JANUARY 24, 2004

 

EDITOR

MARK KAHN

NORTH COUNTY TIMES

207 E. PENNSYLVANIA AVE.

ESCONDIDO, CA. 92025

 

Dear Mr. Kahn:

 

Five months ago, Becky, my wife of 47 years surprised me by saying “ I confused not complaining with having a high threshold for pain.”

 

In 1951, at twelve years of age, Becky contracted Polio. She had initial great pain throughout her body, ultimately resulting in complete paralysis in her legs. She was taken to the hospital. Cleveland, Ohio was just like other communities – stretched beyond capacity in treating the tremendous onslaught of Polio victims each year. Becky spent 3 months in the hospital, 3weeks on a gurney in a hallway.

 

The medical treatment consisted of Sister Kenny treatments – being wrapped in scalding hot woolen blankets all wrapped around with a rubber sheet.

 

She was treated just like the millions of other kids with Polio. No visitors (her grandmother was able to sneak in) no doctor visits – there was no cure. The nurses were self-sacrificing, they lived in terror that they would become infected and bring Polio home to their families. The physical therapy could be considered barbaric, it worked, however with dramatic lifelong consequences.

 

The therapist wheeled Becky into the Physical Therapy room and dumped her on the floor and ordered “ Get back into the wheelchair”, “I can’t”, “Get back into the wheelchair!” “I can’t” “There are no such words as ‘I can’t’ get back into the wheelchair!”. Becky ultimately recovered her ability to walk, though her left side was much weaker than her right.The statement :”There are no such words as ‘I can’t’” resonated throughout her life, as it did for all other Polio survivors.

 

Dr. Richard L. Bruno, in his book The Polio Paradox states that the survivors of Polio are Type “A  personalities. Dr. Bruno states “Polio survivors who were told they would never go to college or get a job became the country’s best and brightest.”

 

When Becky contracted Polio, she was already in “Major Work” in the 7th grade, she has a genius IQ, she would have graduated at 17 years of age. Polio did not stop her (nor her fellow survivors) Becky  pushed herself academically, she graduated only 6 months later than she otherwise would have. She was a member of  the National Honor Society, she received University Scholarships, she was admitted to Nursing School, then in 1962 she was admitted to the University Of California, Berkeley. Ultimately she became a Legal Secretary and office manager for 35 years.

 

She also engaged in many other demanding activities:such as waitressing, flying 2 ½ days from Cleveland to Tokyo, to be with me in Japan in ‘58 through ’59, (I  was a US Army  medical lab technician stationed just outside Tokyo). Becky had no household conveniences only a wood burning water heater, kerosene heater, had to wash clothes by hand.

 

Socially, she belonged to Job’s Daughters, taught English to our 27 adult Japanese students (my off-duty hours) ’58 through ’59, raised our two sons: YMCA Gray Y’s, Little League, Boy Scouts, a max involved MOM and now a grandma . Member ofVariety Club, RB Chorale, Lions Club, member of Auxiliary Harmony Grove/Elfin Forest Fire Department.

 

Then about 17 years ago she had experiences which challenged her reality and also affected our relationship. It started very innocuously but ominously, first with a confusion about which leg to use when ascending stairs, then stumbling when getting onto a Tour Bus at the Grand Canyon, then having difficulty walking more than about 5 minutes, and then realizing that her life would have to change. She now uses a motorized scooter whenever she has to walk more than 5 minutes, she has a regimen of Pool Therapy. She has been actively involved with the outstanding individuals whom she has gotten to know through the Post-Polio Network. She has come to realize that “No such words as ‘I can’t’” was both a blessing and a hindrance – since her mindset had previously been don’t complain, you can handle this. Now she knows that she needs help and most importantly, she knows she is not alone.

 

Becky’s statement “I confused not complaining with having a high threshold for pain” coupled with Dr. Bruno’s statement in The Polio Paradox “One of the first things polio survivors told us back in 1982 was that they were exquititely sensitive to pain” really opened my eyes. When Becky started demonstrating the insidious post-polio symptoms 17 years ago, our relationship suffered. I thought it was me, then I thought, no, it is her, then I thought it was us. Instead it was post-polio syndrome.

 

Now, I have nothing but the utmost and greatest love and respect for Becky. My goodness, talk about exquisite pain”, both our sons were caesarean!.

 

The contacts for the Post-Polio Network in our area are: Mary Clare Schlesinger email: postpolio@cox.net and Mary Timmons email: LaRosa1234@aol.com .

 

Yours very truly,

Anthony Abbott

 

 

 

 

 

LAW OFFICES OF

 

ANTHONY ABBOTT

 

ANTHONY ABBOTT

BECKY ABBOTT

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125 W. MISSION AVE.

SUITE 106

ESCONDIDO, CA 92025-1721

(760) 489-8711

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