‘I woke up and I couldn’t walk’: This is the polio that should become just a memory

World famous Israeli violinist Itzhak Pearlman was infected with polio at the age of four, severely restricting his ability to walk, but thankfully spared his hands.

By Itzhak Perlman

April 20, 2015

At the age of four, I quickly had to come to terms with the devastating reality of contracting polio. I was born in Israel in 1945, but it would be another decade before the country began a national immunization program.

I was very lucky in making a good recovery and learning to walk with crutches. While the virus made normal use of my legs impossible, my hands were spared, and I could pursue a long and successful career as a violinist, doing what I love. I am blessed as a husband and the father of five healthy children.

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