Those of us on this list who are polio survivors were hit by the virus as
small children, some of us only a few months old. I happened to be 7 when I
had polio, and I don't even remember what it was like to be able to breathe
without difficulty. Careful reading about how the polio virus attacks the
body reveals that in the average person about 90% of the person's body is
affected in one way or another. Many who had polio had to be in iron lungs,
rocking beds, wear all sorts of braces, use crutches, etc. Many have gone
through their lives in a wheelchair. Most of us had very visible side-effects
from the disease. Some of us even had to be in rehab centers for months and
even years, and this was in a time when nurses, doctors, hospitals knew
nothing about giving children a lot of TLC. We're talking hospitals and
rehabs that were cold, cruel, and horrible! A lot of us have had to spend
years in therapy in order to heal the emotional wounds that polio left us
with.
My point in all of this is that while we polio survivors didn't go through
what Mandy is experiencing, we too were very affected by one of the most
dreaded diseases of this century as children. Our parents and siblings were
affected too. My doctors advised my parents to treat me the same as their
other 3 children and to expect me to do things that were possible for me to
do. My mother has told me how difficult this was for her because her
inclination was to protect me and to pamper me. She's told me how she used
to cry because she saw how difficult everything was for me to do, and that
made her feel so sad. She's told me how she used to scream at God and ask why
this had to happen to me. I am glad that she followed the doctors' advice as
much as she chould. Most of us have had more than our share of pain, medical
crises, and physical limitations. Yet we've gone on with our lives in spite
of all of the obstacles and have been creative, productive citizens.
You are not alone, Andrea. There are many children affected by grave
illnesses, disabilities, and rare conditions. Have you checked into the
possibility of support groups in your area? There is a support group for
almost everything these days. Don't discount family therapy either. In
situations like these it is important for the entire family to be able to
talk about their feelings in a safe environment. Mandy lived through a
terrible car accident; however, she'll be able to do a lot and she'll
probably contribute in many ways to society in her lifetime. A lot depends on
attitude and being able to talk about feelings in the home. Good luck.
Carol Meyer