Kroese, Harriet - Sioux County

General Comments:

When I was three years old I complained about not feeling well and some pain in my legs. I also fell a lot and soon I couldn't feel my legs. My parents took me to Dr. De Bay in Orange City. He examined me and told my parents he thought I had the same disease my grandfather had which had him in a wheelchair for many years until his death. My parents were not satisfied so they took me to a doctor in Sioux Center. After some testing we were told I had polio.

Our house was put under a 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, Dr. Tiesen. We went late at night because of the quarantine. They rented a room at a boarding house for mother and me. My mother carried me to the clinic twice a day for treatments. The treatments were rubbing, stretching, massaging my muscles in my body and especially my legs and feet.

After a few weeks I could go home for a week of rest, still unable to walk. Again during the night we returned to Marion, South Dakota for more treatments. The doctor promised me a special surprise if I would work hard and not cry. One Friday my daddy came to see how I was doing. The doctor took me off his table and set me on the floor and I took three steps. I continued to improve and was soon well. My surprise from the doctor was his St. Bernard hitched to a little wagon and I went for a ride. I had straight blond hair BEFORE treatments and went home AFTER treatments with a head full of blond curls!