A few weeks ago, Dad visited with Grandma and had the conversation below.
Polio is unpredictable and was largely untreatable. Also known as infantile paralysis, polio, emerged in the summer months of the early 1900's. Each summer saw the number of cases increase over the previous year. The summer of 1949 the outbreak was higher than normal throughout the US. Sadly, Muncie was, perhaps, the community hardest hit in the nation. Churches, parks, stores and pools closed to prevent the spread.
Ball Hospital saw unprecidented need. With only 3 iron lungs on site and none available for purchase, Ball Hospital turned to the community. Jack Reichart, a local machinist, and others worked together to design a "homemade" version. The improvised iron lung was made from empty steel drums, donated vacuums, parts from Borg-Warner, and anything else that could be repurposed in the overnight effort. (Here's the official story)
Research into treating and preventing Polio was intense. In 1950, first attempts at a vaccine failed. But two researchers, Sabin and Salk, had promising results. In late 1952, Jonas Salk was so confident of his newly developed vaccine that the first injections were to his wife and children. Plans to test the Salk vaccine on children were developed in 1953 as manufacturers worked to prepare enough vaccine. In April 1954, 1.8 million children between the ages of 6 and 9 received injections as one of history's largest medical experiments as their parents prayed. Less than a year later the Salk vaccine was determined to be safe and 90% effective. Weeks later the Salk vaccine was made available to everyone.
Conversation with Mother (Mary Jane Fallis Bair
Today March 6, 2016
Today in a visit with Mother, I asked her the question. . . .”What were some of the hardest decisions that you ever had to make?” She thought for a while, and said . . . .”Probably the hardest decision that I ever had to make was when Sharon (my sister) was in the 5th grade". Mother had to decide whether or not to let Sharon get a polio vaccination. At the time the polio epidemic was on everyone’s mind. Mother knew some people who had been affected by polio and that a scientist by the name of Jonas Salk had recently developed a new vaccine which could prevent polio. It was unproven, but Mother had seen that he had given the same vaccine to his daughter. That gave Mother enough confidence to trust this Doctor with her daughter. She signed the paper and Sharon took it to school. On the day that they were to give the vaccination, Mother waited until the final recess knowing that by this time Sharon would have already had the shot. She drove past the school and saw Sharon playing on the swings doing just fine. She drove to the opposite side of the school and stopped and said a prayer thanking GOD.”
It was a wonderful day today talking with my Mother. We also had many laugh’s some of which were stories about me, which I will not repeat.
DonAfter reading Dad's note, I did a little research into polio just before the introduction of the Salk vaccine.
Polio is unpredictable and was largely untreatable. Also known as infantile paralysis, polio, emerged in the summer months of the early 1900's. Each summer saw the number of cases increase over the previous year. The summer of 1949 the outbreak was higher than normal throughout the US. Sadly, Muncie was, perhaps, the community hardest hit in the nation. Churches, parks, stores and pools closed to prevent the spread.
Ball Hospital saw unprecidented need. With only 3 iron lungs on site and none available for purchase, Ball Hospital turned to the community. Jack Reichart, a local machinist, and others worked together to design a "homemade" version. The improvised iron lung was made from empty steel drums, donated vacuums, parts from Borg-Warner, and anything else that could be repurposed in the overnight effort. (Here's the official story)
Research into treating and preventing Polio was intense. In 1950, first attempts at a vaccine failed. But two researchers, Sabin and Salk, had promising results. In late 1952, Jonas Salk was so confident of his newly developed vaccine that the first injections were to his wife and children. Plans to test the Salk vaccine on children were developed in 1953 as manufacturers worked to prepare enough vaccine. In April 1954, 1.8 million children between the ages of 6 and 9 received injections as one of history's largest medical experiments as their parents prayed. Less than a year later the Salk vaccine was determined to be safe and 90% effective. Weeks later the Salk vaccine was made available to everyone.
I can only imagine the weight of fear in those days. I can see why that would be a decision I might never forget as well!
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