days and died at age 32 on 15 September, just four days after admittance to the hospital. It was so sad.

Ripp-Safford, Barbara - Black Hawk County

The physical therapist told me I could not go home until I could touch my toes again...and the thought of touching my knees brought me to tears.

Rowland, Gerry - Polk County

Over the years, I have heard the story of my parents' heroic efforts to save me from this dreaded disease, and my appreciation for their loving care has increased as my understanding of the peril I faced has deepened.

Sleister, Patricia - Guthrie County

The disease terrified everyone so much that when it was finally announced that there was a vaccine, it was like a celebration.

Southard, Doris - Black Hawk County

Most people avoided visiting, being afraid of polio, but one rough old neighbor farmer came every day to see how I was doing. I will never forget that.

Steele, Maxine - O'Brien County

Maxine Steele writes a historical overview of the polio epidemic. Her own story follows below.

Steele, Maxine - O'Brien County

Having polio naturally had an effect on my life. It has given me the incentive to study and educate myself and others about polio, learn to have patience, tolerance and compassion, to empathize with others who have disabilities, and to learn much more about myself.

Steinberg, Kathy - Butler County

I will never forget my Grandma Moore, because if it wasn't for her I would have been crippled all my life.

Steingreaber, Kristin - Van Buren County

I will never forget my Grandma Moore, because if it wasn't for her I would have been crippled all my life.

Stoll, Edna (Schnell) - Wright County

I was in the iron lung for over 2 weeks and once during that time it stopped working and they came in with what looked like a tire pump and took turns pumping it until another lung could be brought over from Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines.

Tade, Christine - Johnson County

My father contracted polio from one of his patients -- one day he had a terrible headache and the next he was completely paralyzed and in a respirator.

Thomas, Mary - Polk County

Thanks to my parents and their diligence in getting a second opinion, I am one of the lucky ones.

Tilgner, Tom - Sioux County

The muscular weakness I had after polio mostly went away, but in recent years has come back. Post Polio Syndrome is real.

Von Wald, Katherine - Polk County

What I vividly remember is the news reels [at the movies] with pictures of children in iron lungs.

Watson, Mary Ryan - Lee County

Before one surgery I remember the doctor saying, "I'm going to take your foot apart and put it back together again, and make a dancer out of you."

Weir, Mike - Scott County

Beings how I was not having breathing problems and did not require and Iron Lung...she [mother] was told to let it run its course and deal with the deformities.

Wilkinson, Margaret - Scott County

I was married with four children when the vaccine became available in Ottumwa. My husband and I were thrilled as was all of our family to know that no one would ever be paralyzed from that disease again, and our gratitude to Dr. Salk is immeasurable.

Wilson-Opper, Catherine - Dubuque County

We, the younger students, really lost a summer: the pools closed, the moves were off limits, and parents were sensitized to our every breath.