Living With Polio

Millions of individuals who had polio are living in all areas of the world. Survivors range in age from a few months to nonagenarians (in their nineties). Aftereffects vary greatly depending on the number and location of the nerve cells destroyed by the poliovirus. The challenge or ease of living with polio varies for each survivor, depending on the availability of medical care and rehabilitation opportunities, and their family and social support.

Advice, hints, explanations, etc., are categorized by topic and are searchable. The source of the material is identified.

Reminder: PHI’s post-polio.org and IVUN’s ventusers.org or ventnews.org features numerous articles to assist in living with polio.

2012 WE'RE STILL HERE! Campaign

WE’RE STILL HERE!… AND WE VOTE!

It sounds a little threatening, doesn’t it?

Not voting or expressing our opinions about our countries’ policies can threaten us. We must vote, knowing that in some countries polio survivors can’t.

2011 WE'RE STILL HERE Campaign: Accessibility in Places of Worship

October 9-15 is WE'RE STILL HERE! week. This year’s focus is to encourage places of worship to make their buildings and programs more accessible. As the late effects of polio bring on new weakness and as we age, it becomes more and more difficult to do the things we used to do, ie, maneuver the stairs, read printed material and hear speakers. Many times it is easier to just stay home, an act that isolates us.

2019 WE'RE STILL HERE! Campaign

For 2019's WE'RE STILL HERE Week, PHI invited its members to go out and spread the word about the importance of vaccination.Members were encouraged to approach local media outlets, schools or other community groups to talk about their experiences and why vaccinating remains vitally important. PHI assisted by supplying a factsheet containing relevant information and talking points.

2018 WE'RE STILL HERE! Essay Contest

PHI’s 12th annual awareness campaign runs from October 7-13, 2018. This year, we invited polio survivors to tell us why "They’re Still Here!" by writing an essay explaining what resources, people or experiences in their life have allowed them to thrive.

When the “Cared For” Becomes the “Caregiver”

Audrey King
presented at FICCDAT Conference, Toronto, Canada, June 2011

I found my mother's diary recently – the one she kept during the 1950s when we were an Army family living in England. She’ll be 100 in 8 weeks. She lives with me, deaf, unable to walk & rapidly losing weight. She has dementia which roller coasters between inconsolable agitation and sleeping for days. During her lucid moments, she’s sweet – fascinatingly childlike – and still capable of the reciprocal love for everybody she has always had.

Opportunities to Participate in Research

NEW STUDY ON AFM AND POLIO A new study concerning acute flaccid myelitis (AFM... More

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