When I was three and a half years old I was up at my Grandmother Miller's farm, along with my sister Jeanne and sister Christine. Grandma Miller was babysitting us for a couple weeks because my mother had just given birth to our brother Stephen on July 12, 1950. I recall taking a nap on a little daybed that was in the corner in her kitchen. I hadn't been feeling very well. When I woke up I got off the bed and fell down. When I kept trying to get back up I couldn't. So I was crawling. I remember some of my Aunts looking at me and wondering what was wrong. They sat me back on the bed. I don't recall anything else but have always remembered that incident.
My mother took me to the doctor's right away and I was admitted to Children's Hospital in Utica, NY on July 22, 1950 with Polio.
The records from hospital states that I became ill on the 19th of July. It's interesting to read those old notes. I sent for all those old records about ten years ago and was surprised that I actually was able to get them. Some pages are faded and can't be read because of the microfilm they were on.
Here's some of what was written down that day I got admitted.
They ask for family history apparently. These are the doctor's exact notes. It's amusing..
Father is well. Farmer. In jail at present. Did not ask details.
Mother living and well. Three other children, ages two, one and two weeks, living and well.
No family history of T.B. or Cancer.
(Then he's writing about my history)
Has had Whooping Cough, Measles and Mumps. Bitten by a Coon at the age of two and had shots for Rabies.
Taken ill on July 19th. Had sore throat. ( I can't make out the rest. It was all faded)
7/22/50 Admitted
Child is suffering from acute Poliomyelitis.
These are some of the entries that I could make out.
8/20/50
She has general weakness involving particularly the muscles in the quadriceps. Still has considerable spasms. A.R. Hatfield M.D.
9/25/50
She still has some tightness of the right hamstrings but the back and neck muscle tightness have cleared up. She has weakness of the left quadriceps and below the knee muscles but the foot and toe muscles seem quite adequate. There is some weakness of the right quadriceps but the leg and foot muscles seem good. She should stay in for further treatment.
10/5/50
There has been some generalized improvement of all the muscles but the hips and thighs and abdominals still show the bulk of the weakness. Still has hamstring tightness. She has been furnished with drop foot splints for both legs. Eliot M. Friedman M.D.
10/9/50
Is improving, especially below the knees. Night splints may be left off. She still has scattered weakness in other muscles.
10/12/50
The patient is improving, especially in function below the knees. She has weakness of both quadriceps. She is just starting to bear weight. She has no tightness. To continue with her exercises. She probably will be in for another three weeks.
10/19/50
The patient still has considerable weakness of both quadriceps. When she walks, the knees go into recurvatum and there is hip joint weakness. There is weakness of the muscles about each hip. It is suggested at this point that the patient have some extra support around the knees when she wants to walk and that when she does walk, she should have a walker or crutches to help her.
10/24/50
Patient still has considerable weakness in both thighs and when she gets up she needs the assistance of crutches.
(Can't read entries till November)
11/16/50
Patient handles two crutches and knee supports in walking. Doing quite well although it is still quite evident that she has considerable back knee on each side. Abdominal support was tried and did not improve her walk. Instead of felt pads she is using plaster of paris shells. Some more attempts are to be made to decrease the recurvatum in each knee by altering the splints or putting on anterior shells.
11/30/50
She has been fitted with a couple of plaster knee splints which allow her to walk using crutches. She does very well and the splints appear to hold her knees quite nicely.
12/8/50
She is walking well using two crutches and two knee splints. The Physiotherapist reports she has made definite improvements. An abdominal support is being made. In as much as she is making progress, it would be wise to get a month's extension on her time.
12/14/50
She is getting along well in the use of the crutches. The splints apparently are controlling the back knee very satisfactorily.
12/21/50
As yet, has not been furnished with abdominal support. She needs more instruction on the use of crutches.
12/28/50
She has improved considerably in her ability to use crutches and can even walk a little without them if she has support about the knees. The abdominals are still weak and she has not been fitted with a corset yet, however, this is to be furnished her very soon.
1/10/51
She has made definite progress generally and is now walking with two crutches very well. An abdominal support is being made. She seems to do quite well without any knee supports. There has been general improvement and believe that she would benefit from three more months more hospital care.
3/21/51
(This part is not readable. I can only make out some of it.) The abdominal muscles are still very weak. Knock-knee on both sides. With a back support and two crutches she does fairly well. It is suggested that she wear knock knee night splints.
4/18/51
She is getting around fairly well using a corset and two crutches. She has a definite tendency to back knee except when she is reminded and then she can control her knees very well. The night splints have not been furnished yet. Patient's family should be investigated as to the posibility of her discharge. She may be discharged if family is satisfactory but she will need frequent and careful follow-up, to see that she does not develop bad walking habits.
5/16/51
Child has remained on at the hospital because mother has three other small children at home and does not have transportation facilities to bring her back for periodic check-ups. In the meantime, she has continued to regain muscle power, even in the abdomen. There is less knock knee. She is walking well with a back support and Canadian crutches.
6/10/51
Mother states she is able to get Virginia back to the hospital for weekly check-ups and so, she was discharged today.
Prognosis: Child will undoubtedly have some residual but she has a good chance of further improvement. She needs careful and frequent follow-up, to see that she does not develop bad walking habits.
I did not see the doctor again till 1958 and only because I needed a new corset made. Mom never took me back and the corset was a mess and way too small for me. More on that later.
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