Jim Smith was totally paralyzed from the neck down at age 2. His parents were told “the hospital is full - take him home”. Jim has his own special perspective to life with the effects of this terrible virus.

“The Vicious Case of the Viral Vaccine” by Pedred Noyce and Roberta Baxter is a gripping medical thriller that delves into the captivating world of vaccine development and public health crisis.” A book review by Alexis

It was the summer of 1952 and our country was in the middle of its worst polio epidemic since 1916. Nearly 58,000 cases of polio were reported and more than 3,000 died. I was lucky.

You might actually save money by not owning and driving your own car. Now to explore some options . . . Marny K. Eulberg, MD 

One August day I was outside in front of our home playing hopscotch with some of the other girls in the neighborhood, when I realized I did not feel well. A few days later, my right arm was paralyzed.

I am an “inapparent” (often referred to as ‘non-paralytic’) polio survivor with PPS. My post-polio journey was long, painful and truly confusing. There was diagnosis, frightening mis-diagnosis and an enormous amount of self-doubt. Carol Ferguson

Our August, 2024 Newsletter

“My favorite part was how on one of the first pages it said ‘Adults kept away from bakeries and banks. Children kept away from pools and parks’ and then later in the book it said ‘Adults headed to bakeries and banks. Children headed to pools and parks’.

I liked this part very much because it showed how Jonas Salk made sure that people could go safely to where they wanted to go, and that meant that they did not have to live in fear anymore.

By Chloe

Ariana: “Ethan tells Mia to think of a vaccine like a ‘knight fighting the bad guy’. I liked that because I think I am a princess! “

We think this book would be great for younger kids, who have an imagination. Having an imagination can make something scary, less scary and fun. By Avery and Ariana

“I like learning about WHY you get vaccines. Sometimes I feel nervous just like Jo Jo when she has to go get a shot. I liked how she thinks about other things she’s had to do that were hard – and she did it !” Colin

“Developed during the 1920s, the iron lung was invented to help individuals with polio breathe after their torso and abdominal muscles ceased to work. Improvements to the iron lung were made throughout the 20th century, but the almost-obsolete hospital device still looks a lot like a machine used in interrogations or a cruel medical tool.”

“Turning Points in History” was the theme for the 2024 National History Day Competition. We celebrate the work of Chloe and Daniela for their successful entry. “Jonas Salk: How the Polio Vaccine Changed Public Health”

July, 2024 - Polio Survivors Serving Others