Lau, Lily - Linn County

Tell us what you remember of the impact of polio:

When I was in junior high school I had a classmate who had polio. Monika and her older brother Ricky both had polio when they were younger. Both wore leg braces and had to use crutches to walk. I remember their legs were very thin and they could not walk on their own. They were not treated any differently then any of the other kids (not that I remember) and had many friends.

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

I remember as a child getting a polio shot at school. We received permission slips to take home. I don't believe I was thrilled at the idea of getting a shot. When it came time to get the shots, we lined up in the cafeteria. Later, I believe we received another booster dose of vaccine, but that time it was given in a sugar cube. As a child, that was much, much preferable to the needle!