JERRY'S JOURNEY, cont.

Audrey continues: "If Jerry was standing or sitting, he was able to breathe on his own. Once he laid down, he had to have help breathing, so he had to have a respirator. The first one was like a shell over his lungs for sleeping. Then he discovered a type of respirator called "bantam". It was a small case with a hose he held in his mouth to blow air into his lungs to open them. Later they improved a respirator which was much more dependable. He was told that he would not be able to hold the mouth piece in his mouth while he slept, but he was able to sleep that way for over 50 years."

JERRY'S JOURNEY, cont.

" Through strife, all things arise and pass away. "- Heraclitus

Jerry and Dorothy Erich were polio survivors along with several million afflicted persons over the past century. I believe that survivors of any debilitating disease are faced with the crucial challenge of whether or or not they are willing or able to live out lives of value. I also believe that those who take the path of creating a value filled life allow their suffering to bring for the virtues of fortitude (courage), hope (perseverance), and charitable action (service).

Audrey Clark continues Jerry's story: " A great thing happened for Jerry when he was told about a man in Fresno who had invented a foot control to drive a car without using his hands. It was a plate with a boot like device on the floorboard where he put his foot in to turn the steering wheel. It could only be installed on Fords. Jerry was friends with the Ford dealer since he had done a lot of printing for him, and he was also chairman for the March of Dimes for Santa Clara county. Jerry had an old car that the dealer took for trade-in and he ended up with a new 1957 Ford. They made arrangements to get the car to Fresno for the adjustments and get it back to him. He was the first person in CA to be licensed to drive a car with foot control!

I experienced Jerry's "foot control" driving first hand. Once during my time at Camp RYLA, he drove me from his cabin in Boulder Creek, CA to the camp. My emotions ranged from terror to amazement as he used his feet to drive with dexterity and speed. I breathed a sigh of relief when we reached camp-whew!!

POLIO SURVIVORS, CONT.

John Nanni (10.03.2013, reply) "I am a polio survivor and suffer from severe post-polio syndrome (PPS). At the age of 10 months old in 1953 (months before the Salk vaccine was widely distributed), I was paralyzed from my neck down for 6 months. After the polio virus did its damage, my mother performed (on me) extensive PT developed by Sister Kenny, an Australian nurse, which stopped my muscles fro atrophying.

I recovered and now lead a "normal" life. I played baseball, basketball and football as a teenager. Forty years later, I started to have renewed weakness, pain and severe fatigue. After 2 years and 10 different doctors, I was finally diagnosed with severe PPS.

Under my PPS Dr. care, I have learned how to best deal with PPS and how to preserve my ability to walk. To do so, I am now in a wheelchair for most of my mobility needs outside my home. I am limited to under 900 walking steps per day. I do deep water running to help keep my muscles active without damaging them. I eat a high protein diet because I like it and protein helps reduce fatigue.
I joined Polio Network of New Jersey (PNNJ) in 1992 to learn more about PPS In September 2012,
I was appointed to their board of directors. PNNS is a wonderful organization dedicated to help polio survivors deal with PPS.

I joined RI in 2010 after being a guest lecturer at the Rotary Club of Hamilton Township (Mercer Co., New Jersey). I have been appointed to the Rotary District 7510 Polio Plus committee and was part of the Polio Plus delegation to the UN General Assembly's special session on September 27, 2012 with world leaders and Bill Gates meeting to "Unite Against Polio" (endpolio.org/blog/polio eradication/2012/10/03/un.event-inspires). RI has played a major role from 1985 when they started their Polio Plus project to "End Polio Now". Rotary has helped reduce polio cases from 350,000 per year in 1985 to only 223 WPV cases in 2012.

My polio goals are: (1) To play a role in helping RI and Global Eradication Initiative (GPEI) eradicate polio worldwide in three remaining countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria,(2) To help other polio survivors and their families learn how to best deal with PPS, (3) To help educate doctors and other medical personnel about PPS, (4) To advocate for greater accessibility for the handicapped."

Sincerely in Rotary Service,
John Nanni