Kemp, Jane - Winneshiek County

Tell us what you remember of the impact of polio:

In August 1949 while living in Iowa City, my mother developed what she described as a "stiff neck" which was treated by applying a hot water bottle to her neck and back. This did not stop us from driving to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for our annual visit to my paternal grandparents. During the visit, my father, who taught in the German Department at the University of Iowa, developed weakness in both of his legs and had trouble walking. My mother's right arm became paralyzed to the point that she could no longer lift it to comb her hair. During our visit in Ft. Wayne, I also became ill. This meant that my entire small family was affected although the grandparents, who were in their 70's, remained healthy. The diagnosis of polio was made on the basis of my symptoms which included a characteristic vomit (I was told later it resembled coffee grounds). I never experienced any paralysis but did have to remain in bed for several weeks. A general practitioner in Ft. Wayne came to the house of my grandparents and treated us on site. We were never hospitalized and I don't recall taking medication but I could be mistaken on that point.

In a few weeks, the symptoms began to recede and we finally drove back to Iowa in October. My mother started to be able to comb her hair again and my father and mother cooperated to drive our Chevy. My father resumed teaching but sat on a tall stool to teach his classes that entire school year. I was delayed 6 weeks from starting kindergarten. One year later, we were free from the disease.

My parents never thought they experienced lasting effects from polio and both lived very long lives into their early 90's. A physical therapist examined all of us during the following year and said I had shortened hamstrings in the backs of my legs but could find no other damage. As I age, I feel the scoliosis in my back has become more pronounced but whether this is polio-related I don't know.

My parents and I always felt we were among the very lucky victims of polio since our cases were light and the effects were not enduring.

Describe the reaction of your family and others you knew to the development of the vaccine:

I recall that our family was visiting Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the time that availability of the vaccine was announced. The miracle of the vaccine was even discussed from the pulpit of the church we attended while visiting my grandparents. The pastor dedicated an entire sermon to the wonder of the vaccine. We were all thrilled but also figured, since we had suffered from the disease, that we might not need it. It turned out that I was vaccinated in school but I am not sure if my parents ever received the vaccine.

General Comments:

I have often wondered if or when the neighbors were informed that we were suffering from polio while we were sick in Fort Wayne. I have no recollection that anyone ever considered hospitalization for us since we were treated in the home during the worst part of the illness. My aunt, who lived nearby, was a nurse so it might be that her care was regarded as sufficient. It also might be that there wasn't room for patients with light cases to be hospitalized. After we returned to Iowa City, we were apparently not considered contagious since I started school and my father resumed teaching. I was considered a "sickly" child with lots of minor ailments such as sore throats, colds, and low fevers. Ultimately in the third grade, my tonsils were removed and my health dramatically improved. Whether any of those chronic sicknesses had any relationship to the polio was never proved one way or the other.